Simulated Trials Mark Initial Step Toward Drone-Helicopter Interoperability for French Army
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
In February 2025, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), through its Flight Test division, conducted a simulation-based experimental campaign aimed at exploring the potential for cooperation between military helicopters and drones. As modern conflicts increasingly demand synergy between manned platforms and unmanned systems, this effort forms part of a broader capacity transformation for the French Armed Forces. The goal is to determine how these aerial vectors can interact effectively, share tactical information, and divide tasks to expand the range of possible missions and enhance the conduct of joint or combined operations.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The primary focus of these trials was to evaluate how drone autonomy could be balanced with human control and to what extent crew cognitive load remained manageable despite increasingly complex interactions (Picture source: DGA)
The simulation campaign took place within the DGA Flight Test facilities and mobilized both technical and operational expertise from multiple military entities. Participants included DGA test pilots, members of the French Army’s Airmobile Group (GAMSTAT), and operational personnel from the 3rd Combat Helicopter Regiment (3e RHC) and the 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (4e RHFS). The chosen scenario simulated an offensive reconnaissance mission involving a helicopter supported by two drones, in a virtual environment designed to replicate real operational conditions. The mission was broken down into several elementary phases, each of which was repeated multiple times with varying levels of interoperability between the helicopter crew and the unmanned systems, as well as differing crew configurations—either two or three operators.
The primary focus of these trials was to evaluate how drone autonomy could be balanced with human control and to what extent crew cognitive load remained manageable despite increasingly complex interactions. To assess this, both subjective and physiological data were collected during each phase to evaluate the participants’ mental workload and operational performance. These measures helped identify the most suitable configurations for distributing responsibilities between human operators and autonomous systems.
The technical system supporting the experiment was based on interconnected simulators of the NH90—a transport helicopter widely used by the French Army—and various types of simulated drones. Within less than three months, DGA Flight Test engineers developed and implemented a distributed simulation architecture capable of replicating complex tactical data exchanges. Simulated information included imagery from optronic sensors, lines of sight, as well as navigation and payload control commands. Additionally, a touch-based interface was developed to facilitate drone piloting and supervision from the helicopter. This interface, deployable either on the cockpit dashboard or on a tablet, enables map interaction, real-time display of drone data, and control over flight paths and sensor payloads.
This initial experimental campaign represents a foundational step in the broader project to mature drone-helicopter cooperation technologies, a priority area for both the DGA and the French Defence Innovation Agency (AID). Insights from this first phase, focused primarily on the Army’s needs, will later inform adaptations of the simulation tools for use cases relevant to the French Navy and the Air and Space Force. In the long term, the next stages of the programme are expected to incorporate technological components developed by industry, with the aim of enhancing functional realism, increasing system autonomy, and refining operational scenarios. These developments will pave the way for real flight tests augmented by simulation elements—a hybrid approach designed to assess advanced configurations before they enter operational service.
In summary, this simulation campaign conducted by DGA Flight Test underscores the importance of distributed simulation in evaluating future interoperable capabilities between manned and unmanned platforms. It also highlights the ability of the French military to rapidly structure complex trials around key technological challenges. This work anticipates future developments in collaborative combat, where helicopters will no longer operate in isolation but as part of a network of sensors and autonomous effectors capable of coordinated action in an increasingly digitized battlespace.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
In February 2025, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), through its Flight Test division, conducted a simulation-based experimental campaign aimed at exploring the potential for cooperation between military helicopters and drones. As modern conflicts increasingly demand synergy between manned platforms and unmanned systems, this effort forms part of a broader capacity transformation for the French Armed Forces. The goal is to determine how these aerial vectors can interact effectively, share tactical information, and divide tasks to expand the range of possible missions and enhance the conduct of joint or combined operations.
The primary focus of these trials was to evaluate how drone autonomy could be balanced with human control and to what extent crew cognitive load remained manageable despite increasingly complex interactions (Picture source: DGA)
The simulation campaign took place within the DGA Flight Test facilities and mobilized both technical and operational expertise from multiple military entities. Participants included DGA test pilots, members of the French Army’s Airmobile Group (GAMSTAT), and operational personnel from the 3rd Combat Helicopter Regiment (3e RHC) and the 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (4e RHFS). The chosen scenario simulated an offensive reconnaissance mission involving a helicopter supported by two drones, in a virtual environment designed to replicate real operational conditions. The mission was broken down into several elementary phases, each of which was repeated multiple times with varying levels of interoperability between the helicopter crew and the unmanned systems, as well as differing crew configurations—either two or three operators.
The primary focus of these trials was to evaluate how drone autonomy could be balanced with human control and to what extent crew cognitive load remained manageable despite increasingly complex interactions. To assess this, both subjective and physiological data were collected during each phase to evaluate the participants’ mental workload and operational performance. These measures helped identify the most suitable configurations for distributing responsibilities between human operators and autonomous systems.
The technical system supporting the experiment was based on interconnected simulators of the NH90—a transport helicopter widely used by the French Army—and various types of simulated drones. Within less than three months, DGA Flight Test engineers developed and implemented a distributed simulation architecture capable of replicating complex tactical data exchanges. Simulated information included imagery from optronic sensors, lines of sight, as well as navigation and payload control commands. Additionally, a touch-based interface was developed to facilitate drone piloting and supervision from the helicopter. This interface, deployable either on the cockpit dashboard or on a tablet, enables map interaction, real-time display of drone data, and control over flight paths and sensor payloads.
This initial experimental campaign represents a foundational step in the broader project to mature drone-helicopter cooperation technologies, a priority area for both the DGA and the French Defence Innovation Agency (AID). Insights from this first phase, focused primarily on the Army’s needs, will later inform adaptations of the simulation tools for use cases relevant to the French Navy and the Air and Space Force. In the long term, the next stages of the programme are expected to incorporate technological components developed by industry, with the aim of enhancing functional realism, increasing system autonomy, and refining operational scenarios. These developments will pave the way for real flight tests augmented by simulation elements—a hybrid approach designed to assess advanced configurations before they enter operational service.
In summary, this simulation campaign conducted by DGA Flight Test underscores the importance of distributed simulation in evaluating future interoperable capabilities between manned and unmanned platforms. It also highlights the ability of the French military to rapidly structure complex trials around key technological challenges. This work anticipates future developments in collaborative combat, where helicopters will no longer operate in isolation but as part of a network of sensors and autonomous effectors capable of coordinated action in an increasingly digitized battlespace.
