France delivers 1,000 infantry reconnaissance drones to Army

France’s defense procurement agency, the Direction générale de l’armement, has delivered 1,000 low-cost “drone du combattant” systems to the Armée de Terre, marking the first tranche of a rapid acquisition program launched last year.

According to the DGA, the 1,000 micro-drones were delivered following an order placed on June 30, 2025, with French company Harmattan AI selected as the supplier. The delivery comes less than a year after a European call for tenders was issued in February 2025, reflecting an accelerated procurement process tied to simplified requirements and close coordination between the state and industry under France’s aerial defense drone pact.

As noted by the DGA, the “drone du combattant” weighs 1.8 kilograms, has a range of more than two kilometers, and offers up to 40 minutes of flight endurance. The system is equipped with optronic observation sensors that allow soldiers to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance over large areas or difficult terrain, both day and night.

The drones are designed to support small-unit operations by providing organic aerial observation at the tactical level. The DGA said the systems allow rapid situational awareness for infantry units without reliance on higher-echelon assets, supporting reconnaissance, security, and movement planning.

Harmattan AI designs and assembles the micro-drones in France. The company partnered with French firm LYNRED to supply infrared cameras for the system, according to the DGA. The use of domestically produced components aligns with France’s emphasis on sovereign defense manufacturing and supply chains.

The DGA said the first 1,000 drones will be issued as a priority to units participating in Exercise ORION 2026, a large-scale French Army training event focused on high-intensity operations. Beyond the exercise, the drones will also be used for training and operational preparation across the force.

The procurement effort was carried out under a simplified expression of need, a process that reduced administrative delays and allowed faster transition from requirement definition to delivery. The DGA credited ongoing dialogue between government and industry for compressing timelines typically associated with defense acquisitions.

French defense officials have emphasized the growing role of small, low-cost drones in modern ground combat, particularly for reconnaissance at the lowest tactical levels. The “drone du combattant” program is intended to standardize such capabilities across infantry units rather than relying on ad hoc or commercially sourced systems.

France has increasingly prioritized rapid acquisition pathways for unmanned systems in response to lessons observed from recent conflicts, where small drones have become central to reconnaissance and battlefield awareness.