France Orders Counterdrone Systems After Surge in Drone Threats
France has ordered two counterdrone systems in response to a recent surge in unidentified unmanned aircraft near key military and industrial locations, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces said in late December 2025.
The French Ministry of the Armed Forces used an operational emergency process to notify support contracts to domestic firm TRUSTCOMS for Infodrone and DroneBlocker systems, aimed at immediate deployment to strengthen low-altitude airspace security.
Rising Drone Incursions Spur Action
Over recent weeks, French military intelligence and defense units recorded unidentified drones flying over:
- Mourmelon military training camp
- A rail convoy moving Leclerc tanks
- Propellant plant in Bergerac
- Île-Longue naval base, home to nuclear ballistic submarines
- Creil-Senlis interservice hub linked to intelligence operations
In several cases, forces on the ground attempted to stop these drones using handheld jamming rifles and even shotguns, measures that proved largely ineffective and highlighted capability gaps.
New Systems to Detect and Neutralize Drones
The Infodrone system is designed to detect and locate drones using mandatory Direct Remote Identification signals, which cover most commercially available UAVs. TRUSTCOMS says this method can detect nearly all drones in France’s airspace.
DroneBlocker adds a neutralization layer, using continuous radiofrequency jamming against control links and satellite navigation to disrupt drones in flight. The system can discriminate between hostile and friendly craft, a key requirement where authorized drones operate nearby.
Broader Context of French Counterdrone Efforts
France has already developed and fielded several counter-UAS capabilities, including:
- Army systems such as PROTEUS, built around a 20 mm anti-aircraft cannon with automated targeting for low-flying threats.
- Vehicle-mounted and radar-integrated solutions under testing and field evaluation.
- Longer-term programs like the Serval C-UAV variant of the Serval armored vehicle, set to enter service later this decade.
Despite these efforts, the recent overflights over high-value infrastructure appear to have accelerated procurement of complementary tools capable of rapid deployment.
What’s Next
The newly ordered counterdrone systems are intended to reinforce site protection while France continues to develop layered defenses against a growing class of low-altitude unmanned threats. The Ministry expects deployment at sensitive locations to improve detection and response time.
