France Seeks Military Autonomy with New MUTANT Loitering Munition Trials.

The French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has announced the successful completion of the first tests of the remotely operated munition system MUTANT, developed by MBDA and Delair under the LARINAE call for projects led by the Defence Innovation Agency (AID). These trials, conducted by the DGA Missile Testing Centre in Biscarrosse, represent a strategic step for France as it seeks to address its delay in a field that has become critical for modern military operations. 
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Since its unveiling in 2023, MUTANT has been developed into two versions, known as Akeron RCH-140 and Akeron RCH-170  (Picture source: DGA)

MUTANT represents a new generation of remotely operated munitions capable of detecting, engaging, and neutralizing long-range targets while integrating into future French armed forces combat systems, whether used individually or within hybrid swarms combining drones and MTOs. This success paves the way for new test campaigns scheduled for 2025 and 2026, contributing to the development of a sovereign capability deemed essential for high-intensity conflict scenarios.

The first consortium, composed of missile manufacturer MBDA and drone specialist Delair, reached a decisive milestone with a successful test campaign conducted at Biscarrosse. Their demonstrator, named MUTANT, successfully neutralized targets over 50 kilometres away in a simulated tactical environment featuring both fixed and mobile targets, monitored through radar and optical systems. MUTANT is based on a modular architecture with two components: a deployable-wing vector developed by Delair and a military charge designed by MBDA, inspired by the Akeron missile family. The system is designed for operational flexibility, with the possibility of recovering the munition if the strike is aborted. This approach aims to provide a low-cost, long-range tactical solution while ensuring precision and battlefield adaptability.

Since its unveiling in 2023, MUTANT has been developed into two versions, known as Akeron RCH-140 and Akeron RCH-170. The latter, heavier at 18 kilograms, can engage targets up to 70 kilometres away. MBDA presents this solution as a comprehensive weapon system that maintains a permanent human-in-the-loop decision-making process and is designed to complement the existing Akeron range. These remotely operated munitions expand capabilities in terms of speed, manoeuvrability, endurance, and range, while enabling potential swarm deployments to saturate enemy defences. The DGA has acknowledged the performances achieved during this initial phase of experimentation, confirming the operational potential of the system.

In parallel, the second consortium composed of KNDS, EOS Technologie, and TRAAK has proposed a different approach focused on discretion and versatility. Their system is based on a VTOL platform capable of vertical takeoff, inspired by EOS gliders, and designed for both surveillance and precision strike missions. Their munition features a charge derived from anti-tank shells that projects a metal core at very high velocity before impact, without the need for direct contact with the target. This technical choice aims to maximize lethality while minimizing the exposure of the vector. The consortium also emphasizes complete industrial autonomy, with no components subject to US ITAR regulations or French export restrictions, ensuring strategic freedom in a context of increasing geopolitical tensions.

French initiatives in the MTO field extend beyond these projects. KNDS, in partnership with Delair and EOS Technologies, has developed the MATARIS range, currently comprising four distinct models. Among them, the MV-25 OSKAR, selected under the Colibri project, has already been supplied to Ukrainian forces following successful trials conducted in October of the previous year. The MX-10, with a range of 10 kilometres, has been ordered by the DGA for the French Army, with 460 units currently being delivered. The MV-100, another prominent model based on the EOS Technologie Veloce 330 drone, reaches speeds of 400 km/h and has a range of between 80 and 100 kilometres. It is currently undergoing operational qualification following over one hundred experimental flights overseen by the DGA.

Thales has also developed the TOUTATIS loitering munition, whose Mk2 version will incorporate artificial intelligence dedicated to target recognition, including in environments where satellite geolocation signals are jammed. Additionally, MBDA is marketing the RD-120 Raijin under the "Diamond Shaped" label, developed by Fly-R, capable of engaging targets within a 50-kilometre radius.

The LARINAE program imposes strict budget constraints: each munition developed must cost less than 200,000 euros. This industrial challenge is essential to ensuring economically viable production, a necessary condition to meet the needs of the French land forces, which could acquire over 1,800 units in the coming years. If the demonstrations scheduled through 2026 confirm the current potential, France could soon have a credible national capability, breaking the dominance of Israeli, Turkish, or American models. Beyond responding to the context of the war in Ukraine, LARINAE reflects a long-term strategy to establish remotely operated munitions as a core component of future military operations, combining technological innovation, industrial sovereignty, and adaptation to the war economy.