Anna Hartz
France Adopts Drone Tactics Seen in Ukraine War
Drones are changing the way modern armies prepare for battle. They’re no longer just flying above the battlefield.
Now, they’re being used at sea too. As countries rethink how to protect ships from new types of attacks, exercises are getting more creative.
France is one of the nations watching and learning. And recently, it tested a method that looks very familiar, according to WP.
During the Dragoon Fury 2025 military exercise, the French Navy ran a test using FPV drones.
These are small, fast, first-person-view drones controlled by operators using video goggles or screens.
The goal was to stop a mock naval drone from reaching a target. The naval drone wasn’t real.
It was actually an old boat hull towed behind another ship. The FPV drone successfully hit and destroyed it.
The exercise took place aboard a Mistral-class landing ship. Analysts noticed the method looked a lot like what Russia has been doing in the Black Sea.
Russia has been using FPV drones to destroy Ukrainian sea drones. Now France seems to be adapting the same tactics for its own defense.
French forces have been stepping up their training in case of a high-level conflict.
With global tensions rising, especially with Russia and China, France wants to be ready for more serious threats.
In past exercises, it practiced detecting and removing sea mines. Now it’s testing how to counter unmanned boats.
The Ukrainian Magura V5 is one reason for the concern. It’s a naval drone that can carry up to 320 kilograms.
Of that, 200 kilograms can be used for explosives. It has a long range too—up to 800 kilometers.
That makes it both a scouting tool and a weapon. It can locate enemy ships, guide missiles, and carry out direct attacks.
France’s drone tests are just a start. But they show how quickly countries are adapting. Sea battles might look very different in the near future.