France has started practicing airborne operations tactics on helicopters with the support of reconnaissance and attack drones.

The French media Zone Militaire reported the details of the exercises.

The French military is studying the experience of the Russian-Ukrainian war, experimenting with FPV strike drones, and looking for new tactics that could enhance the combat capabilities of units in intense combat operations.

One of these experiments was the recent maneuvers of the 3rd Combat Helicopter Regiment, during which the military launched drones directly from a Gazelle helicopter to conduct reconnaissance and fire support.

“Observing the technological advances in today’s theaters of war, the 3rd Combat Helicopter Regiment began exploring the use of FPV drones,” the Army’s Inspector General’s Office reported. “This experiment has a broader ambition: to accelerate cooperation between small drones and aviation to enhance the effectiveness of the reconnaissance loop” and ultimately ”increase the potential for high-intensity tactical operations.”

Last November, General David Cruzill, French commander of the Army’s light aviation, stated that the current technological level would finally allow the doctrine of combined use of helicopters and drones, developed 15 years ago, to be implemented.

“The drone today is a great opportunity. There is such a technological leap that we can move from doctrine to implementation,” he added.

The maneuvers conducted by the 3rd Helicopter Regiment involve practicing tactics with existing drones and aim to develop a new doctrine for using helicopter aviation together with future specialized escort drones.

According to the French military, by 2040, air combat will be “drone-ized.” According to Lieutenant Colonel Kerangat, “the concept of use will be significantly changed, and helicopters will be accompanied by tactical drones that will be used in all types of operations and on any terrain.”

General Pierre Schill, Chief of the General Staff of the French Armed Forces, emphasizes that the army must be careful and not make hasty decisions regarding manned attack helicopters.

“Many seem to be convinced, in light of the Ukrainian experience, that the helicopter is now in the process of being decommissioned, despite some feedback that shows it is still having the expected effect on the battlefield. The manned helicopter has not yet said its last word. The place of man, the main combat tool, remains crucial because only they provides combat capabilities in a complex environment when communication no longer works,” he said.

Militarnyi previously reported that the French Defense Innovation Agency (AID) announced a competition to develop a project for a promising barrage drone.