France Launches Armed Surface Drone Program to Protect Naval Bases and Escort Warships.

The French Navy is accelerating development of an armed autonomous surface drone fleet under the DANAE program to counter new maritime threats. This signals a shift toward rapid deployment of unmanned systems to protect ports, bases, and high-value vessels in contested waters.

Facing growing risks from autonomous and asymmetric maritime threats, the French Navy has launched a new phase in its unmanned systems strategy. It is fast-tracking the development of an armed surface drone fleet. The initiative, known as DANAE (Drone de surface Autonome Naval avec capacité d’Armement Embarqué - Naval Autonomous Surface Drone with Onboard Weapon Capability), emphasizes rapid experimentation, prototyping, and operational integration. This is according to French defense officials familiar with the effort. The program reflects Paris’s broader push to adapt naval defenses to an increasingly complex threat environment. This is particularly true in congested coastal zones and strategic sea lanes.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

French company Exail has already developed a full range of naval drones, delivering comprehensive unmanned solutions for surface, underwater, and mine countermeasure operations in response to evolving maritime threats. (Picture source: Exail)

This shift marks a significant evolution in the French Navy’s doctrine. Recent years have seen the rise of low-cost, high-impact threats from unmanned surface and aerial platforms. These platforms are deployed in swarms or as stand-alone precision weapons against fixed or mobile naval targets. The French Ministry of Armed Forces recognizes the operational vulnerabilities exposed in ongoing conflicts from the Black Sea to the Red Sea. They are moving to ensure their own maritime installations and deployed units are no longer at risk from these emerging attack vectors.

At the heart of the program is a new acquisition model introduced by the Agence de l'Innovation de Défense (AID). This model favors speed and operational relevance over traditional procurement timelines. Instead of waiting for a bespoke system to be developed from the ground up, the DANAE program relies on existing technological solutions submitted through a 2025 call for projects. Seven candidates were selected for trials. They are currently undergoing extensive operational evaluation in real-world maritime environments around Toulon, one of the Navy’s principal bases.

The participating companies reflect a strategic blend of France’s defense ecosystem. This includes defense primes like Thales and Sirehna (a Naval Group subsidiary), as well as high-tech SMEs and start-ups such as Keys4sea, SeaOwl Group, Marine Tech, SEAir, and unmanned systems leader Exail. Each company is fielding a unique prototype. These prototypes differ in autonomy, endurance, modular payload capacity, and potential armament integration.

What sets DANAE apart is its dual mission orientation. The primary objective is port and base security, especially in overseas territories, where infrastructure is dispersed and increasingly exposed. The secondary, but equally crucial, mission is the operational deployment of these USVs as escort systems for frigates, patrol vessels, and possibly France’s sole aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle. Armed variants are under consideration. The first generation, however, may focus on ISR and deterrence missions. They would use non-lethal payloads such as remote surveillance suites and active sonar for underwater threat detection.

General Patrick Aufort, Director of AID, stressed the need for industrial agility and strategic sovereignty. “France’s industry can respond rapidly. We are in a period where losing time could mean losing capability,” he said in a recent media engagement.

The current testing phase will end with the selection of three finalists. These finalists will then build operational prototypes. This prototyping phase is expected to last 12 to 18 months. Afterward, a final winner will be chosen for full production and deployment with the Marine Nationale by 2027.

The push aligns with France’s broader military spending under the 2024-2030 Loi de programmation militaire (LPM). The LPM allocates €5 billion toward unmanned and remotely operated systems. The urgency of DANAE also matches the new “DGA (French Directorate General of Armaments) de combat” model. This model was highlighted by Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin, who visited the Naval Technical Center in Toulon earlier this month. "War is changing. It demands continuous adaptation and acceleration. We must deliver usable capabilities even before theoretical perfection," she stated.

Naval warfare is entering a new era dominated by speed, saturation, and stealth. The French Navy’s drone ambitions reflect a deeper rethinking of maritime force projection and base defense. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nicolas Vaujour has already indicated that drones will play an "increasingly central role" in operations. This suggests DANAE is only the beginning of a wider transformation of naval doctrine.

If successful, DANAE will provide the French Navy with an indigenous unmanned surface capability tailored to its global mission set. It will also position France as a leading innovator in autonomous maritime defense. This comes at a time when NATO allies are grappling with similar threats in increasingly contested waters.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.