DO-DT 25

The DO‑DT 25 is a high‑altitude, twin‑engine surveillance platform developed by Airbus Defence and Space in the late 2010s. Conceived to replace aging reconnaissance assets, the program began in 2015 as a joint effort between the European Defence Agency and several NATO member states seeking an aircraft capable of persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions over long distances. The prototype first flew on 12 March 2019 from Toulouse‑Blagnac and entered operational service in 2022 with the French Air and Space Force, followed by deployments with the German and Italian air components.

Key features include a composite‑based airframe with a 25‑meter wingspan, a thrust‑vectoring PW800 series turbofan pair delivering 12,000 lbf each, and an integrated modular payload bay that can accommodate synthetic‑aperture radar, electro‑optical/infrared cameras, and signals‑intelligence suites. Advanced fly‑by‑wire controls and a fly‑over autonomous flight‑management system enable up to 18‑hour endurance at 45 000 feet, while low‑observable shaping reduces radar cross‑section.

The DO‑DT 25’s blend of endurance, sensor flexibility and network‑centric data links has reshaped European ISR strategy, allowing coalition forces to maintain continuous situational awareness across vast theatres without relying on satellite passes. Its success has spurred further development of unmanned variants and influenced next‑generation combat aircraft design.