French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation said Friday it had shown its Neuron armed drone to industrial partners from six European countries and plans a first flight in June.

The five-tonne delta wing Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) is designed to give European air forces a weapon to match those deployed in recent years to deadly effect by the United States in several war zones.

Dassault is overseeing the programme, but working alongside Sweden's Saab, Italy's Alenia, Switzereland's RUAG, Greece's Hellenic Aerospace Industry and the pan-European giant EADS.

The company said test flights would begin in the middle of the year and continue for two years, after which the partners will decide whether to put the aircraft into production for regional military customers.