Key facts
- France's chief of defense staff, Gen. Fabien Mandon, warned the nation is unprepared for cheap, mass-produced drone threats.
- Mandon stated that Western armed forces struggle with the cost-per-kill ratio when defending against inexpensive drones.
- He noted that current French defensive weapons are not produced in sufficient quantities to counter saturation attacks.
- French defense companies, including MBDA and startups, are developing lower-cost, mass-producible weapons.
- Mandon urged defense companies to be adaptable and competitive in a fast-paced global environment.
France is not yet adequately prepared to counter cheap, mass-produced drone threats, according to Gen. Fabien Mandon, the country's chief of defense staff. Mandon highlighted that the high cost of Western defense systems, such as missiles worth millions of dollars, makes them unsustainable against inexpensive drones costing tens of thousands.
Speaking at an event organized by the French business lobby Medef, Mandon explained that the challenge lies in defending financially sustainably against low-cost weapons, a problem exacerbated since the war in Ukraine began. He noted that current defensive weapons are not produced in sufficient quantities to repel waves of drone attacks. The general emphasized the need to significantly reduce the "cost per kill" and urged defense companies to be more adaptable and competitive.
French defense companies, including legacy firms like MBDA and startups such as Alta Ares and Harmattan AI, are reportedly working on developing lower-cost, mass-producible weapons to address this vulnerability. Mandon also indicated he is working to accelerate the French armed forces' adoption of drones.