The war in Ukraine launched by Russia has revealed the importance of a large and varied arsenal of drones. The French army already has a fleet of aircraft, including the impressive American MQ9 Reaper, and launches a droneization plan for its forces.
Never before has a war seen so many drones hovering over soldiers. Ukraine, like Russia, uses and tests all possible models, and all the other armies scrutinize their effects on the course of combat.
What about the French army? After falling behind in unmanned aerial devices, highlighted by a Senate report in 2021, the Ministry of the Armed Forces is trying to catch up with a massive investment. Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces, announced in early January the acquisition of 3,500 drones for the next military programming law and five billion euros devoted to the development, purchase and modernization of these machines over the period 2024- 2030.
Suicide drone projects have been launched, a device signed Safran was released in February and 400 mini-models were sent by the Parrot brand at the end of 2022. Numerama was able to observe most of these devices directly at the Cognac-Châteaubernard Air Base 709. Overview of the air arsenal of the French army.
MQ9 Reaper
The American air fighter is used by the French army. With a wingspan of 20 meters, the MQ9 Reaper is the benchmark MALE (medium altitude, long endurance) drone for French units. This device was particularly used in Mali. It is capable of flying 24 hours straight, reaching 480 km/h in speed, and climbing to 15,000 meters in altitude. France has 12 models and hopes to expand its fleet to 24 aircraft by 2030. The use of the MQ9 Reaper by the French military is unique: it uses four pilots for each aircraft. Two for neutralization and two for intelligence. A fifth will enter the team for optical intelligence. It is the only drone equipped with French army missiles.
SMDM
SMDM drones (on-board navy mini-drone systems from the French company SurveyCounter) equip various units of the French Navy such as high-seas patrol boats, new overseas patrol boats and surveillance frigates. These machines, capable of flying up to three hours and 25 miles (40 km) from their carrier ship, were deployed in 2022 and are first used for surveillance missions.
Patroller
Produced by Safran, the Patroller should be the technological jewel of the army, but we still have to wait before seeing it in service. An accident during a flight test campaign in December 2019 shifted the delivery schedule. The Army must receive fourteen copies and five control stations capable of monitoring an area over a radius of 150 kilometers. The machine must have a range of 20 hours and be capped at an altitude of 6,000 meters. An armed version is in development.
AeroVironment RQ-20 puma
AeroVironment’s RQ-20 Puma is one of the most popular military drones on the market. Marketed since 2008, it is designed for low-altitude surveillance and reconnaissance missions, has a range of 16 km and can stay in the air for more than two hours. This device can be directly thrown in the air with the hands by a soldier.
Skylark I-Lex
The Skylark I-Lex is an Israeli-made, electric-powered drone. It has a range of 40 kilometers and can fly for three hours. Used by many NATO armies for reconnaissance missions, it has also served in various operations in the Sahel.
Delair UX11
The Delair UX11 is a mapping drone capable of processing and defining topographic information. This model can fly for almost an hour, up to 50 km away. First used for the professional civilian environment, these devices are used to produce a map of an urban area which can then be studied prior to an operation.
Black Hornets
Mainly intended for urban missions, the Black Hornet Nano – the black hornet, in English – measures only 16 centimeters and weighs 33 grams. As much as a sparrow. It can be equipped with two or three cameras as well as an infrared sensor and relays information up to 2 km away. France used these devices during surveillance actions during Operation Barkhane in the Sahel.
DJI
Chinese DJI drones are the new fighting stars in Ukraine. Their usefulness for close combat and their low cost make them popular. Nevertheless, a fear remains given the nationality of the brand. Questioned by Numerama, the Air Force replied that the devices were modified in such a way ” not to be in contact with servers abroad “. An anonymous source tells us that “ the flight of these devices on French bases has been prohibited since 2018. Training takes place outside these areas. Also note that the models used by the French army have been completely disconnected from the Internet, so that no update is activated and launches a signal in China. »
parrot
Parrot, DJI’s French challenger, also supplies its devices to the army. The Anafi USA model is manufactured in the United States and equips the American army. The French armed forces have ordered 400 of them. These machines can fly for 2h30 at a distance of a hundred meters and distinguish humans from thermal images.
Hexadrone Tundra
Another model primarily intended for professionals. Tundra’s Hexadrone is capable of carrying up to 4 kg of equipment and can fly for almost an hour.
Beyond reconnaissance and neutralization, drones are destined to be used for many tasks in the future. The latest generations of tanks are for example equipped with mini-devices to correct the accuracy of their shooting. An idea of the future on the battlefield.
Subscribe to Numerama on Google News to not miss any news!