Facing an escalating threat from low-cost First-Person View (FPV) drones and loitering munitions on modern battlefields—exemplified by Ukraine—the French Army has launched a rapid acquisition program titled “Epervier” to field compact counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems. The initiative seeks deployable solutions tailored for frontline units operating in high-intensity conflict zones.
Epervier: France’s Urgent Response to the Tactical Drone Menace
On October 3rd, 2025, the French Ministry of Armed Forces issued a Request for Information (RFI) under the name “Epervier” (Sparrowhawk), calling on domestic and European defense industry players to propose compact counter-drone systems optimized for dismounted and mobile operations. The announcement comes amid growing concern over the proliferation of small FPV drones used as kamikaze platforms or ISR assets by both state and non-state actors.
The Epervier program is managed by the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), France’s defense procurement agency. It aims to deliver operational prototypes within months—not years—with initial fielding expected as early as mid-2026. The urgency reflects lessons learned from Ukraine’s battlefield experience where $500 DIY drones have inflicted disproportionate damage on armored vehicles and infantry positions.
Operational Requirements: Compact, Mobile and Frontline-Ready
The RFI outlines several key performance parameters:
- Rapid Deployability: Systems must be man-portable or vehicle-mounted with minimal setup time.
- 360° Detection: Capability to detect low-signature drones in complex environments using EO/IR sensors or radar.
- Neutralization Options: Preference for non-kinetic effectors such as RF jamming or GNSS spoofing; kinetic interceptors considered if lightweight.
- C4ISR Integration: Compatibility with existing command networks (e.g., SICS – Scorpion Combat Information System).
- Sustainability: Low power consumption and ruggedization for austere conditions.
The French Army is particularly interested in modular systems that can be deployed at platoon or company level—far forward from traditional SHORAD assets like Mistral MANPADS or SAMP/T batteries. This reflects a doctrinal shift toward distributed air defense layers that include tactical edge units equipped with autonomous threat detection and neutralization capabilities.
Drones vs Drones: A New Layer of Battlefield Competition
The Epervier program also opens the door for drone-on-drone engagements. Several potential bidders are expected to propose autonomous interceptor UAVs capable of physically ramming hostile FPVs mid-flight—a tactic already seen in Ukraine where quadcopters are used defensively against incoming kamikaze drones.
This drone-vs-drone approach would complement electronic warfare-based defenses such as Thales’ Horus Shield system or CERBAIR’s Chimera RF jammer. However, kinetic interceptors raise challenges around rules of engagement, fratricide risk in cluttered airspace, and IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) protocols—particularly when friendly forces also operate swarms of small UAS.
Industry Responds: Thales, Nexter & Startups Eye Participation
A range of French defense firms are expected to respond to the Epervier call:
- Thales Group: With its scalable C-UAS portfolio including radar/electro-optical sensors and RF jammers integrated into modular platforms like RAPIDFire turreted systems.
- Nexter (KNDS): May offer vehicle-integrated solutions leveraging Jaguar/Griffon platforms with embedded C4ISR links.
- CERBAIR: Specializes in portable RF detection/jamming kits already fielded by French special forces under previous urgent operational requirements (UORs).
- Aeraccess & Parrot Drones: Could contribute agile interceptor UAVs or AI-enhanced detection algorithms from their commercial drone expertise base.
- Arquus: Might offer mobile integration on VLRA vehicles adapted for light mechanized units operating in Sahel-like theaters.
The RFI explicitly welcomes dual-use technologies adapted from commercial drone security markets—a signal that France is willing to fast-track civilian-military crossover solutions if they meet operational thresholds. This aligns with broader NATO trends emphasizing speed-to-field over perfect specs when facing emerging threats like FPV swarms or loitering munitions such as Lancet-3 or Shahed-131/136 variants used by Russia and Iran respectively.
Tactical Implications & Future Integration Pathways
If successful, Epervier could redefine how European ground forces defend themselves against ubiquitous aerial threats below traditional radar horizons. Instead of relying solely on centralized air defense nodes vulnerable to saturation attacks or terrain masking, frontline squads could gain localized autonomy over their own aerial perimeter security through compact C-UAS kits integrated into their organic TO&E (Table of Organization and Equipment).
This would mark a doctrinal evolution akin to how anti-tank guided missiles became decentralized down to squad level post-Cold War. Moreover, integration into France’s SCORPION digitized combat architecture could enable real-time threat sharing across echelons—from dismounted infantry up through brigade-level command posts—allowing faster kill chains against fleeting drone targets traveling at speeds up to ~150 km/h at treetop altitudes.
A Broader European Trend Toward Tactical C-UAS Capabilities
The Epervier initiative mirrors similar efforts across Europe:
- Germany’s “Luftverteidigung der Zukunft”: Includes mobile laser-based C-UAS demonstrators fielded by Rheinmetall and MBDA Deutschland under Bundeswehr trials since late 2023.
- Bulgaria & Poland: Have procured Israeli-made Smash optics for kinetic drone engagement via assault rifles—though effectiveness remains debated beyond line-of-sight scenarios.
- NATO DIANA Accelerator Projects: Funding multiple startups focused on AI-driven sensor fusion and autonomous interceptors under rapid prototyping schemes since early 2024.
This trend underscores a growing consensus that tactical-level counter-drone capabilities must evolve beyond static jammers or centralized radars toward agile edge-deployed systems capable of reacting within seconds—not minutes—to microdrone incursions operating below conventional radar coverage (<200 ft AGL).
Epervier Timeline & Procurement Outlook
The DGA expects initial prototype evaluations by Q1–Q2 of calendar year 2026 following submissions due later this year. While no formal budget ceiling has been announced publicly yet, sources close to the program estimate an initial tranche covering ~100–150 systems across various configurations—ranging from backpack kits for light infantry platoons up through vehicle-mounted arrays on Griffon APCs within combined arms battalions deployed abroad (e.g., Operation Barkhane successor missions).
If successful in trials—including live-fire tests against surrogate FPVs—the program could expand under France’s Loi de Programmation Militaire (LPM) funding cycle through FY2029 as part of broader force protection modernization efforts alongside SHORAD upgrades like Mistral NG missiles and laser demonstrators co-developed with CILAS/MBDA France consortiums.
Conclusion: From Niche Threat to Strategic Priority
Epervier represents more than just another tech procurement—it signals a strategic pivot recognizing that small drones now constitute a systemic threat requiring layered defenses at every echelon of land combat formations. Whether through jammers-in-a-backpack or AI-guided interceptors launched from armored vehicles, France is betting that agility—not scale alone—is key to surviving future battlefields saturated with low-cost aerial threats.
