The French Navy intends to put a new fleet of armed unmanned vessels into operation by 2027 as part of the DANAE project, an initiative focused on the rapid development of naval surface drones for defense and escort missions.
According to Naval News, the Drone Autonome Naval avec de l’Armement Embarqué (DANAE) program involves the use of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) initially equipped with non-lethal systems to protect French naval bases and maritime facilities.
In a second phase, the drones are expected to receive weapons capable of supporting the escort and protection of military ships and high-value vessels in risk areas. The systems are expected to be able to operate partially autonomously during missions at sea.
The program is part of France’s effort to accelerate investment in unmanned systems following lessons observed in the war in Ukraine and maritime attacks in the Red Sea.
Also according to Naval News, the French Navy wants to move quickly with the project using an approach based on accelerated prototyping and constant operational testing, reducing the traditional timeline for military development.
The future French USVs are expected to operate in surveillance, patrol, port protection, and defense missions against asymmetric threats, including explosive maritime drones and small hostile vessels.
With the program, France joins other countries that have been expanding investment in armed unmanned vessels, a trend that is rapidly transforming modern naval warfare strategies.
Photos: DGA TN / Hervé Dermoune. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
