TOULON, France — The French Navy has completed the sixth edition of its counter-drone exercise, WILDFIRE 26.2, held off Toulon from September 28 to October 2, 2026. Organized by the Force d’Action Navale (FAN) training division, the exercise focused on defending naval forces against aerial and surface drone threats in realistic maritime scenarios.
Six ships participated: a FREMM DA air-defense frigate, Chevallier-class supply vessel, La Fayette-class frigate, two Horizon-type air-defense destroyers, and the Mistral-class landing helicopter dock Tonnerre, which participated in WILDFIRE for the first time.
The force was supported by Rafale Marine fighters from Flottilles 12F and 17F, an Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters from Flottilles 31F, 33F, 35F and 36F, and a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter. DGA Missile Tests operated simulated drone threats from Levant Island. The exercise also tested interceptor drones and Magellan surface drones developed with industry partners.
First At-Sea Rampart Tests
A major part of the exercise was the first at-sea live-fire testing of Naval Group’s Rampart modular close-in weapon system (CIWS) aboard Tonnerre. First unveiled in 2023 and officially named at Eurosatory 2026, Rampart is a non-penetrating, modular launcher with four interchangeable modules.
The system can carry unguided and guided rockets, very short-range surface-to-air missiles (VSHORAD), and short-range surface-to-surface missiles. It weighs about four tonnes when loaded and can carry up to about 1,000 kg of munitions. Depending on configuration, it can accommodate up to 80 68 mm guided rockets or 48 70 mm NATO-standard rockets. Rampart can operate through a dedicated close-range protection station or connect to a ship’s combat management system.
During the trials, a salvo of 68 mm Thales unguided rockets was fired at a remote surface target known as the “Tomato killer.” A 68 mm laser-guided rocket was also fired against a target UAV to assess its counter-drone capability; the rocket has a stated range of up to five kilometres.
A Polish Piorun VSHORAD missile was loaded into one of Rampart’s modules. Its seeker was activated and successfully locked onto the target UAV, although the missile itself was not fired because a live launch was not planned during this trial.
Naval Group developed Rampart with its own funding. Earlier land-based 68 mm rocket firing tests were conducted at the Canjuers range in January and May 2026.
Further international trials are planned, including a campaign in the United Arab Emirates with Edge Group’s Sky Knight missile system and a Belgian campaign next year using 70 mm rockets developed by Thales Belgium.
Main Source : Navalnews
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