French aircraft manufacturer AURA AERO provided updates on its three clean-sheet aircraft programs during a press conference at its Toulouse headquarters on April 8, 2026. The programs include the INTEGRAL light trainer in conventional and all-electric versions, the ERA hybrid-electric regional aircraft, and the ENBATA military drone.
The company confirmed raising €340 million from public and private sources. This includes €50 million in equity, €120 million in French public subsidies, and €170 million from the state of Florida to support a second assembly line in the United States. Investors include Safran Corporate Ventures, EDF, the European Innovation Council Fund, INNOVACOM, Florida Opportunity Fund, Bpifrance, and BLAST, an investment platform linked to French entrepreneur Anthony Bourbon.
AURA AERO is pursuing dual growth in geography and markets, targeting defense and civilian sectors. Both INTEGRAL and ERA have military variants. Headquarters and key functions remain in France, while the Florida plant will employ around 1,000 people to produce INTEGRAL and ERA aircraft at volumes matching the Toulouse-Francazal facility: 50 INTEGRAL and 100 ERA per year.
The Florida greenfield facility, designed to the latest environmental standards and employing 1,500, depends on completing fundraising. Groundbreaking is planned for late 2026 pending permits. CEO Jéremy Caussade noted swift U.S. approvals and positioned INTEGRAL, priced at about €450,000, as competitive in the U.S. market for its category.
For defense, ENBATA targets Europe’s medium-altitude long-endurance drone needs amid a lack of local alternatives to U.S., Turkish, and Israeli options. France’s exit from the Eurodrone program has widened the gap; ENBATA is one of five French DGA-supported programs. ITAR-free, it involves European firms like Safran, Thales, Soben for landing gear, and Meyro for electronics. Caussade described it as a cheaper, smaller, more versatile alternative to the MQ-9 Reaper.