Military & Security · Economy & Business · Portrait

The rise of Delair

Toulouse, 19 July 2026Photos and text: Fred Marie11 images

01 / 11 · Toulouse, 19 July 2026Fred Marie / Collectif DR

In Toulouse, in a discreet factory set in the heart of a region shaped by aeronautics, the company Delair designs and assembles drones intended for observation, industry and, increasingly, military operations. Founded in 2011 by several engineers, the SME has established itself in some fifteen years as one of France’s leading manufacturers in the sector, with a growing international presence and sharply rising production.

The war in Ukraine accelerated this trajectory. In this conflict, drones have become a central tool, transforming armies’ tactics and needs, while highlighting the limitations of European industry in the face of the major American, Israeli and Chinese players.

“France eventually admitted it was lagging behind, and that is what allowed us to move forward,” explains Bastien Mancini, president and co-founder of Delair.

Initially focused on civilian applications, notably infrastructure inspection, the company gradually strengthened its activity in the defense sector. Trials and deliveries took place from 2022 and 2023, notably as part of French orders destined for Ukraine. This ramp-up has been accompanied by rapid workforce growth and investment to increase production rates.

In its Toulouse workshops, Delair now develops several models of aerial drones as well as underwater systems, with the ambition of establishing itself durably in a high-potential sector set to play a central role in civilian and military operations in the coming decades.

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