From 12 to 14 June 2023, on board the air defense frigate (FDA) Forbin in the Mediterranean, the Directorate-General for Armaments (DGA), the French Navy and the company CILAS conducted a test campaign for the HELMA-P system, an anti-drone laser weapon.
Already successfully assessed on land in 2020 and 2021, the HELMA-P system has been as effective as it is accurate in neutralizing hostile drones at sea. These tests opened the door to further development of the prototype with a view to its eventual integration with the Navy’s buildings.
These tests are part of the “Anti-drone control” (LAD) program led by the DGA, which provides for the production of a prototype laser weapon from the HELMA-P demonstrator.
The integration of drones into operations is a major development in conflicts and naval combat in particular. At sea, aerial drones may be used to monitor, disrupt or attack ships and aircraft. The Navy is fully in line with the anti-drone work with other armies and the DGA, with a view to developing specific resources.