Donecle Raises €10 Million to Expand AI Drone Aircraft Inspections

Toulouse-based Donecle has raised €10 million to accelerate the international expansion of its AI-powered drone inspection technology for aircraft maintenance, according to ePlane AI. The funding round was co-led by IRDI Capital Investissement and SWEN Capital Partners, with participation from GSO Innovation and ARIS Occitanie.

The company plans to use the new capital to strengthen its presence in Europe and the United States, scale operations, and pursue strategic partnerships and acquisitions. Founded in 2015, Donecle has developed a patented system combining autonomous drones, high-resolution imaging, and artificial intelligence to automate aircraft inspections, a process that remains largely manual in the aviation sector.

Donecle’s technology enables inspections up to ten times faster than traditional methods while improving safety and traceability. The company’s clients include United Airlines, LATAM, DHL, Viva, Lufthansa, the French Air Force, and the Royal Air Force. Its inspection solution is certified by Airbus, Boeing, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Alongside its drone hardware, Donecle is developing a software platform to turn inspection data into actionable insights, integrating with maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) systems to support predictive maintenance. The company currently operates over 40 drones across 15 countries and plans to expand its workforce by about 10 employees in the coming months, focusing on AI development.