French Army tests new interceptor drones

The French Army’s 54th Artillery Regiment has begun tactical trials of interceptor drones built to take down hostile unmanned aircraft, as the service moves to strengthen its defenses against threats similar to the Shahed and Lancet systems seen in Ukraine.

The evaluation has been running for several months under a tasking from the Commandement du combat futur (CCF), or Future Combat Command. At its core is a concept already familiar from the war in Ukraine: using one drone to hunt and destroy another in flight.

The trial, led by the 54e régiment d’artillerie (54e RA) in coordination with the CCF, the Section technique de l’armée de Terre (STAT), and the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), is being carried out at the DGA – EM Levant test site. There, the regiment is assessing several interceptor drone systems developed by Destinus and Harmattan AI.

Destinus, a private European aerospace and defense company, has strong Ukrainian links and employs many Ukrainian engineers, including specialists whose work has been shaped by direct wartime experience from Ukraine. The company has increasingly positioned itself as a European defense manufacturer focused on strike and air-defense systems at scale, with multiple drone platforms already associated with Ukrainian operational requirements.

The French Army says the goal is to build a specialized counter-drone capability that can better engage both conventional drones and loitering munitions guided to fixed coordinates, including threats of the Shahed and Lancet type.

That requirement has become harder to ignore as recent combat has shown how relatively low-cost drones can threaten troops, equipment, and fixed positions. Systems once seen as niche are now driving changes in how armies think about short-range air defense.

To support the trials, the 54th Regiment has formed several dedicated teams and trained them to operate the interceptor systems supplied by the two companies. Regiment operators have already begun working with the platforms and have carried out multiple live interception sequences as part of the ongoing test campaign.

This practical phase is aimed at understanding how the systems perform in realistic tactical conditions rather than in controlled demonstrations. That includes how quickly crews can launch, track, and engage incoming drones, and how effective the interceptors are in repeated engagements.

The work was recently presented to General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the French Army, and General Fabien Mandon, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. During the visit, the regiment briefed both commanders on the mission it had been assigned and showcased the drones currently undergoing evaluation and experimentation.

Interceptor drones are emerging as one possible answer. Instead of relying only on traditional guns or costly missile interceptors, these systems are intended to pursue and neutralize airborne threats directly, offering a potentially faster and more affordable layer of defense.

For the 54th Regiment, the effort fits squarely within its role as the French Army’s specialist anti-air warfare unit. The regiment said it is continuing its transformation to adapt to evolving aerial threats, both during overseas operations and on French territory.

The trials also show how quickly lessons from Ukraine are being absorbed into Western military thinking.