01Defense News2026-11-03
French defense minister kicks off ‘pact’ with industry in rush to field naval drones (opens in a new tab)
France launched a defense industry "pact" to accelerate the development of naval drones tailored to its navy’s needs, announced by Minister Catherine Vautrin at the Euronaval trade show. The initiative targets technologies for mine removal, seabed exploration, and oceanographic data collection, addressing gaps in underwater infrastructure security. Key acquisitions include a second deep-sea ROV drone, eight A18 countermine robots, and an expanded unmanned combat underwater vehicle. Additionally, France will upgrade its FDI frigates to carry 32 Aster interceptor missiles, doubling current capacity.