Report “Detect an enemy”, “make a request for artillery”… In the Californian desert, the French army trains with the Anglo-Saxon armies

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For the first time, France was integrated into the Anglo-Saxon armies of the “Five Eyes” during a joint military exercise.

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The French command Griffon. It is he who will coordinate the feedback from the field and redistribute orders, particularly firing orders, ordered by one or other of the allies. (Eric Biegala / Radio France)

What will land armies look like in 2040? Certainly much like those of today, even more automated. This is why the American, British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand armies, nicknamed the “Five Eyes”, are training to make their most modern weapons systems work together. During the month of March, they carried out a joint exercise, called Capstone 4, with the participation of the French army for the first time.

This training takes place on a few steep hills, dotted with small thorny bushes, in the Mojave Desert, California (United States). A French reconnaissance drone is about to be launched. “He will go to his search area to be able to detect an enemy on the ground, explains Captain Laure, of the 61st artillery regiment, in charge of the image for this exercise. We will transmit its coordinates quickly in order to neutralize it via friendly fire or via French fire. We train so it can be anything.”

The French army's SMDR reconnaissance drone has an autonomy of 2 and a half hours (1 hour in the Mojave Desert where violent winds limit its range). It makes it possible to provide information and designate targets in a theater of operation. (Eric Biegala / Radio France)

200 French soldiers detached

The objective is to communicate all the tracking and targeting systems and weapons, all different from one country to another, in order to be able to fight in coalition. Usually, this military meeting, Capstone 4, only brings together members of the alliance between the United States, Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. This is therefore the first time that France has participated.

“We had some fears because they have their networks and their work habits and us, inserting ourselves into that, we wondered if it was going to work, admits Colonel Antoine de Labretoigne, who commands the detachment French on the exercise. It’s clear that it works.” he rejoices. Nearly 200 French soldiers are participating in this month-long exercise. There are in particular those of Adjutant Timothée’s squad, who installed sensors already used by the British in particular. “The information arrives on my tablet. A few minutes ago, I made a request for artillery and it could be a “Five eyes” cannon which will neutralize the enemy in this position”, he clarifies.

The French army's NX 70 micro drone - carbon and 3D printing - and its pilot can confirm the effective presence of an enemy whose movement has been detected by ground sensors. (Eric Biegala / Radio France)

Towards much more automated operation of armies by 2040

The armies are taking advantage of this to plan for the functioning of the armies by 2040, which will be much more automated. As each system is developed by different operators depending on the country, they must be able to harmonize and work together as part of a coalition. The exercise is bearing fruit if we are to believe Colonel Zachary Miller, in charge of modernizing the American army.

“Last year, during similar experiments, we often had to involve staff in the processes, for example to transfer data from one system to another. This we succeeded in doing in particular with the French, it is to avoid any human intervention so that the information which was generated by one system or another can pass digitally throughout the network and reach its end. he analyzes, before recalling that the interoperability of systems has become essential. Colonel Miller confirms it: the American army no longer sees going into combat on operations other than within a coalition.


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