French aircraft manufacturer AURA AERO has opened its first US facility in Daytona Beach, enabling local assembly, delivery and support of its INTEGRAL two-seat training aircraft. The 10,000 sq ft hangar, located within the Embry-Riddle Research Park, was made possible with $3.4 million in funding from Space Florida.

Initial activity at the Florida site will focus on the INTEGRAL R, certified in Europe and now on an FAA fast-track for US approval. The facility will also host two prototypes of the all-electric INTEGRAL E, due to begin flight testing ahead of expected service entry in early 2027.

The site forms part of a broader US strategy, which includes plans for a 500,000 sq ft factory to produce AURA AERO’s 19-seat hybrid-electric aircraft, ERA. The project, supported by Space Florida’s board with up to $200 million in financing, is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs. CEO and co-founder Jérémy Caussade says: “We are truly excited to start operating it and keep moving forward with the second stage, the construction of our 19-seater factory.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis adds: “A $200 million investment, this expansion will create over 1,000 high-wage jobs for Floridians and strengthen Florida’s leadership in aerospace innovation and advanced manufacturing.”

Meanwhile, at the 2025 Paris Air Show, the company also launched its ENBATA drone programme. Developed with support from the French Ministry of Defence and the DGA, the MALE-class drone is designed for both civil and defence use and is targeted to fly by the end of 2026. “The global context is pushing us to move quickly, with real defence needs,” says Caussade.

With a two-ton maximum weight and up to one ton of payload, ENBATA offers 55 hours of endurance and can be equipped for ISR, electronic warfare, anti-drone operations and more. It is being developed with partners including Safran, Thales and Aresia. AURA AERO is working toward dual civil-military certification in coordination with EASA, aiming to open the door to public uses such as firefighting and aerial surveillance.

ENBATA shares digital systems and modular design principles with the ERA aircraft, and leverages the company’s existing certified manufacturing platform. Former French Air and Space Force Chief of Staff General (2S) Stéphane Mille says: “This is definitely not an impossible mission for AURA AERO.”