How the French Army is adapting urgently to the fight against drones

France is said to have shot down more than 80 Iranian drones of the Shahed type in the Middle East since the conflict began in support of its partners, such as Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, in the fight against drones, according to Le JDD.

The French army deployed fourteen Rafale aircraft to reinforce the ten aircraft permanently stationed in the region. The Army has also sent four Tigre helicopters from the Alat (Army light aviation) to the Gulf to strengthen this lineup.

There is now a question of adapting these aircraft to the specifications of anti-drone warfare to equip them with more effective and, above all, less expensive vectors. Currently, the Mica missiles used by the Rafale cost between 600,000 and 700,000 euros each, while the targeted Shahed drones cost only about 30,000 euros.

The Ministry of the Armed Forces announced on Wednesday in a statement that the DGA combat unit has been involved since the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East to accelerate the evaluation of solutions in response to threats quickly and pragmatically. Expert Referencing Centers (CeR), established at the end of 2025 to conduct work on short-cycle technologies, are being tested in current conflicts.

The Expert Referencing Center for anti-drone warfare (CeRLAD), affiliated with DGA Missile Testing (EM), confirmed in the early weeks of the conflict the ability of the Tigre helicopter to neutralize Shahed drone threats with its 30mm cannon, recommending it to the forces as a cost-effective anti-drone solution.

DGA Flight Tests (DGA EV) developed means to allow the exchange of tactical data between the Tigre helicopters and the operational bubble in which they are stationed. The L16 capability (NATO tactical data link standard for information exchange between military units) was integrated in less than three weeks by the DGA, compared to the twelve to eighteen months it would usually take in a traditional industrial process. DGA EV and CeRLAD also successfully integrated the Mistral 3 air-to-air missile on the Tigre to increase its interception capabilities.

In parallel, the DGA has launched the development of an anti-drone version of the laser-guided rocket for use under Rafale and Tigre aircraft. The first test flights are scheduled by the end of June for rapid deployment in the forces. Engineers from the arsenal have also been sent in support of French forces in external operations to ensure the implementation of these innovative solutions.

At the beginning of April, the French Air and Space Army (AAE) announced the adaptation of its MQ-9 Reaper drones for anti-drone warfare, after successful experimental missile Hellfire tests on drone targets. This capability was made possible just three months after the Hellfire was introduced on the Reaper, originally intended for ground targets. This allows the AAE to have a range of additional, graduated, and tailored responses to diverse threats.

The AAE also has Fennec helicopters, particularly suited to combat slower or low-altitude threats, and ground-to-air defense systems to support anti-drone efforts.