French air bases complete nationwide anti-drone and cyber exercises
Published · Updated
What happened
The French Air and Space Force conducted exercises at all air bases between September 28 and October 2 covering drones, intrusions and cyberattacks, according to Le Monde. The report cited the territorial command at Mérignac and said the service still lacks enough anti-drone equipment despite a rise in suspicious overflights since autumn 2025.
Why it matters
The exercise series provides a concrete national indicator that the armed forces are adjusting force-protection posture at military sites. It also points toward near-term decisions on equipment purchases, site coverage priorities and operating doctrine for bases, public events and other sensitive locations.
Le Monde reported that all French air bases ran exercises from September 28 to October 2 against drone incursions, physical intrusions and cyberattacks. The reported move gives a dated, nationwide data point showing that the Air and Space Force is treating hostile drone activity as an operational problem across the base network, not only at isolated sites. The same report said suspicious overflights have increased since autumn 2025 while anti-drone equipment remains insufficient, creating a clear path toward procurement and doctrine decisions.
Watch for
French Ministry of the Armed Forces acknowledgement within 24-72h of follow-on anti-drone procurement or accelerated site coverage after the September 28-October 2 base exercises French Air and Space Force publication within 24-72h of doctrine, lessons learned, or force-protection guidance covering drones, intrusions and cyberattacks Mérignac territorial command confirmation within 24-72h of revised base-protection procedures or exercise outcomes for southwestern installations No public procurement notice or ministerial funding line for additional counter-UAS systems by 2026-11-04
Sources
Researched and written by AI from the sources listed, under published rules. How V³ Aware is made