French Navy Receives First Mine Warfare Surface Drone

The French General Directorate for Armaments (DGA) delivered the first mine warfare surface drone to the French Navy on December 19, 2024, as part of the SLAM-F (future marine anti-mine system) program.

The surface drone, developed under the Franco-British Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) program, incorporates a towed sonar system and is supported by a mobile operations center in Brest. The project, managed by Thales Underwater Systems and coordinated through OCCAr, reflects ongoing defense cooperation between France and the United Kingdom.

The surface drone combines multiple functions traditionally carried out by larger vessels into a compact, air-transportable system. It represents a shift in the way the French Navy conducts mine warfare operations, offering improved efficiency in detecting and neutralizing underwater threats.

The first delivery is part of a larger plan to establish a robust autonomous surface system capability for the French Navy. By the end of 2025, the fleet will consist of six drones.

Preparatory steps for integrating the drone into naval operations have been underway since mid-2024. Training for French Navy personnel began last summer, enabling crews to manage and support the system. The drone passed its navigation condition test (MECNAV) on January 16, 2025, authorizing it to operate in remotely piloted, uninhabited modes.

The system will undergo exploratory skills development and further testing before reaching full operational capacity by the end of 2025. This phased approach ensures the safe and effective deployment of the technology in active maritime operations.