French marines neutralised five unidentified drones that flew over a strategic nuclear submarine facility on Thursday evening, according to military officials. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. at the Île Longue naval base in Brittany, the operational hub for France’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, where security forces activated counter-drone protocols after detecting the unauthorised aircraft.
A search operation followed the engagement, though authorities have not confirmed whether any drones were neutralised. The facility houses France’s four nuclear ballistic missile submarines and maintains the vessels that underpin the country’s nuclear deterrent, with at least one submarine always deployed at sea. Protected by more than 120 maritime gendarmes and marine security forces, the base remains a critical component of France’s strategic defence posture.
Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin confirmed that troops intercepted the overflight, while prosecutors later clarified that marines had used a jammer rather than firearms and that no drones or pilots had been identified. Officials stressed that critical infrastructure stayed secure throughout the incident and announced that military prosecutors in Rennes would open a formal investigation, though no specific actor has yet been linked to the breach. The event marks an escalation from previous drone sightings in the region and comes amid a broader rise in mysterious drone activity across EU member states, some of which has disrupted airports and occurred alongside recent Russian airspace violations.