The French Senate’s Defense Committee has launched a discreet information mission regarding anti-drone measures. It was initiated following concerns raised by Cédric Perrin, President of the Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Armed Forces Committee, about the potential “dysfunction” of the anti-drone system known as Parade. The system, part of the security measures for large gatherings, was the subject of a 350 million euro contract awarded to a consortium led by Thales and CS Group in 2021.
The questions surrounding anti-drone measures, particularly the deployment of Parade, have prompted a series of hearings involving national defense officials, internal security forces, and industry representatives. These hearings have been ongoing since the beginning of the year and will continue into February. The General Delegate for Armaments, Emmanuel Chiva, was among those who have been questioned about the effectiveness of the Parade system.
While the issues being addressed are deemed “sensitive,” they are not considered “taboo.” According to one of the rapporteurs, Philippe Paul, the mission aims to ensure that all security systems are functioning effectively and to address any potential risks ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games. The rapporteurs expect to present their findings and recommendations in a report due at the end of March.
The overall objective of the discreet information mission is to thoroughly document the current situation with regards to anti-drone measures, particularly as the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games approaches. This includes learning from previous experiences such as the Rugby World Cup, where 55 drones were detected in restricted zones, and subsequently neutralized or the operators were apprehended.
