France will launch two new research projects of the air-to-ground battle system involving a total investment of 435 million euros (515 million US dollars), Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie announced Monday.

The projects aim to "enable our armed forces and industries to prepare themselves for networked warfare," Alliot-Marie said at the inauguration of "Eurosatory," a defense exhibition held in Paris. The projects will be partially financed by private companies, she added.

The first project centers around a pilotless model aircraft of long-endurance and capable of carrying out multi-missions. This new type of aircraft named "EuroMale" is to be developed in the year 2008, Alliot-Marie declared.

Estimated at 300 million euros (355 million US dollars), the project will be mainly under the charge of European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS), with help from French defense electronics group Thales and French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation, she said.

According to Alliot-Marie, the second project will yield a futuristic combat system involving infantries, networked robots, armored vehicles and drones. Amounting to 135 million euros (160 million US dollars), this project will be carried out mainly by Thales.

Alliot-Marie also welcomed cooperation from other European countries in the development of the two projects.