The threats that pose great danger to the country come in the form of drones whose numbers in France are on an upward trend. Such dangers include unauthorized spying to the threats of coordinated drone attacks on military installations, government buildings, and strategic facilities.
Friction in the threat environment is provided by the availability of drones (cheap, and easily obtainable without regulation) and a series of UAVs becoming increasingly capable in the military. The defence agencies in France are now getting up the pace in developing systems and procuring them that can detect and nullify drones before they can enter sensitive regions.
A shifting global landscape is influencing national strategy
The Russia-Ukraine war continues to serve as a powerful lesson in modern warfare. The war between Russia and Ukraine has remained to be an eye opener to contemporary war. Surveillance and combat have both been characterised by the use of drone technology. France has not been left behind as it notes the effects of swarms of drones in the battlefield. The lessons are calling and self-explanatory. The defence against drones has become compulsory.
This has been spurred by a series of suspected drone flights over French airports and other public places early 2025. Investments in counter-UAS solutions have become a priority of the French authorities to stop a possible attack and remain operational.
A major strategic deal: Paras Defence and CERBAIR
What this collaboration means
India’s Paras Defence has entered into a strategic agreement with France’s CERBAIR to supply advanced counter-drone systems. The deal is valued at ₹22 crore (approximately €2.2 million) and includes the delivery of up to 30 CHIMERA 200 systems.
The CHIMERA 200 is a portable radio frequency detection and neutralization tool. It supports frequency ranges between 400 MHz and 6 GHz, allowing it to detect and disrupt multiple drones in real time.
The agreement is a clear signal that France is willing to look beyond its borders for proven, high-performance technologies that can be deployed quickly to address evolving threats.
A response to modern battlefield demands
The CHIMERA 200 stands out because of its agile modulation system. It adapts to the latest drone evasive techniques and is capable of addressing swarm scenarios. These are among the most difficult to defend against and have increasingly been observed in global conflicts.
Ashutosh Baheti, CEO of Paras Anti Drone Technologies, stated:
“Our collaboration with CERBAIR is proof of India’s growing stature as a trusted source of advanced anti-drone technologies.”
He stressed that the CHIMERA 200 is not just competitive but tailored to international defence demands, supporting India’s role as a serious player in global defence manufacturing.
CERBAIR confirms the market demand
CERBAIR President Lucas Le BELL acknowledged the urgency behind this collaboration:
“With shifts in global geopolitics and the conflict in Ukraine, the need for this solution has surged.”
He said the market is actively requesting demonstrations and quick delivery. According to Le BELL, boosting neutralization power with agile modulation helps meet the evolving nature of drone threats, and makes the CHIMERA 200 a solid match for the French market.
France’s modernization drive includes imported solutions
From 2024 to 2030, France is implementing a comprehensive modernization strategy to strengthen its air defense infrastructure. This initiative spans multiple layers, including radar systems, software platforms, and counter-drone tools.
While domestic innovation remains essential, the nature of drone threats requires fast and practical solutions. By integrating foreign systems like the CHIMERA 200, France can address capability gaps immediately.
This practical approach ensures readiness without compromising long-term development goals. It also highlights the benefits of adopting field-tested technologies developed outside of Europe.
India’s global rise in defence manufacturing
Amit Mahajan, Director at Paras Defence and Space Technologies Ltd, pointed out:
“India has moved beyond licensed manufacturing to become a global hub for the development and export of world-class technologies.”
He stressed that the CHIMERA 200 is a change in the approach to the international defence market used by Indian defence manufacturers as the device integrates local research and development with adherence to international standards.
The fact that France procures Paras Defence is a good sign of this development, as more players tend to gain trust in the Indian defence industry.
Why CHIMERA 200 meets France’s defence needs
CHIMERA 200 has several features of operation that make it appropriate to fulfill the needs of a multi-layered defence system in France. It is also capable of detecting drones in directional mode as well as omnidirectional mode depending on what situation on the ground is.
When it is placed in areas close to sensitive areas such as airports or any other place where the environment has many people, its low false alarm rate is very crucial. The open architecture nature of the system encompasses a secure API that may be compatible with other existing command-and-control formulations in the French military and civil defence networks.
Such interoperability implies that France does not have to completely revamp its system to be able to install the CHIMERA 200. It can be integrated into the current processes without disruptions.
Combining complementary capabilities
This partnership also illustrates how nations with different strengths can collaborate. France contributes expertise in defence-grade hardware and software integration. India provides strong capabilities in radio frequency engineering.
Together, they create robust, hybrid solutions that can adapt to both military and non-military environments.
An analyst’s perspective on the growing threat
Naveen Garewal, a defence analyst, offered insight during a recent interview with a national news channel. He said:
“France’s growing drone threat landscape demands rapid acquisition of advanced countermeasures, and collaborations with global innovators like Paras Defence are vital to maintaining security.”
Garewal emphasized that such deals go beyond equipment supply. They encourage long-term knowledge transfer, shared R&D efforts, and the co-development of emerging defence technologies.
Garewal pointed out that drone-based attacks and disruptions are becoming a daily operational concern for NATO countries, including France. This makes strategic partnerships with suppliers from India, Israel, and other rising tech hubs more important than ever.
Evolving tactics require adaptable solutions
Drones are changing rapidly. New models are lighter, faster, and harder to detect. Some use advanced AI to change flight patterns during missions. Others are designed to work in swarms, overwhelming radar systems and jamming devices.
CHIMERA 200 addresses these realities. It adjusts its neutralization power and frequency range dynamically, responding to the behavior of the incoming threat. This makes it especially suitable for countering the modern drone tactics seen in Ukraine, the Middle East, and North Africa.
France is not alone in facing this wave of technology. But unlike many nations still developing countermeasures, France is acting quickly to deploy systems with proven capabilities.
Domestic benefits from foreign technology partnerships
France’s defence partnerships offer more than immediate tactical value. They help domestic firms understand how similar systems work, leading to long-term gains in innovation and production.
These partnerships open the door for technology transfers, including source code licensing and software protocol sharing. In the coming years, this could allow French defence contractors to develop their own iterations or support systems based on CHIMERA 200’s design.
Moreover, this agreement aligns with France’s push for interoperable European defence infrastructure. Systems developed in cooperation with international partners can be deployed not only in France but across NATO operations and EU peacekeeping missions.
New wave of funding and public awareness in 2025
In 2025 France also spent extra funds on its National Security Enhancement Program to increase its defences against drones. This involved special measures such as an allocated budget of 120 million Euros to be used to urgently purchase and erect counter-drone systems in the five large cities namely, Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.
This move followed several high-profile incidents, including a drone spotted above a nuclear plant in February 2025 and suspicious drone activity during a diplomatic summit in Nice. Though no damage occurred, the incidents raised questions about readiness and response times.
Public opinion has also shifted. A March 2025 national security poll showed that 68% of French citizens believe drone-related threats are the most under-addressed aspect of the country’s defence posture.
The future of France’s counter-drone efforts
With the drone threat evolving faster than traditional defence systems, partnerships with innovators like Paras Defence offer a direct path to staying ahead.
CHIMERA 200 offer might not be the only one. When it is properly implemented and when it is adopted, it may result in additional Indo-French joint projects. It can also be used as an example of how the other European states react to this common challenge.
With the growth in demand of scalable and fast-deployment counter-drone solutions, the French method of purchasing abroad and building policy domestically heralds a new era of counter-drone security as applied by modern nations.
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