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H225Ms
France has conducted tests of the Airbus H225M Caracal helicopter in a counterdrone role using onboard machine guns.
The French Air and Space Force tests took place June 1-2 at the Biscarrosse test range, during which drone-type targets were shot down, the French defense ministry said June 4.
The effort is the latest in France and other countries to rapidly introduce counterdrone capabilities given lessons from the Ukraine and Iran wars. The French defense ministry has already disclosed plans to introduce a counterdrone capability using laser-guided rockets on the Dassault Rafale by the summer and in April started testing the use of General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) in a counterdrone mission.
The French ministry said the gunners used the Caracal’s pintle-mounted weapons that previously were used only in air-to-ground roles. The service has 19 of the eventual fleet of 27 H225Ms.
The air force also operated Airbus AS555 helicopters as part of the drill, which used their 20mm cannons to engage drone-like targets. Those helicopters have already performed those missions in anger, the ministry said.
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