France Tests Anti-Drone Laser on Charles de Gaulle Aircraft Carrier, Setting It Up in Four Hours

France deployed a counter-drone laser aboard the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle from June 4 to 8, 2026, during a port call in the La Fayette 26 deployment. A joint CEAM and ground-based air defense team installed the flight-deck equipment in about four hours, including a turret with cameras, lidar and a laser, a cooling unit and a control console. The trial assessed air transport, crane handling, shipboard installation and operation in demanding climatic conditions. Reported in the French Navy's October magazine, it demonstrated deployability and performance under new conditions without announcing live-fire engagements.