The French Navy has advanced its defense technology by developing sophisticated jamming capabilities within its counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) system. This achievement is a significant step in bolstering naval security, addressing the global challenge posed by UAV threats to military assets. The system is specifically designed to disrupt UAV communication and control signals, proving effective against threats like Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, where its first successful operation took place. Officially named Skyjacker, the system was developed by Safran Electronics & Defense and unveiled at Euronaval 2024. Rear Admiral David Desfougeres, head of French Navy Planning and program said:
“We are working a lot on this with the DGA and different industrials. We succeeded to destroy a UAV a few days ago with a brand-new system, which we trained with one month ago during Wildfire exercise. This system was good enough to be quickly implemented onboard the ship and this ship departed for a mission with this system. We’ve got some very good ships but we need to upgrade these frigates with new generation of equipment such as countermeasures, counter-UAV system, new artillery ammunition. We work on how we can improve on the basis of all frigates in order to face new generation of threats.”
Design:
The system is engineered to detect, track, and neutralize drones by using combination of radar, electro-optical, sensors, and signal jamming technology. These jammers disputes UAVs’ GPS and communication links, hence leading them to either return to their base or land nearby. This technology is versatile allowing it counter drones of various sizes and speeds, ensuring advanced protection against an evolving range of aerial threats.
The system’s adaptability makes it suitable for launching on multiple naval base, allowing for quick response in maritime environment. These extensions can be seen in the development of Amiral Ronarc’h FDI frigate, French vessel equipped with Communication Intelligence (COMINT) systems and Electronic Warfare (EW) jammers. These features are part of a strategy to design ships with mutli-functional roles, implanting C-UAV defences directly into ship’s operational infrastructure.
Usage:
UAVs are widely used for observation, surveillance, and attack purposes, posing threat to the operational secrecy and safety of naval missions. To counter these risk, the French Navy’s C-UAV system have been integrated into FDI frigate, which allow for the rapid deployment of advance counter-drone measures. When a UAV signal is detected, the system identity the source, scans for unauthorised aerial activity, and launches targeted jamming attacks to disrupt communication between drones and controller.
This not limited to naval ships alone, rather activated at naval base, during port calls, and on ship navigating critical maritime routes. This provides a 360-degree defensive shield against aerial threats. By this advancement, French navy ensure it prepared for drone threats in sensitive regions like the Red Sea, where Houthis UAV attacks have become more frequent.
The French Navy is now equipped with two advanced C-UAS (Counter- Unmanned Aerial Systems) jammers, Neptune and MAJES D86, both produced by the French company MC2 Technologies. The MAJES D86 was initially part of PARDE, anti-drone solution to protect the Paris 2024 Olympics. Which is now used by French Navy and MC2 technologies Sale Manager Alexandre commented,
“A superb example of the ability of SMEs in the defence industry to respond rapidly (6 months between the 1st meeting at Balard and the 1st operational success) and effectively to the needs of our armed forces.”
In conclusion, the French Navy’s C-UAV program will update to address militant threats in choke points by increase automation and AI-based threat detection. The Navy may update with machine learning to predict drone flight paths, improving interception accuracy. Partnerships with defence contractors including Naval Group and Thales are excepted to result in counties upgrades to electronic warfare and C-UAV technology. Another possibility is the development of directed energy weapons, like lasers, to jamming system and provide more enhanced protection.
