Conflicts

The French arms industry has developed its first kamikaze drone, also called the 'Colibri'. 

Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of the Armed Forces, announced it in mid-October: the tests of the “Colibri” were all decisive. The new weapon will therefore be sent to support Kiev in the very near future. “I have made the decision to order 2,000 remotely controlled kamikaze drones, both for the needs of the French army and for Ukraine […] Kamikaze drones are absolutely fundamental in carrying out operations,” Lecornu announced last March during a visit to Delair, the manufacturer of these drones in collaboration with the giant KNDS, underlines Midi Libre. 

A spokesperson for KNDS France, quoted by 20 Minutes, underlines that the "Colibri is intended to neutralize static targets and light-moving vehicles, for example a pick-up driving around a circuit at a speed of 50 km/h." This kamikaze drone (or suicide drone) is deployed discreetly and very quickly to hit its target several kilometers away. It has a flight autonomy of 45 minutes and can carry a load of 500 grams. Another important advantage? Effective resistance to communication breakdowns (ubiquitous at the front). 

From November, several “Colibri” will be delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. A French weapon, developed in six months, that will make it possible to better compete with the technical resources (including Iranian drones) of Vladimir Putin's army, Midi Libre highlights.

(FVDV and Manon Pierre for Tagtik/Source: Midi Libre/Illustration: Unsplash)