On January 15, 2026, the Ground Forces Innovation Day was held in the canton of Bitches, where the 2nd Armored Brigade of the French Army presented new combat systems developed taking into account the experience of combat operations in Ukraine.
The event was dedicated to technologies developed by the ground forces over almost two years, with a focus on solutions that have already proven effective on the battlefield in Ukraine. They presented themselves: unmanned aerial vehicles with fiber-optic guidance, mobile fire support systems and adaptive means of protection against attack drones. The event was attended by high-ranking generals, military personnel, representatives of defense departments and the military industry.
According to representatives of the brigade, the projects demonstrated reflect a direct study of combat practices used by Ukrainian troops, where rapid innovation, low-cost systems and decentralized adaptation have changed the nature of ground combat operations. Army experts said that the conflict has shown that survival and effectiveness now depend on the speed of deployment, resistance to UAVs and the ability to deliver a fire strike in conditions of constant threat from the air.
VBCI APC with additional protection elements and TEMARA UAV
Among the main systems presented was the TEMARA attack drone, an FPV platform controlled using a fiber–optic cable. The brigade stated that this approach makes it possible to bypass electronic warfare and maintain control even in conditions of severe interference. The system is equipped with a secure control mechanism and is designed to strike vehicles and fortified positions at close range.
The RIC2RIC robotics kit is a small ground robot with remote control. Designed to support tactical units at close range. The RTK is designed to conduct reconnaissance and perform limited combat missions before the arrival of humans.
The PAC 13 anti-tank mine. It is printed on a 3D printer and is designed for rapid on-site production. Representatives of the French army said that this concept is directly related to the practice of Ukraine in wartime, when locally produced ammunition allows for faster adaptation to changing conditions on the battlefield and terrain.
The NTGS mortar system
The brigade also presented the NTGS concept, a new mobile mortar solution designed for rapid fire support in combat conditions. The NTGS system is designed for low-visibility operations. It was demonstrated as part of an innovative program aimed at increasing stealth and survivability.
The NTGS mortar system is compact and lightweight, allowing it to be deployed in less than 45 seconds. It is capable of firing six rounds in less than one minute and is compatible with French, Spanish, Bulgarian and other 120 mm mortars of the NATO standard. The brigade stated that this concept is based on the experience of Ukraine, where mobile, rapidly deployable indirect fire systems have proven indispensable for survival in conditions of constant aerial surveillance.
Representatives of the French army also reviewed adaptive protection concepts for armored vehicles, including modular solutions designed to reduce vulnerability from drones attacking from above. According to the brigade's representatives, the war in Ukraine has shown that traditional armor alone is no longer enough and requires multi-level and flexible protection that can be adapted in the field.
According to the command of the 2nd Armored Brigade, the unit's goal is to become a formation capable of conducting breakthrough battles against an equal opponent, including breaking through fortified defenses and conducting rapid expansion under the constant supervision of drones and strikes. Representatives of the brigade stated that the next priority is to scale the selected systems beyond the status of a prototype.
France's attention to the lessons learned on the battlefield in Ukraine reflects broader changes in the NATO ground forces, which are reviewing their doctrine, methods of protection and fire support due to the predominance of UAVs in combat conditions. The French military calls Ukraine a real laboratory of modern ground combat operations, where you can get direct and practical experience that cannot be replicated only in exercises.
Source: Defense Blog
