French DGA Launches Naval Drone Testing Capacity

The French Armaments Agency (DGA) has activated its new naval drone testing and experimentation capability, named CapXDN, in Toulon.

CapXDN is jointly operated by DGA Naval Techniques and the Naval Program Experimentation Center (CEPN). The capability is designed to support the testing of drones and their integration into naval systems, providing a scalable framework for future experimentation. It makes use of the DGA’s existing infrastructure on both the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, including sites at Canier and Sesda on the Saint-Mandrier peninsula near Toulon, and at Lanvéoc near Brest.

These sites are already equipped to handle individual drone tests, but the broader aim is to develop land-based facilities that can accommodate increasingly complex operations involving multiple drones and varied maritime environments. According to the DGA, this will enable France to manage sensitive testing activities securely, strengthen the industrial and academic ecosystem around naval drones, and meet evolving requirements with greater flexibility.

The establishment of CapXDN reflects a coordinated effort between the DGA and the French Navy to enhance innovation and support the Defense Industrial and Technological Base (BITD). It is also intended to encourage the emergence of new technologies by providing a controlled environment for experimentation and development.

The DGA stated that the new capability positions France to respond more effectively to growing operational needs in naval drone technology and underlines a continued commitment to strengthening its defense innovation infrastructure.