The French Navy (Marine Nationale) reported on Wednesday the illegal entry of drones into Restricted airspace during a series of military exercises near Toulon. These intrusions occurred during port protection exercises and raised security concerns.
Details of Unauthorized Entry
According to the French Navy, several unauthorized drone flights have been identified in Restricted airspace, specifically above the Toulon naval base, the largest naval base in Western Europe, as well as the Weapons Administration building in Toulon and the 54th Artillery Regiment base in Hyères. The report indicates that the drones were "large machines," but their exact type and number have not been specified.
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Security Measures and Consequences
The French Navy announced that for each incident, planned security measures were implemented, including the activation of anti-drone systems and coordination with internal security forces. According to this agency, no sensitive infrastructure has been threatened so far, and a judicial investigation has been initiated in this regard.
This report from the French Navy follows a series of increasing disruptions caused by drone intrusions, some of which have been attributed to Russian interventions. One notable example of these disruptions occurred in early August at Leipzig Airport, when drones equipped with military bombs approached Ukrainian transport aircraft on the runway. This attack was narrowly prevented, and information from German intelligence agencies indicates that the Russian sabotage unit responsible for this incident, Unit 29155 GRU, particularly a group of operatives led by Evgeny Lavushkin, a dual citizen of Russia and Latvia.
This situation not only highlights existing security threats in the military environment of France but also impacts the overall security situation in Europe, necessitating the reinforcement of security measures.
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