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Topic: Air Warfare Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Europe Tags: Anti-Drone Technology, Armored Vehicles, Drones, France, and NATO France Just Unveiled a Powerful New Counter-Drone System December 6, 2025 By: Brandon J. Weichert
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France’s introduction of the Serval armored vehicle and its sophisticated anti-drone equipment comes at the same time its foreign policy has grown increasingly assertive.
The drone revolution continues apace, this time with the advent of KNDS France’s Serval Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system. The Serval is a French four-by-four armored vehicle that features an ARX30 turret with a 30mm cannon, integrated radar, and radio frequency detection systems to neutralize all potential drone threats.
The Serval was developed for France’s SCORPION program which was part of a larger modernization drive by French forces. Twenty-four Servals have been ordered to provide robust anti-drone defenses. Those vehicles are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025, and an additional roughly 500 vehicles are expected to be delivered to France by 2031. If France finds itself in a fight sooner than that, Paris will just have to hope that its forces can make do without them.
What Is a “Dronised Function Kit”?
On top of the enhanced defenses against enemy drones, KNDS France is adding what they’re calling “Dronised Functions Kits.” These two developments highlight how serious drone warfare has become in Europe—and how these systems will play heavily into any great power fight on the continent in the (near) future.
France’s Serval anti-drone system is a remotely controlled 30mm cannon. According to Defense Post, an industry publication, the anti-drone Serval system will use a new Airburst munition to more thoroughly knockout incoming enemy drones.
Because of its modular design, Serval LADs will have multi-role capabilities—ranging from troop transport to reconnaissance, as well as counter-drone. But that counter-drone system is what makes these LADs work.
As for its detection systems, the Serval LADs have integrated radar, electro-optical sensors, and radiofrequency detectors, all of which enable the auto turret to destroy hostile drones on its own.
France’s decision to build this system indicates that Paris is making a calculated bet that it can lead the drone/anti-drone revolution in Europe. Serval LADs will be most helpful in canceling drones and cutting through the noise of bureaucracy.
France is not just developing these systems for itself. In fact, it is more than likely that these Serval systems will be used as exportable products soon enough, meaning that France will soon be a pioneer in a major defense program (once the importance of reliable, affordable counter-drone systems becomes impossible to ignore.
The Ukraine War is chock full of gruesome examples of relatively cheap drones doing unmitigated damage to more expensive armored platforms. Serval is meant to negate this threat—as are the Dronised Functions Kits.
Speaking of those Dronised Functions Kits, KNDS has designed these kits to “enable additional carriage of loitering munitions or reconnaissance drones, as well as their computing and cooling equipment onboard vehicles through the addition of a 2.5 m-wide compartment capable of carrying between two and eight drones […] the kit is designed to integrate onto all types of platforms, land-based or amphibious, and thus enables dronised missions to be conducted under constant protection from the transport vehicle’s armor, without exposing operators,” according to Defense Arabia.
The Serval Comes Just in Time for France’s New Assertiveness
French leaders have spent the last several months insisting that their national government must prepare for total warfare. French leaders have urged their nation’s hospitals to make ready massive, war-related casualties. Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly floated the prospect of French forces being deployed to Ukraine’s brutal frontlines.
With all that going on, the introduction of 24 new Serval LADs with serious anti-drone capabilities, will form an excellent nucleus for a modern counter-drone strike force. Should France earn interested foreign buyers for this product, then Paris will be a major leader in the global arms revolution.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. Weichert hosts a companion book talk series on Rumble entitled “National Security Talk.” He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, and the Asia Times. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Spech.
The post France Just Unveiled a Powerful New Counter-Drone System appeared first on The National Interest.
Источник: nationalinterest.org