Illegal drone shot down at nuclear submarine base.

[Kurokage]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world...79026.html

Illegal drone shot down at nuclear submarine base.

French authorities have launched an investigation into an unauthorised drone overflight of the nation's nuclear-armed submarine base on the Atlantic coast.
The incident, confirmed by officials on Friday, involved multiple drones detected on Thursday night above the highly sensitive Île Longue base in Brittany, western France.
This strategic facility serves as the home port for France's four nuclear ballistic missile submarines: Le Triomphant, Le Téméraire, Le Vigilant, and Le Terrible.
While French media reported several aerial intruders, military authorities have refrained from disclosing their exact number or type.
Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin confirmed that personnel at the base successfully intercepted the overflight.
However, she did not specify whether this involved firing shots, electronic jamming, or other countermeasures. The identity of those responsible for the incursion remains unclear.

Drone warfare exploded following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia has bombarded Ukraine with drone and missile attacks, striking railways, power facilities and cities across the country. Ukraine, in response, has launched daring strikes deep inside Russia using domestically produced drones.

https://thedefensepost.com/2025/12/06/fr...-sub-base/

France Probes Mystery Drone Flight Over Nuclear Sub Base.

The French military used jammers as several suspected drones flew over a closely guarded base housing nuclear ballistic submarines, prosecutors said Friday.
It was the latest in a series of mysterious drone flights over airports and sensitive military and industrial sites across Europe.
Three-and-a-half years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there is growing concern that such disruption could be part of hybrid war tactics by Moscow against the European Union, which has backed Kyiv.
No drones were shot down and no pilots were identified during the flyover Thursday evening at the submarine base on Ile Longue, a peninsula off the Brittany coast in northwestern France, prosecutors said as they opened an investigation.
“No link with foreign interference” has been established at this stage, said prosecutor Frederic Teillet.
The investigation had to “confirm whether or not these were drones” and determine “the type and number of devices,” he added.
One source close to the case told AFP that five drones had been detected above the base at around 1830 GMT Thursday.
An anti-drone and search operation was launched, and the marine battalion, which protects the base, fired several anti-drone shots, the source added.

This coming after arrests were made after drones were seen flying over a Nuclear reactor in France, and Zelensky's plane was followed by four military-style drones before it landed at Dublin airport on Monday, according to recent reports.
It appears to me that Russia is trying to intimidate E.U. members.

[putnam6]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world...79026.html


https://thedefensepost.com/2025/12/06/fr...-sub-base/

This coming after arrests were made after drones were seen flying over a Nuclear reactor in France, and Zelensky's plane was followed by four military-style drones before it landed at Dublin airport on Monday, according to recent reports.
It appears to me that Russia is trying to intimidate E.U. members.

Yeah, this is wild, but is this tech something the US and NATO don't have and can't counter?





Im thinking they could stop them, but don't want to acknowledge that advantage and give the Commies a heads up

[Kurokage]

Yeah, this is wild, but is this tech something the US and NATO don't have and can't counter?

Im thinking they could stop them, but don't want to acknowledge that advantage and give the Commies a heads up

Possibly, but the French supposedly attempted to bring down the drones.

There has been lots of reported Russian activity at sea, if these drones have flown in from near by at very low level, maybe we're (the E.U.) being caught off guard?

[putnam6]

Possibly, but the French supposedly attempted to bring down the drones.

There has been lots of reported Russian activity at sea, if these drones have flown in from near by at very low level, maybe we're (the E.U.) being caught off guard?

Yeah but how does Russia develop drone tech the US/NATO can't counter, this current war has been pumping out drone tech for years on both sides.

If Ukraine hasn't captured a couple and turned them over to the US what monumental intelligence failure this seems to be

[IDELB2006]

Yeah but how does Russia develop drone tech the US/NATO can't counter, this current war has been pumping out drone tech for years on both sides.

If Ukraine hasn't captured a couple and turned them over to the US what monumental intelligence failure this seems to be

From Google AI overview:

NATO struggles to stop Russian drones because these cheap, small, low-flying aircraft exploit gaps in traditional, expensive air defense systems built for larger threats, creating an economic dilemma (costing millions to shoot down a $20k drone) and testing political resolve without triggering Article 5, forcing slow adaptation to this "gray-zone" warfare. 
Why It's Difficult:

• Technological Mismatch: NATO's advanced systems (fighters, missiles) are designed for fast, high-altitude threats, not slow, cheap, often wood/plastic drones that radar mistakes for birds or clutter.
  
• Economic Unsustainability: Shooting down a $20,000 drone with a $1 million missile is a losing financial proposition, draining resources quickly.
  
• Probing & Testing: Russia uses drones to test NATO's borders, political will, and response times without directly violating Article 5 (collective defense), creating constant low-level tension.
  
• Adaptation Lag: NATO's procurement and defense postures are built for large-scale warfare, making them slow to counter rapidly evolving drone tech and tactics.
  
• Launch Flexibility: Drones can be launched from within a country or near borders, making interception harder and blurring lines of attack. 
  

NATO's Response & Challenges:

• New Systems: Developing and deploying cheaper, drone-specific systems like the MEROS (Mobile-Short-Range Air Defence) to counter drones with drones or cheaper interceptors.
  
• Air Policing: Dispatching fighters is possible but inefficient, using valuable assets to chase small targets.
  
• Electronic Warfare: Jamming signals is complex, as it risks disrupting friendly communications. 
  

In essence, Russia's drone use is a strategic "gray-zone" tactic, overwhelming NATO's expensive, traditional defenses with sheer volume and low cost, forcing a costly and slow technological and doctrinal shift. 

Air defenses are not designed for drones. Putin is making the point that his drones can fly freely anywhere he wants in Europe, and he could do the same in the US if he chose. Maybe even in New Jersey.

I think a proper response might look something like a US/EU drone light show over Moscow in the shape of the US flag.

[putnam6]

From Google AI overview:


Air defenses are not designed for drones. Putin is making the point that his drones can fly freely anywhere he wants in Europe, and he could do the same in the US if he chose. Maybe even in New Jersey.

I think a proper response might look something like a US/EU drone light show over Moscow in the shape of the US flag.

We've known drones would be used militarily; somebody in the 800 billion dollar DOD should have foreseen the advantages of drone swarms and have at least started developing countermeasures, and not just jamming targeting, tracking, and shooting down

[IDELB2006]

We've known drones would be used militarily; somebody in the 800 billion dollar DOD should have foreseen the advantages of drone swarms and have at least started developing countermeasures, and not just jamming targeting, tracking, and shooting down

​​​​​​It looks like that type of tech is still being developed. As it stands, its still a work in progress, and mainly designed for small regional use rather than any kind of national network.

Current Initiatives:

• Project Flytrap: A U.S.-led effort testing commercial off-the-shelf solutions for fast integration into air defense.
  
• Rapid Response Teams: Fielding mobile, all-in-one anti-drone kits (like Anduril's) for quick deployment.
  
• Modernization Plans: The Army is fielding new radars, SHORAD (Short-Range Air Defense) systems, and developing next-gen defenses. 
  

Overall Approach:
The U.S. military uses a layered, adaptive defense, combining various "hard-kill" (destruction) and "soft-kill" (neutralization) methods to counter the growing threat of small, autonomous, and swarming drones. 

All Russia needs to do is deploy cheap drones to test, and harass European defenses.

It may be a cost effective way for Putin to get back at western Europe, but it could also backfire on him. 

It gives the EU war hawks examples of Russia's desire to attack the west. And so it continues.