The French Navy is significantly advancing its integration of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into its operational doctrine, a move highlighted by a recent complex exercise in which a beach assault was conducted almost entirely using drones. This push signals a strategic shift, leveraging cutting-edge technology for surveillance, assault, and data analysis, while also acknowledging current limitations and the evolving nature of these capabilities.
Unmanned Systems Spearhead Naval Exercises
In a notable demonstration of its evolving tactics, the French Navy executed an amphibious operation in late March, dubbed Dragoon Fury, to recapture a beach in the Bay of Hyères primarily using unmanned systems. Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Nicolas Vaujour informed a parliamentary hearing that aerial drones and underwater gliders were deployed for maritime surveillance. In contrast, other drones conducted beach assaults and countered hostile unmanned systems. “We did it almost entirely with drones,” Vaujour stated, emphasizing the experimental phase to determine the extent of drone integration.
The amphibious helicopter carrier Tonnerre served as a crucial drone platform during Dragoon Fury. While Adm. Vaujour clarified that drones would not entirely replace traditional amphibious maneuvers involving troops and piloted military equipment, he affirmed the Navy’s commitment to the “concept of drone carriers.” He also noted progress in using first-person view drones or tele-operated munitions to neutralize threats, such as attacking unmanned surface vehicles.
The Expanding Role of AI in Naval Operations
To further enhance its AI capabilities, the Navy’s center for data services and AI developed an onboard data hub, described by Vaujour as “a huge computer” for collecting and analyzing all ship data. Following a successful test on the frigate Provence, which identified previously unnoticed signals, including the root cause of a diesel alternator valve failure, four such data hubs were deployed on ships during the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group’s recent five-month mission. Data scientists from French defense firms were also invited to participate during the deployment. In another instance, AI was used to analyze hundreds of potential Chinese submarine locations to devise the best tactical screen for the carrier as it passed through a strait in Indonesia.
Navigating Current Limitations and Future Aspirations
Despite these advancements, senior naval officials acknowledge the existing limitations of drone and AI technologies. Adm. Vaujour conceded that a drone force cannot yet match the power projection of an aircraft carrier strike group, particularly in delivering heavy ordnance over long distances. Vice Adm. Emmanuel Slaars, commander of operations, added that drones are well-suited for confined areas like the Baltic Sea or coastal operations, but are not yet a solution for all scenarios. “This is not high seas action, it is not the ability to fight against nuclear attack submarines,” Slaars cautioned, noting the challenges in operating sustainably in contested environments.
Adm. Vaujour also tempered expectations regarding underwater surveillance, stating that gliders are “still a long way off” from detecting nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and that manufacturers claiming to make the oceans transparent are “not credible yet.” He pointed out that AI has not yet surpassed the human ear in analyzing acoustic signals, emphasizing the need for acoustic warfare analysts who can collaborate with AI systems.
Looking ahead, the French Navy is adopting an “iterative approach” to AI development and is focused on building AI proficiency across its ranks. The goal, as Vaujour explained, is not to turn sailors into data scientists, but to make maritime experts “compatible with data scientists” by integrating AI modules into all naval training. This strategic human-resources approach aims to ensure the Navy can effectively leverage AI as it becomes increasingly central to modern maritime warfare.
