The French Defense Procurement Authority (DGA) has developed an inexpensive kamikaze SMOKERS surface drone, going from concept to sea trials in just six months. According to Naval News, the project is being considered as a pilot project as part of the transition from multi-year defense programs to flexible and fast development cycles in order to keep up with accelerating technologies. The DGA's goal is to quickly transfer "sufficiently mature" products to the French fleet.
The SMOKERS family of unmanned boats (Scalable Maritime Operational Kamikaze System, Developed under Sovereign Control – "Scalable maritime Operational kamikaze system developed under sovereign control") is an example of a change in approach to the introduction of new solutions. It took only six months from the initial idea to the ready-to-use product. The initiative is directly based on the operational experience gained during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the military campaign of the United States and Israel against Iran.
Kamikaze drone SMOKERS, France
Naval News
The hulls of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are made of fiberglass using epoxy resin. They are equipped with standard outboard motors, as on rigid-body inflatable boats, which reduces cost and complexity. The target price of one product is several tens of thousands of euros. The devices develop about 40 knots in various sea conditions and carry a payload "sufficient to cause significant damage to a first-class enemy ship," according to the DGA.
DGA engineers independently wrote software to ensure autonomy and integrated onboard sensors.
According to Naval News in the DGA, several internal divisions were working on the project. The overall management was carried out by CERDAN (Centre Expert Référent sur les Drones Navals), one of the five DGA expert centers located at the Naval Techniques site in Toulon. Naval Techniques, in turn, was responsible for creating the prototype through its Naval Drone Systems department, which developed a set of "drone systems" – systems that turn a standard vessel into a drone – as well as the infrastructure for the operational deployment of SMOKERS.
Another division of DGA, Hydrodynamic Techniques, participated in the design of hydrodynamic characteristics and navigation software. This center usually specializes in scale models to assess the maneuverability and seaworthiness of French Navy ships. After the prototype created by Naval Techniques, the SMOKERS platform was improved here. The team has established small-scale composite production with master models, matrices and specialized equipment.
Successive tests on land and in real sea conditions in Toulon and Cherbourg have confirmed the functionality of the developed unmanned boats.
"The prototypes have reached maturity, which has allowed the use of three USVs in recent exercises," the publication points out. – As a Naval News correspondent observed aboard the Mistral-class Tonnerre helicopter carrier, at least one USV was specially configured as a target. It was painted white and the set of equipment was cut down: without infrared sensors, satellite communication antennas and payload compartment, which are available in the combat "gray" version."
Crews of the French Navy operated kamikaze drones from the destroyer Chevalier Paul, the helicopter carrier Tonnerre and the supply vessel Jacques Stosskopf.
"This marine stage allows us to continue improving the reliability of the system and begin discussions on its industrialization," the DGA said.
The project is currently funded by the internal resources of the participating DGA centers. If the French Navy decides on the purchase, it will be funded from their budget. Since the DGA owns the drawings and intellectual property of SMOKERS, it can transfer production specifications to local shipyards to quickly launch large-scale production. The DGA stressed that the design is "simple and therefore can be produced by many small shipyards along the French coast, including those that build pleasure boats."
