---
title: "French Navy Tests Anti-Drone Laser Weapon Aboard Aircraft Carrier"
description: "The French Navy tested the HELMA-P laser weapon against drones aboard the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Gulf of Oman."
date: 2026-10-26T11:56:18.437Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/french-navy-tests-anti-drone-laser
tags: [france, navy, laser-weapon, drone-defense, military-tech]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# French Navy Tests Anti-Drone Laser Weapon Aboard Aircraft Carrier

![French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle at sea during laser weapon tests](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/26/frantsiya-ispytala-lazernoe-oruzhie-na-avianostse/frantsiya-ispytala-lazernoe-oruzhie-na-avianostse-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The French Navy tested the HELMA-P laser on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.
- Installing the turret on the ship in the Gulf of Oman took about four hours.
- The system is designed to destroy drones and lower the cost per shot.
- The complex was previously tested on land and aboard the frigate Forbin.

The French Navy has successfully tested the latest HELMA-P laser system against unmanned aerial vehicles, installing it aboard the flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Gulf of Oman. The tests confirmed the high accuracy and effectiveness of directed-energy weapons in real maritime conditions.

### Features and Characteristics of the HELMA-P Laser System

The HELMA-P system is designed to neutralize enemy drones by destroying their structure in seconds using a directed beam. The special shipboard turret includes modern cameras, a lidar, a powerful laser beam emitter, an autonomous cooling system, and a control panel. Installing this complex equipment aboard the aircraft carrier took only about four hours.

The introduction of such systems is driven by the military department's goal to significantly reduce the cost per shot when repelling aerial threats. Developers and military personnel emphasize the economic and operational benefits of transitioning to laser weapons compared to traditional surface-to-air missiles.

### Testing Stages and Technology Development in France

The first major land-based tests of the HELMA-P system took place back in 2020 and 2021, where the complex demonstrated its basic capabilities. Later, developers moved the tests to a maritime platform, testing the system aboard the frigate Forbin. Three years later, the laser weapon made its way to the main ship of the French fleet.

The current tests on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier verified the laser's performance under unprecedented operational conditions in the open sea. The data obtained confirmed the reliability and effectiveness of the complex in protecting large combat ships from modern aerial threats.

### Prospects for Combat Application of Laser Systems

The development of directed energy technologies is becoming a key trend in leading global armies, including the US and France. Previously, the US military conducted its own tests of mobile laser systems on light vehicles during exercises in Texas. Further integration of lasers into fleet and ground force combat formations will open new opportunities for air defense.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Во Франции опробовали лазерное оружие против дронов: где его установили](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/frantsiyi-viprobuvali-lazernu-zbroyu-proti-1793015516.html) - The primary source confirms all facts regarding the tests of the HELMA-P laser system on the French aircraft carrier and previous tests on the frigate.

## FAQ

### What laser system did the French Navy test?

The French military tested the HELMA-P directed-energy laser system.

### Where did the laser tests on the aircraft carrier take place?

The tests of the complex aboard the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier took place in the Gulf of Oman.

### How long did it take to mount the unit on the ship?

Installing the special laser turret aboard the aircraft carrier took about four hours.