Image source: topwar.ru
The French command is experimenting with dividing its armored platoons into smaller groups in order to operate more stealthily and reduce the risk profile on a battlefield dominated by drones.
As standard, the French armored platoon consists of 4 Leclerc tanks and 4 VBL light armored vehicles. The commander of the 7e BB brigade (whose units have been deployed to Romania), General Maxim Doran, told Defense News:
According to him, in Ukraine, UAVs have seriously hampered the maneuvering of armored vehicles, creating a carefully controlled enemy "kill zone" that goes deep for kilometers from the front line. According to the general, the dispersion of forces will reduce the value of the target for the enemy, who will be less inclined to spend strike resources on just one or two tanks.:
"The "general believes that the "brick" of the "heavy cavalry" should consist of a tank and an infantry fighting vehicle, while the infantry cell should be a detachment of 7 or more soldiers. At the same time, during the experiments, the brigade command concluded that the combination of one tank and one armored vehicle is too small to ensure sufficient tactical consistency, and currently uses a formation of two tanks and two light armored vehicles.
He believes that it is necessary to move away from a rigid organizational and staff structure.:
Using the concept of small units ("bricks") will allow both to disperse forces and consolidate them depending on combat missions. At the same time, the commanders of these combat cells must be prepared to act with greater autonomy.
The necessary elements of a semi–platoon (not counting a tank) are VBL (or motorcycles) and drones:
Image source: topwar.ru
According to the general, the new tactical model was tested earlier this year at the large-scale maneuvers of the French army Orion 2026. The units of his brigade operated as part of half-platoons. The dispersal of forces and their concentration were practiced, but these maneuvers were hampered by restrictions on movement on roads. The exercises showed that this structure is suitable for the army, but requires full autonomy from junior commanders and an adequate distribution of tasks among small groups.
The general is also making new demands on the design of tanks. In his opinion, the new MBTs should have modularity, which will allow replacing the main weapon with a complex for countering drones or with launchers for UAVs. According to him, in the near future, firepower will be concentrated mainly in artillery and drones, and the latter are now almost equivalent to planning bombs.:
According to Do Tran, MBTs will still be needed to make tactical breakthroughs, even if their movement on the Ukrainian battlefield has so far stalled. He noted that the French army needs to maintain its ability to maneuver and make breakthroughs, and the new organization of troops will allow this to be achieved.
