France’s Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) has moved its SMOKERS one-way-attack unmanned surface vessel from initial concept to sea trials in six months, according to Naval News’ report on the program. The milestone positions the system for further reliability work and possible industrialization, but does not represent a disclosed production order or operational fielding decision.
The DGA developed the prototypes through internal organizations led by its CERDAN naval-drone center. DGA Naval Techniques handled the initial SMOKERS V0 prototype, including the electronic architecture, software, remote-control interface and system integration. DGA Hydrodynamic Techniques then developed the SMOKERS V1.0 platform and established an in-house small-scale composite manufacturing capability, Naval News reported.
The vessels use resin-fiberglass composite hulls and standard outboard motors. The DGA is targeting unit costs in the range of a few tens of thousands of euros, with a stated speed of around 40 knots. Naval News reported that the DGA said the explosive payload would be sufficient to inflict significant damage on a first-rate enemy vessel. The report does not provide a payload weight or a formal performance acceptance standard.
More than four sea-trial campaigns have taken place in Toulon and Cherbourg, including tests of detectability by French Navy surface sensors. Three USVs were deployed during the recent WildFire counter-drone exercise. At least one was configured as a target version, without the infrared sensors, SATCOM antennas and pyrotechnic-payload compartment fitted to the operational “grey” variant described in the report.
French Navy crews operated the boats from the destroyer Chevalier Paul, the amphibious ship Tonnerre and the supply vessel Jacques Stosskopf. The DGA said the sea phase would support reliability improvements and discussions about industrialization. It owns the design blueprints and intellectual property, allowing specifications to be distributed to French shipyards if the Navy chooses to procure the system.
The effort follows an earlier French Navy demonstration: Naval News reported in April 2025 that a remotely operated jet-ski-based naval munition detonated against a decommissioned landing craft utility off Toulon. That earlier test was intended to improve deployment, guidance and pyrotechnic systems; it did not establish a production decision for SMOKERS.