Innovation Partnership ELISA (Light Equipment for Autonomous System Interception) relating to "Evaluation of aerial drone interceptor drones, development of complementary performances, production, support, and associated services"

The ELISA (Light Equipment for Autonomous System Interception) innovation partnership is a **€18.7 million French defense contract** issued by the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) to develop, evaluate, and produce **1,000 next-generation interceptor aerial drones** capable of neutralizing Shahed-type drones and slow cruise missiles via percussion or onboard pyrotechnic charges. This seven-year initiative, structured as an innovation partnership with multiple framework agreements for up to four suppliers, includes system evaluation, prototype delivery, production, continuous improvement, support, and training services. The contract aims to deliver initial operational capability by early 2027 to address current and emerging drone threats that existing French defense systems partially fail to counter.