France Successfully Tests Domestic Alternative to SwitchBlade 600

France’s defense procurement agency DGA, in partnership with MBDA France and drone maker Delair, has successfully tested the domestically developed MUTANT loitering munition.

A video of the test was published on DGA’s official LinkedIn page.

The new drone incorporates technology from France’s own defense-industrial base, including components from the Akeron anti-tank missile.

French engineers are developing two MUTANT versions —RCH-140 and RCH-170—each weighing up to 18 kg and capable of hitting targets at ranges between 50 and 70 kilometers.

The recent trials were conducted to validate the munition’s ability to strike both moving and stationary targets. The tests come as the French army plans to acquire approximately 2,000 units of the system.

Unlike many systems in its class, the MUTANT does not rely on GNSS satellite navigation. Instead, it uses inertial navigation with onboard processing and logic, allowing it to operate effectively in contested electromagnetic environments. Its flight endurance exceeds 60 minutes.

Militarnyi previously reported that MBDA France had unveiled two strike drones — the Akeron RCX50 and Akeron RCH170 — based on the same multipurpose missile technology.