Italy, Germany and France pledge cooperation to develop a 'Euro-drone'

BRUSSELS – Germany, France and Italy have pledged cooperation to jointly develop a "Euro-drone" for intelligence-gathering and surveillance of the skies.

The three on Monday committed to a two-year study to have a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System ready within a decade.

They said in a statement that "once operational, the system will perform long-endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions."

The nations also see the project as a way to strengthen defense cooperation in Europe's fragmented market.