Swedish forces successfully jammed a suspected Russian drone near the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during NATO exercises, raising concerns over security amid escalating tensions with Moscow.
The Swedish Armed Forces disrupted a suspected Russian drone on February 25 as it approached the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which was docked in Malmö for NATO’s Orion-26 exercises. This incident highlights growing security concerns regarding Russian drone activity near significant Western military assets.
The Charles de Gaulle, the flagship of the French Navy, was in the southern Swedish port as part of the mission known as LA FAYETTE 26, which involves NATO naval forces operating in the Baltic Sea region amidst rising tensions with Russia.
According to reports from Swedish broadcaster SVT, the drone was launched from a nearby Russian vessel and was detected by Swedish forces as it neared the carrier. The Swedish Navy, conducting sea patrols in the Öresund Strait, spotted the suspected drone and took immediate action.
In response to the drone’s approach, Swedish operatives activated electronic countermeasures to disrupt the drone’s control systems. “A ship from the Swedish Navy observed a suspected drone during ongoing sea patrols in the Öresund,” the Swedish Armed Forces stated. “In connection with the observation, the Swedish Armed Forces took countermeasures to disrupt the suspected drone. After that, contact with the drone was lost,” the statement continued.
It remains unclear whether the drone returned to the Russian vessel or fell into the sea after being jammed. Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson indicated that the drone likely originated from Russia, as a Russian military vessel was in the vicinity at the time of the incident. “A drone was jammed yesterday by a Swedish system at about seven nautical miles from the Charles de Gaulle. The Swedish system worked perfectly and this did not disrupt operations on board,” said Colonel Guillaume Vernet, a spokesman for the French General Staff.
This incident occurred just hours after Poland dispatched fighter jets in response to another wave of Russian strikes over Ukraine, further escalating tensions between Moscow and NATO. The situation is compounded by recent warnings from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who cautioned that adversaries should be aware of the potential consequences of escalating conflicts, including the possibility of a nuclear response.
As NATO continues its military exercises in the region, the incident underscores the fragile security environment and the heightened vigilance required to protect critical military assets from potential threats.
According to Le Monde, the ongoing military activities and the presence of Russian naval forces in the area have raised alarms among NATO members, prompting increased scrutiny and preparedness in response to potential provocations.