Hexadrone plans to invest €3 million in research and development, aiming to hire additional R&D staff to create innovative tactical modules, including AI applications for drones.

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu has emphasized the importance of making drones a central element of France's military rearmament strategy.

In the competitive drone market, Hexadrone, founded about a decade ago, stands alongside major players like Dassault and Thales, having developed the Tundra drone.

Hexadrone will maintain a dual development strategy, pursuing both military contracts and civilian applications, such as using drones for medical deliveries.

Hexadrone is poised for acquisition by the Rivolier group, a distributor specializing in Defense and Security, which will enable Hexadrone to penetrate larger military markets.

The Tundra drone, developed by Hexadrone, is modular and can carry up to 8 kg of tools, making it suitable for various applications, including intelligence missions in Ukraine.

Rivolier, which has a workforce of 320 and generates €150 million in revenue, already earns €50 million from the Defense and Security sectors and has experience supplying police and military equipment.

Currently, Hexadrone has a production capacity of up to 1,000 drones per year, with plans to expand either through internal growth or subcontracting, despite only delivering around 100 drones annually.

The company is shifting its focus from selling individual drones to providing comprehensive, turnkey solutions that integrate necessary tools for diverse applications.

The acquisition by Rivolier will allow Hexadrone to leverage the innovative features of the Tundra 2 drone, which supports modularity and the integration of cutting-edge technology.

The acquisition aims to boost Hexadrone's revenue tenfold to €60 million over the next decade, with 80% of this expected to come from military sales, starting in France and expanding internationally.

As of 2024, the French Army has only 5,000 drones, but plans for rapid expansion are in place, with €5 billion allocated for drones and robots under the 2024-2030 Military Programming Law.

Currently, military contracts account for 50% of Hexadrone's revenue, primarily from testing and evaluation, with aspirations to secure larger contracts with Rivolier's backing.