French Army and Gendarmerie consider joint drone courses

France’s military and internal security services are moving toward closer cooperation in unmanned aviation training, as the École des drones hosted senior leadership from the Gendarmerie’s Air Forces Command to discuss potential joint programs.

According to a statement published by École des drones on LinkedIn, the visit took place under an existing memorandum of understanding between the Gendarmerie and the French Army. As noted by the school, it welcomed representatives of the Commandement des Forces Aériennes de la Gendarmerie as part of ongoing coordination between the two institutions.

“Within the framework of the existing memorandum of understanding between the Gendarmerie and the Army, the École des drones had the pleasure of welcoming the Command of the Gendarmerie Air Forces,” the school said in its post.

Following a request from the Gendarmerie Air Forces Command, discussions are now underway on a possible future pooling of initial training courses. According to the statement, these courses would be conducted at the École des drones, with a particular focus on DT46-type unmanned aerial systems.

“At its request, a reflection is currently being carried out on a future mutualization of initial training, which would be conducted at the École des drones, particularly on DT46-type drones,” the school said.

The DT46 drone is used by French security forces for surveillance, reconnaissance, and support missions, and is operated in both military and law enforcement contexts. While the post did not detail specific timelines or decisions, the reference to shared training signals a shift toward standardized instruction across services that increasingly rely on similar unmanned platforms.

The École des drones emphasized that the request reinforces its role as an interministerial training unit. “This request confirms the interministerial dimension of the unit and the excellent relations maintained with the internal security forces,” the statement said.

France has steadily expanded the use of drones across its armed forces, Gendarmerie, and police units over the past decade. Unmanned systems are now a routine part of border surveillance, public security operations, overseas deployments, and domestic crisis response. As platforms and missions converge, training has emerged as a key area for efficiency and interoperability.

The French Gendarmerie, a military force with law enforcement responsibilities, operates drones for a range of missions, including crowd monitoring, search and rescue, infrastructure protection, and support to counterterrorism operations. Its Air Forces Command oversees both manned aircraft and unmanned systems, placing increasing emphasis on drone pilot training and regulatory compliance.

The French Army, meanwhile, has integrated drones at multiple echelons, from small tactical units to higher-level reconnaissance formations. Army drone schools have focused on preparing operators for contested environments, data exploitation, and coordination with ground units.

By exploring joint initial training, both institutions appear to be seeking a common baseline for drone operators before specialization. Centralizing early instruction at the École des drones could reduce duplication, streamline certification, and ensure consistent standards for safety, airspace management, and system operation.

The move also reflects a broader European trend toward interagency cooperation on unmanned systems. As drones become more prevalent in both military and internal security roles, governments are reassessing how training, doctrine, and oversight are organized across ministries.

The École des drones has positioned itself as a hub for this cooperation, hosting personnel from different branches and adapting curricula to evolving operational needs. While the school did not disclose how many trainees could be involved or when a decision might be finalized, the discussions suggest growing institutional support for shared training models.