EU Defense Autonomy strengthened by "Neuron" Drone + "Pleades 1B" Kuru Soyuz launchhttp://tv.dassault-aviation.com/web/c-1/v-860/Le_nEUROn_a_fait_son_premier_vol.htmlhttp://www.dailymotion.com/video/xvjjx6_decollage-de-soyouz-avec-pleiades-1b-le-2-decembre-2012_techLed by France's "Dassault", "Neuron" Drone project includes also Swedish Saab, Italian Alena (Finnmeccanicca group), Spanish Casa (EADS), Swiss RUAG and Greek Hellenic Aerospace Industry. Another step towards a European Fight Drone was recently (2012) initiated by Dassault and BAE (UK).
The Pleiades 1B satellite for Earth Observation, able to visualize 70 cm objects also in 3D, which was just launched at Kuru (French Guyane) by a Soyuz rocket managed by Arianespace, is a Franco-Spanish-Italian cooperation with Russia, open also to other European participants, particularly in the forthcoming future.
Both developments stem from projects decided between 2003 and 2009, mainly by Chirac and Sarkozy presidencies, but streamlined and continued also by the new French president Hollande, and marked also by the presence of Defense Minister Le Drian, (reportedly a choice ...both by Sarkozy and Hollande, but who has just entered in office and actively involved in the preparation of next EU Defense policy steps, starting from the forthcoming December 2012 Brussels EU Summit.