French drone inspection firm Donecle has secured €10 million in funding to expand development of its AI-powered solutions for aircraft maintenance. The investment targets accelerated global rollout, building on prior rounds including €5.6M in 2023 from aerospace investors like AkzoNobel.
This latest capital infusion enables Donecle to scale production, enhance marketing, and advance its fully automated drone technology, which scans aircraft exteriors up to ten times faster than manual methods. The system supports general visual inspections (GVI), lightning strike checks, dent detection, regulatory markings, and paint quality assessments for civil and military aircraft.
Founded in 2015 in Toulouse, Donecle serves airlines, MRO providers, OEMs, and military operators worldwide. Key deployments include a multi-year contract with Polish MRO LOTAMS for Boeing 737NG/MAX and Embraer platforms, plus validation on Boeing 767/787 widebodies.
Partnerships with Jet Aviation further demonstrate adoption, using AI-driven image analysis for precise damage detection and digital reporting. The funding addresses rising demand for efficient MRO operations, reducing downtime and improving traceability in a sector facing maintenance backlogs.
With estimated annual revenue of $4.5 million and 21-50 employees, Donecle positions itself to capture growth in automated aviation inspection amid digital transformation trends.