Defense: 2nd RIMa soldiers trained with 12mm pump rifle to shoot down kamikaze drones

On the battlefield today, drones are the ones causing fear. Some are used for surveillance, others for dropping missiles, and then there are kamikaze drones. Inexpensive (500 euros each), they allow targets to be hit with as much precision as a missile, but at a lower cost. Drones are particularly used in wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. They pose no danger to the soldier in control.

Therefore, the French army is keen on being ready. There have already been developments in terms of detection and jamming, but if a drone manages to bypass all protections, soldiers need to know how to act. As reported by Ici, the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment of Campagne (Sarthe) has been trained in anti-drone combat since October. The forty trained soldiers use 12mm pump rifles to shoot down drones.

Drones can reach speeds of 80, 90, and even 100 km/h, so speed is crucial. “We are prepared for the speed of the drone, which can reach up to 100 km/h. We need a reaction time that is quite significant, and therefore must be well-prepared in advance,” explains Corporal Eloan to our colleagues. To avoid destroying an actual drone during every training session, soldiers practice with throwing terracotta disks. Equally fast, they help soldiers realize the speed of drones and the fact that they don’t have many opportunities to shoot when an aircraft approaches them.

[Context: The article discusses the use of drones in military operations and the training of soldiers to combat them.] [Fact Check: The article notes that kamikaze drones are inexpensive, costing around 500 euros each.]