Unknown Drones Spotted Over France’s Main Naval Base

Unknown drones were spotted flying over France’s main naval base in Toulon and other military facilities in the country’s south.

Le Figaro reported the incident, citing a statement by the French Navy.

The flights were detected during the joint-service Typhon exercise, held between October 5 and 16 and focused on defending the naval base in Toulon.

According to ICI Provence, drones were also spotted near a facility belonging to the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) and the 54th Artillery Regiment in the city of Hyères.

According to a source cited by the radio station, several large drones were observed at once during some incidents. However, their exact number, models, and origin could not be established.

French military personnel activated counter-drone systems during each incident, coordinating their actions with law enforcement. The use of electronic jamming systems was reported, but there is no information confirming any successful interception.

The Navy command emphasized that no critical military infrastructure had been threatened. Judicial investigations have been launched into the unauthorized flights.

About 70% of the French fleet is based at the Toulon naval base. The base is home to the Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, surface combatants, and nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Similar incidents have previously been reported in France. According to Euronews, five unidentified drones were spotted over the Île Longue base near Brest on Dec. 4, 2025. The base is home to nuclear-powered submarines armed with ballistic missiles.

At the time, military personnel used electronic jamming systems, but none of the drones was shot down or located. Law enforcement launched an investigation but found no evidence linking foreign states to the incident.

Militarnyi previously reported that the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) analyzed 144 drone sightings in the airspace of 12 NATO countries and Ireland between August 2024 and February 2026. The sites overflown included military bases, airports and infrastructure associated with nuclear weapons.

In August, Bundeswehr Inspector General Carsten Breuer also said that Russia was using reconnaissance drones to identify weaknesses in European air defense systems. In Germany, six drone flights were recorded over a base where Patriot systems are serviced and repaired.