Interview
At the Heart of the Paris Air Show: Civil and Military Drones on the Rise
Exclusive Interview on UAV SHOW and Defense Challenges
During the Paris Air Show, the world’s leading event dedicated to aerospace innovation, an interview hosted by Gil Roy (Aerobuzz) sheds light on the current and future challenges of the drone industry in France and across Europe.
In this video, François Baffou, Managing Director of Bordeaux Technowest, reflects on the evolution of the drone sector. Originally focused on civilian applications (logistics, agriculture, industry), it is now shifting significantly toward military and defense uses, driven by geopolitical tensions and strategic transformations. The convergence of dual-use technologies has become a central concern for key industry players.
Defense, a Key Focus of the Upcoming UAV SHOW in Bordeaux
This interview also lays the groundwork for the next edition of UAV SHOW, the leading trade show for the drone industry, co-organized by Bordeaux Events and More (BEAM) and Bordeaux Technowest, the regional incubator and innovation hub.
Scheduled to take place in Bordeaux from October 14 to 16, 2025, the event will strongly highlight the defense sector with in-flight demonstrations, expert panels, and an exhibition of solutions designed to meet today’s challenges: surveillance, resilience, interoperability, onboard AI, and more.
This strategic positioning reflects a new era where drones are not just tools for civil efficiency but also pillars of technological sovereignty and national security.
AERIX: A Start-up to Watch
The interview also features Hugo Mayounove, President of AERIX Systems, an innovative start-up nurtured by Bordeaux Technowest. AERIX specializes in embedded technologies for professional drones, and represents a new generation of companies benefiting from full-spectrum support: incubation, trade show participation (including UAV SHOW), and access to testing centers for validating and qualifying their solutions.
A concrete example of French innovation, driven by agile players and closely aligned with local strengths and national strategic needs.
See You at UAV SHOW 2025
This on-site interview from the Paris Air Show serves as a lively introduction to the spirit of the upcoming UAV SHOW. It highlights the fast-paced evolution of the drone ecosystem, the need to build robust value chains, and the importance of supporting start-ups inventing the technologies of tomorrow.