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EOLE: predictive maintenance for military drones
In response to operational availability challenges with drones, Delair and Picomto have developed EOLE, a mobile, autonomous, all-in-one solution combining flight data analysis, digitalised technical documentation and maintenance assistance. It is currently being trialled by the French armed forces.
EOLE, an innovation by Delair for more autonomous, predictive and connected drone maintenance.
© Delair
The armed forces face a critical challenge regarding the operational availability of their drones. A grounded UAS can quickly undermine the force’s capabilities. On the ground, maintenance crews need to quickly understand a system’s status to intervene effectively. To speed up interventions, the EOLE solution centralises the information needed for diagnostics and repair by cross-referencing aircraft technical documentation with flight data, failure logs and alerts. The system relies on the complementarity between Delair’s software expertise and Picomto’s field-adapted hardware support.
From corrective maintenance to failure prediction
By bringing technical data and digital tools together in a single environment, EOLE saves maintenance personnel from hunting across paper manuals and software packages. Information is synthesised into interactive guides that assist technicians step by step based on the drone’s status. This solution increases reliability, accelerates diagnostics and limits human error.
Beyond assistance with repairs, the analysis of historical flight data should also help spot early warning signals of impending failures. This paves the way for predictive maintenance, i.e. scheduling of interventions and reducing unexpected unavailability. In short, “EOLE’s value lies in its ability to transform a mass of complex data into a clear, immediately actionable view,” explains Christophe Adonis, Chief Product Officer at Delair.
From field trials to global fleet management
Winner of the ADER innovation challenge organised by the French Aeronautical Maintenance Directorate (DMAé) and the Defence Innovation Agency (AID) in 2025, EOLE has been tested by French forces in operational conditions. Early feedback reinforces an approach initially focused on the technician working on a single aircraft before expanding to fleet-wide use.
In the long run, the solution is designed to give logistics managers and commanders a consolidated view of the entire fleet’s status to optimise drone maintenance and utilisation. Its agnostic approach also aims to ease integration across different fleets while preserving control of data and promoting development of internal skills.
“This sovereign approach guarantees control over equipment health data while strengthening the strategic autonomy of the forces,” Christophe Adonis observes. At Euronaval 2026, Delair is also showcasing its range of aerial and underwater surveillance drones, loitering munitions and its drone-interceptor drone.
- Linda Verhaeghe
