KNDS and Naval Group demonstrate swarm technology with unleashing 100 drones in joint French Army demo.

In an Opex360 article, Laurent Lagneau discusses the versatile applications of deploying a swarm of drones beyond the obvious saturation attack, as demonstrated by KNDS and Naval Group in collaboration with the Girondine company Icarus Swarms. Icarus Swarms has developed software for controlling multiple mini-drones, typically provided by the manufacturer Parrot, which is also used by the French armed forces.
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During the demonstration, supported by the Technical Section of the Army (STAT), KNDS and Naval Group initially showcased the "saturation" capability, wherein they flew a swarm of 100 mini-drones (Picture source: Nexter/KNDS)

During the demonstration, supported by the Technical Section of the Army (STAT), KNDS and Naval Group initially showcased the "saturation" capability, wherein they flew a swarm of 100 mini-drones. This capability could potentially deliver a significant impact at a reduced cost, as per KNDS/Nexter. However, its actual effectiveness depends on the countermeasures employed by the adversary.

Another explored function is reconnaissance, with a group of six micro-drones operated from an armored vehicle. Depending on their payloads, these devices can perform tasks such as real-time mapping, threat detection, or target marking. Notably, the video released by Nexter/KNDS does not mention other intriguing capabilities, such as deceiving enemy forces or jamming/relaying communications.

The industrial partners, KNDS and Naval Group, have taken the initiative to experiment with these solutions, initiating studies in collaboration with the Armed Forces and the Directorate General of Armaments. They have presented various functions, including self-geolocation of vehicles, real-time terrain scanning, geolocation, and targeting for aggression. This effort aims to enhance the capabilities of Nexter and Naval Group systems, providing tactical advantages to their customers in confrontations with adversaries.

Icarus Swarms, the developer of the drone software, expressed its satisfaction with the public acknowledgment of their work by their clients, Nexter and Naval Group, as their swarm technology continues to evolve.

Defense News October 2023