AURA AERO Names Air Force General (Ret.) Stéphane Mille as Chief Defense Officer

European aircraft manufacturer AURA AERO has appointed Air Force General Stéphane Mille as the company’s new Chief Defense Officer.

AURA AERO specializes in developing next-generation aircraft using decarbonization efforts and industrial sovereignty. Beyond its low-carbon programs, the company is deploying a dual strategy across its range—civilian and military—that draws on the pooling of its technological bricks.

In charge of leading the group’s Defense activity, Mille will head the military applications of the INTEGRAL and ERA aircraft and the ramp-up of a sovereign drone capability around ENBATA (MALE multi-mission drone).

He will head the defense roadmap and the operational dialogue with:

• The French DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement – French defense procurement agency)
• The armed forces
• European/export partners

AURA AERO aims to use these efforts to strengthen capacity consistency and increase industrial ramp-up by ensuring a sovereign supply chain and on-time deliveries.

CEO and co-founder of AURA AERO Jérémy Caussade says, “We are very proud to welcome General Mille within our team. His arrival at AURA AERO is a strong signal for our Defense roadmap.”

Caussade continues, “His operational experience, his expertise and his strategic vision will help us accelerate the maturity of our programs, for the military applications of our aircraft INTEGRAL and ERA and for our drone ENBATA , in a sovereign, efficient and cost-controlled manner, to serve the armed forces, in France and worldwide”.

General Stéphane Mille has more than 30 years of operational experience, acquired at the highest levels of the French armed forces. A fighter pilot (Mirage F1, Mirage 2000), he has taken part in numerous overseas operations, such as:

• Chad
• Former Yugoslavia
• Kosovo
• Saudi Arabia
• Sahel

General Mille’s other achievements include:

• Commanding the Operations Planning and Conduct Center from 2018 to 2020
• Being appointed Deputy Chief of Operations at the French Armed Forces Headquarters from 2020 to 2021
• Serving as Chief of Staff of French Armed Forces from July 2021 until 2024

General Mille is also a Commander of the Legion of Honor and a Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit.

The General shares his delight at joining the French manufacturer’s team, stating, “Joining AURA AERO is joining an innovative company, composed of aviation enthusiasts, a company capable of quickly imagining and developing solutions tailored to the needs of modern armies.”

General Mille added, “I am delighted and proud to join AURA AERO and contribute to the rise of a national aircraft manufacturer. The three families of aircraft currently under development will undoubtedly find military applications.”

What to know about INTEGRAL, ERA and ENBATA aircraft

INTEGRAL is a new-generation two-seater trainer aircraft with aerobatic capabilities. It is currently available with a thermal engine but will soon also offer an electric version, with certification planned for 2026 and deliveries starting in 2027. INTEGRAL is ideal for selection or ab initio military pilot training.

By adopting the INTEGRAL E, the electric version, armed forces can minimize their operating costs while contributing to decarbonization.

ERA is due to enter service before 2030 as a hybrid-electric 19-seater regional aircraft. Its propulsion system—eight electric motors supported by two turbogenerators—reduces noise pollution and promises up to 80% fewer emissions compared to thermal aircraft in its category.

Designed from the outset for dual use, it comes in two options.

The civilian version is ideal for:

• Passengers
• Business
• Cargo
• Special missions

ERA also can perform military applications like:

• Troop transport
• Medical evacuation
• Cargo

ERA’s key features and benefits include:

• Reduced operating and maintenance costs
• Inconspicuous design
• Ability to operate on short and non-prepared runways

ENBATA is a sovereign and multi-mission MALE drone that was unveiled at Paris Air Show 2025. It is a high-performing aircraft and at controlled costs, developed in a certified environment in coordination with civilian and military authorities.

ENBATA is ITAR-free and is designed for applications like:

• ISR missions (strategic long-distance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance)
• Army reconnaissance
• Electronic war
• Maritime surveillance
• Communications relay
• Anti-drone warfare

With a maximum mass of 2 tons, ENBATA can carry up to 1 ton of payload, and has a range of up to 55 hours. The program is supported by a French industrial ecosystem, including Safran, Thales, Aresia and Merio. It was selected last June by the French DGA for its selection of MALE projects.