French military officials have stepped up security measures at one of the country’s most sensitive naval sites after soldiers fired warning shots at two drones that were spotted flying over the Ile Longue nuclear submarine base in Brittany late Thursday night.
The base, located near Brest on France’s Atlantic coast, is home to the nation’s ballistic missile submarine fleet – a central pillar of its nuclear deterrence strategy. Because of its strategic importance, the area is designated as strictly prohibited airspace, and any unauthorized activity triggers an immediate security response.
According to defense authorities, guards on duty observed the drones entering the restricted zone and attempted to send standard warnings before escalating their response. When the aircraft failed to react, the soldiers used non-lethal anti-drone weapons to deter them. The drones eventually retreated from the area without causing damage or injuries.
Following the breach, the French military announced that additional anti-drone systems would be deployed to reinforce protection at key strategic facilities across the country. Officials emphasized that even small unmanned aircraft can pose significant risks when flown near sensitive defense infrastructure.
An investigation has been opened to determine who operated the drones and why they were flown into protected airspace. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether the devices appeared to be commercially available models or more advanced systems.
The incident has renewed discussion within France about the growing challenge posed by civilian and improvised drones, particularly around military, energy, and transportation sites. Security experts warn that drone incursions – whether accidental or intentional – require rapid detection and response to prevent possible espionage, sabotage, or safety hazards.
As of Friday, officials said no further suspicious activity had been detected near the submarine base, but monitoring in the region remains heightened as investigators work to trace the origin of the drone flight.
