In a Fight Against Drones, French Military Trains Eagles as Aerial Bouncers

Military organisations worldwide employ birds for various purposes. They take advantage of the size and capabilities of larger birds such as falcons to deter other birds from military runways. However, France has developed an innovative and alternative usage for birds—downing enemy drones potentially utilized for surveillance or planning attacks. As an AFP publication reveals, France is pioneering this unique countermeasure in an effort to prevent potential terror attacks similar to those witnessed on November 15.

In the face of drone-related threats, the French authorities have adopted a clawed approach to their air force. Nestled into the landscape of Mont-de-Marsan in southwestern France, an imposing squad of golden eagles is being trained to target and take out unmanned aircraft in mid-flight. A backdrop of the Rafale fighter jet’s roar transitions into the gentle hum of a drone lifting into the air on a runway at the air base, approximately 130 kilometres south of Bordeaux.

Suddenly, the air vibrates with a loud squawk as an eagle with sharp, vigilant eyes descends with ferocious speed from a control tower 200 metres away. In about 20 seconds, the raptor grips the drone within its talons, swiftly pins it to the ground and forms a canopy with its broad brown wings. The drone has been incapacitated and so, mission accomplished for D’Artagnan, one of the valiant “Musketeers” under training since mid-2016 named after characters in Alexandre Dumas’ novel “The Three Musketeers”.

Historically, these raptors – usually falcons or northern goshawks – had a primary task of scaring birds away from runways to lower the risk of accidents during takeoff or landing. However, in the wake of a series of jihadist attacks since January 2015, these feathered creatures are now playing a vital role in upholding national security.

Commander Christophe, the lead of the air safety squadron in charge of training these feathered combatants, notes their significant progress. Like all French military personnel, he offers only his first name and rank to journalists and proudly declares that the birds are advancing about three to four months ahead of initial projections.

The Netherlands, where the precedent of utilising raptors to intercept drones originated, first inducted bald eagles into the service in late 2015. The French army had followed suit last year. However, they chose the golden eagle — a natural-born killer distinguished by its hooked beak, amber eyes, and a wide wingspan. With excellent eyesight, capable of spotting a target from two kilometres away, and a matching weight to most drones, the golden eagles are formidable allies in the fight against nefarious drone use.

Hatched and bred in captivity, these four “musketeers” have been trained from a tender age of three weeks to associate food with wrecked drones. This unique training technique made them quickly realise that drones equate to food. So, when drones hover in the sky, their natural hunting instinct takes over.

This exciting project is visibly drawing a lot of attention. Halfway into the 24-month test program due for a first progress report in June, the initial feedback has been positive. Commander Laurent explains that the relatively low cost of the project makes it a feasible solution for securing strategic sites, such as airports, or bigger events like summits and football tournaments.

To ensure the safety of the birds, the military is creating protective mittens from leather and Kevlar to shield their talons. Commander Laurent agrees with falconer Gerald Machoukow who emphasizes their responsibility not to put the birds in impossible or lethal situations, such as launching them against larger drones with potentially fatal propellers. As more and more eaglets join the program, one can only watch with bated breath as the brave aviator eagles prepare to take flight in the coming summer.