French Navy selects three teams for armed drone programme

The French Defence Innovation Agency (AID) and the French Navy have selected three industrial teams to advance the DANAE programme, which aims to develop armed unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). The selected finalists are SeaOwl, the Orcas group led by SEAir, and a consortium consisting of Sirehna, Couach, and Naval Group.

The programme focuses on creating autonomous vessels capable of port protection and ship escorting. These drones are intended to provide defensive capabilities for maritime installations and naval movements, including the ability to be embarked on frigates. While the craft may carry weaponry, the final decision to engage remains with a human operator.

The three teams have approximately one year to transition their demonstrators into prototypes for a new campaign of trials. A final selection is expected by the end of 2027, which will lead to production and entry into service. The project emphasizes technical challenges such as decision-making autonomy, navigation, and autonomous threat classification.