VIDEO. “It’s a revolution, like gunpowder or tanks”: the French army is organizing its first international military drone competition

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Images usually reserved for theaters of war. Wednesday May 20, it was only a military competition which was organized in Haute-Marne, at the 61st artillery regiment, between teams from several European countries. Under the watchful eye of judges in white masks, a pair of drone operators aims a ball at a moving pick-up.

“The team is made up of a remote pilot and what we call a spotter. The remote pilot is the one who will drive and carry out the strike. And the spotter is the one who will give the small corrections, who will have the overall vision of what is happening”explains Lieutenant Léo, section leader.

For two days, around fifty military teams compete in several events. In the soldiers’ kit: an assault rifle, but above all a drone. French people participate, but also many foreign soldiers. Everyone is here to share their driving experience. “Among allies, we can talk about our skills, our materials, our equipment”underlines Major Pawel, Polish soldier.

The event is an opportunity to improve your skills in the handling of a weapon that has become essential on the battlefield. “It’s a military revolution. Is it an industrial and societal revolution? I think so too. But in any case, it’s a military revolution, perhaps like gunpowder, perhaps like the tank“, observes Pierre Schill, chef d’état-major de l’Armée de terre.

Drones have been constantly evolving since the start of the war in Ukraine and the market is now being invested by manufacturers to manufacture ever more efficient machines. In Haute-Marne, the challenge ended with the victory of a French pair, the 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment.