The French army will acquire an anti-drone laser

The French army will acquire an anti drone laser

The army has ordered a first prototype laser capable of identifying, tracking and neutralizing drones weighing less than 25 kg. It will have to be operational to ensure the protection of the sky during the 2024 Olympic Games.

The war in Ukraine shows the importance of drone for intelligence and attack, with in particular prowling ammunition such as the Switchbladeor many drone civilians modified to drop pomegranates. To fight against this threat which comes from the sky, the Americans rely on laser cannons and France too.

In addition to handheld jammers that look like futuristic guns, the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has just ordered from the company Cilas a cannon laser dedicated to the fight against drones. Called Helma-P, it must be operational for the 2024 Olympic Games. It must be designed to be able to be embarked on a ship or a vehicle, and it can be combined with radar detection or optical.

During its various demonstrations, the Helma-P anti-drone laser developed by Cilas has shown its effectiveness by neutralizing 100% of its targets. © DGA

Operational for the 2024 Olympics

The laser with a power of two kilowatts is capable of accurately hitting a drone with a mass from 100 grams to 25 kg, distant one kilometer away. The system has been in development since 2017 and several demonstrations under the supervision of the Defense Innovation Agency have proven this effectiveness with systematic firing success.

The other interest of laser cannon is that it is devoid of explosives, which allows it to be boarded without risk on a ship. If the technology is successful, it remains necessary to “weaponize” it so that it is both resistant and infallible. Cilas also plans to increase his power. Just like the US Navy tested it, the ultimate goal is also to be able to use this laser cannon defensively to neutralize shells, missile or rockets.

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