Ivan Kyrychevskyi, an expert for Defense Express who serves in the 413th Raid regiment, writes that France could build the first hydrofoil sea drone to carry a ballistic missile, but that its industry has several hard problems to solve first.
At the Euronaval 2026 exhibition, French rocket maker ArianeGroup presented an anti-ship version of its planned B-STRIKE 1000 ballistic missile. It could be launched from a mobile coastal launcher, from FDI frigates or from a hydrofoil sea drone built for the purpose.
Kyrychevskyi notes that France is only starting to develop the missile family, which is to cover ranges of up to 2,000 kilometres and reach initial operational capability in 2031 or 2032. He expects an anti-ship version around the mid-2030s.
He writes that the drone would have to withstand a missile launch and have the speed, endurance and seaworthiness to fire one. Nordic countries, whose coastlines suit small craft that are hard to spot, could be interested, he says, but buyers would still have to be won over.
