French Frigate Languedoc Neutralises Drones in the Red Sea

On 10 December, the Ministry of Defence of France reported on the operational success of the Languedoc multitask frigate in the Red Sea region. At night, this unit detected and effectively neutralized two unmanned aircraft (BSP) that were approaching the ship from the Yemen direction.

Sebastien Lecornu, Minister for Defence of Francereported that the frigate Languedoc She used anti-aircraft guided missile MBDA Aster 15 to shoot down drones during operations in the Red Sea. The use of these missiles, belonging to the technologically advanced ground-to-air missile family, was part of the standard practice resulting from the adopted operational requirements of the frigate.

Frigates of the FREMM type of French variant to which it belongs Languedoc, shall be equipped with systems to effectively capture different air hazards, including supersonic maneuvering missiles. Fregata is an integral part of the French defence strategy in the Red Sea region.

The operation took place approximately 110 km from the Yemeni coast, near Al Hudaydah. It is indicated that drones were sent by Huti rebel forces, which have recently intensified their activities in the region, including attacks on vessels and facilities related to Israel.

French frigate Languedoc, classified as a FREMM type unit, is currently working with the US Navy within the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Task Force (CVN 69). Its task is to ensure the safety of shipping in the strategically important Bab al-Mandab Strait region, which is an arena of increasing tension and military incidents in these waters.

In the context of global events, frigate actions Languedoc highlight the increased threat to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea region, particularly in the face of the increasing number of attacks on merchant ships entering or from Israeli ports. This event is also the first case since 1987 when the French armed forces shot down an object flying under operational conditions.

When analysing more broadly the situation in the region, we should mention the activity of other units, such as USS Carney (DDG 64), which reported the destruction of 22 facilities, including maneuvering missiles and unmanned aircraft. This is a manifestation of escalation of military activities and an increased threat to the international maritime movement.

Written by Mariusz Dasiewicz