France Advances Naval Drone Development and Planned Acquisitions

France is accelerating naval-drone development through a government-industry initiative intended to align defense requirements with industry’s ability to deliver uncrewed systems. Announced at the Euronaval defense exhibition, the framework spans deep-sea remotely operated vehicles, mine-countermeasure robots, and uncrewed combat underwater vehicles. The Ministry of the Armed Forces has described the effort as part of a broader drive to develop a national industrial ecosystem that can produce equipment tailored to the French Navy’s requirements. The strategic focus includes mine removal, hydrographic and oceanographic data collection, and exploration of the seabed, including areas where undersea cables and pipelines are increasingly exposed to disruption or attack.

A central development effort is an operational demonstrator of a large oceangoing uncrewed combat underwater vehicle, or UCUV, being developed by Naval Group under contract. The demonstrator is expected to prove endurance and autonomous decision-making, with missions ranging from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to what the ministry called “more offensive neutralization actions.” Sea trials are planned for 2028. France’s 2026 budget allocation for the demonstrator is €30 million in commitment authorizations and €17 million in payment appropriations; these budget figures are not the reported value of a contract award. The vehicle must be air transportable and deployable from a pier or surface vessel. Naval Group’s prior, self-funded work on a 10-ton ocean-going drone helped evaluate technologies for the program.

The procurement picture also includes several announced or planned acquisitions. France intends to purchase a second ROV Deep Sea from LD Travocean, following the first order in 2024; the 3,600-kilogram vehicle can dive to 6,000 meters, and the first unit completed qualification trials for its intended depth in the week before the announcement. The French Navy also plans to acquire eight A18 countermine robots from Exail to locate and characterize mines before removal. A second Naval Group combat underwater vehicle is planned as well, described as longer than the initial test vehicle, exceeding 10 meters and 10,000 kilograms, and intended to remain underwater for weeks. Separately, France has ordered 12 additional surface and underwater drones for its SLAM-F mine-countermeasure program.

For contractors and prospective suppliers, the announcements point to multiple capability areas rather than a single open competition. Relevant technologies include subsea autonomy, sensors, mine detection and characterization, endurance, energy systems, launch and recovery, and integration with maritime platforms and mission systems. The ministry’s stated preference for European-origin systems is important for market-entry decisions and teaming strategies. At the same time, the source material provides no solicitation schedules, procurement contacts, or detailed acquisition terms for the announced purchases. The proposed 2027 defense budget remains under parliamentary debate and is not approved. As Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin put it: “This ambition reflects a firmly established French political determination: to retain the ability to make decisions and take action independently. To be feared, in order to remain free.”

• Naval Group is developing the large UCUV operational demonstrator; sea trials are planned for 2028.
• The demonstrator’s 2026 allocation is €30 million in commitment authorizations and €17 million in payment appropriations; these are budget allocations, not a reported contract value.
• The demonstrator must demonstrate endurance and autonomous decision-making, and be air transportable and deployable from a pier or surface vehicle.
• France plans to buy a second ROV Deep Sea from LD Travocean; the 3,600-kilogram system is rated to 6,000 meters, and the first unit completed qualification trials for its intended depth.
• Eight A18 countermine robots from Exail are planned to help find and characterize mines before removal.
• France plans a second Naval Group combat underwater vehicle, more than 10 meters long and over 10,000 kilograms, designed to remain underwater for weeks.
• The SLAM-F mine-countermeasure program has ordered 12 additional surface and underwater drones.
• Supplier opportunities may arise in autonomy, sensing, mine detection, energy, launch and recovery, and maritime integration; no solicitation details or procurement contacts were provided.
• France has signaled a preference for European-origin systems; the proposed 2027 defense budget remains under parliamentary debate and is not yet approved.