Sensors & EW defence companies in France

Hemeria develops tactical mission systems spanning space, ocean and constrained environments, including satellite platforms and strategic systems for defence customers.

Builds radio-frequency jammers for countering drones and remote-controlled IEDs, including the NEROD jamming rifles, along with passive drone detection sensors.

NEROD RF

A shoulder-fired jamming rifle that breaks the radio link between a drone and its pilot across eight frequency bands. The directional antenna concentrates the effect on the target so nearby communications stay up. It is monoblock and ambidextrous, runs on a replaceable military battery, is rated IP54 for use between -20°C and +55°C and is NATO-listed. French forces have used it to protect the Paris 2024 Olympics, Bastille Day and the reopening of Notre-Dame.

NEROD NG

A programmable jamming rifle that succeeds NEROD RF. It jams across wide continuous frequency bands as well as GNSS, which lets it work against frequency-hopping drones, spread-spectrum links and software-defined radios that defeat fixed-band jammers. Operators can reprogram it before or during a mission, and it works with the HADDES sensor and the ILIAD module.

SPART

A backpack jammer for neutralising radio-controlled IEDs and drones, built to specifications from the Commandos Kieffer and the DGA. It is programmed digitally before a mission so a squad can set exactly which threats to counter, and it can also lure a threat by replaying captured signals. It works with the ILIAD module, an AI layer developed under the DGA-MI OASIS programme that identifies the drone type or protocol in use and separates friendly drones from hostile ones. French special forces and the Ministry of the Interior use it, including to secure public spaces during the Paris 2024 Olympics.

BLAST

A vehicle and ship mounted jammer covering 20 MHz to 8 GHz, so one unit handles drones, GNSS, radio-controlled IEDs and cellular links up to 5G. It offers active, reactive and hybrid jamming with seven operator-set parameters including signal format, output power and dwell time. Under 50 kg and quick to deploy, it is qualified to MIL-STD-810H, MIL-STD-461G and NATO STANAG standards.

CILAS develops laser and optics systems for armed forces, including missile-guidance lasers, anti-drone systems and optical coatings for defence and space applications.

Cavok UAS designs and manufactures professional drone platforms in France, offering configurable systems for long-range surveillance, defence, counter-drone work, maritime missions and logistics.

Exosens develops amplification, detection and imaging technologies for defence, night vision, surveillance, nuclear, scientific and industrial applications.

Designs FPGA-based embedded computing modules, PCIe and VPX boards for electronic warfare, radar and high-performance signal processing. Backed by the French defence ministry's Definvest fund.

ALSEAMAR develops underwater gliders, acoustic systems, radiocommunication and subsea solutions for naval defence, special forces and maritime operations.

Lumibird develops laser technologies and military laser rangefinders for defence, naval, aerospace, industrial and medical applications.

Syntony GNSS develops positioning, navigation and timing technologies, including GNSS simulation, reception and coverage-extension systems for aerospace and constrained environments.

EOS Technologie designs and manufactures fixed-wing UAVs for ISR and ISTAR missions, including the Strix 500, Veloce 330 and Rodeur 330 drone platforms for armed-forces use.

Develops quantum cascade lasers and photoacoustic gas sensing modules for defence, security, industrial and environmental monitoring applications.

uniMir

Distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers for spectroscopy applications across the 10-19 micrometre wavelength range, including long-wave infrared gas detection use cases.

MIRCHIP X

OEM online gas sensor module using patented QCL-based photoacoustic spectroscopy for sub-ppm industrial gas analysis in compact, robust form factors.

POWERMIR

High-power Fabry-Perot quantum cascade laser product line supplied as HHL-packaged lasers, OEM modules or plug-and-play benchtop systems for defence and laboratory use.

Magneto-inertial navigation technology that geolocates soldiers and vehicles in GPS-denied environments to within 1% of distance travelled. Its LocIndoor dismounted-soldier locator is part of the DGA's CENTURION future-soldier programme.

Look Up Space develops space surveillance and space domain awareness systems for detecting, tracking, analysing and protecting satellites and orbital infrastructure.

Detect and Track

Space surveillance capability for detecting and tracking orbital objects and events.

Radar

Radar technology for collecting orbital surveillance data as part of the Look Up Space architecture.

Greenerwave develops smart reconfigurable RF materials and satellite communication terminals for sovereign connectivity, detection and defence communications use cases.

Engineering group building simulation and training systems, embedded deep-learning software and space situational awareness tools for defence. Customers include the French Ministry of Defence, NATO, MBDA, Naval Group, Thales and Airbus Defence & Space.

Builds swarms of micro autonomous underwater vehicles that map the water column acoustically across large areas. Its Lelantos loitering AUV and Seaker acoustic listening device have been trialled by the French Navy at Toulon.

French sovereign drone electronics manufacturer building flight controllers, ESCs, and complete FPV platforms. Products include the Uriel tactical FPV drone at EUR 500 and the SIDE reconnaissance drone, all designed without foreign component dependencies for NATO forces.

ELWAVE designs, manufactures and sells electromagnetic detection, navigation and characterization systems based on innovative "electric sense" technology for underwater and industrial robotics.

Optronic surveillance systems for defence and homeland security, including day/IR cameras, automated turrets, and an integrated C-UAV system combining radar, optronic sensors, and non-lethal effectors. Based in Milhaud near Nimes.

HGH Infrared Systems designs electro-optical and infrared surveillance systems for defence, naval, security and critical-infrastructure missions.

Hologarde is a French counter-drone specialist created by Groupe ADP to monitor low-altitude airspace and protect sensitive sites using drone detection and identification systems.

Manufactures quantum deformation sensors using nanoparticle technology for ultra-sensitive strain detection. Provides quantum sensing solutions for structural monitoring.

Manufacturer of the NX70 micro reconnaissance drone, with over 440 units delivered to the French armed forces. Designs and produces sub-1kg military UAVs with encrypted datalinks at its facility in Aix-en-Provence since 2006.

Parrot designs and manufactures European professional micro-UAVs, including ANAFI platforms used by public safety, government and defence operators.

Manufactures chemical and biological threat detectors using proprietary flame spectrophotometry technology. Its AP4C detector family is deployed in over 70 countries by military CBRN units, first responders and airport security forces.

Prométhée Earth Intelligence develops sovereign Earth-observation satellite services for security, maritime awareness and strategic monitoring missions.

Provides radiofrequency monitoring and security solutions for detecting, locating, and analyzing radio wave emitting devices to protect against drones, jamming, and data theft threats.

Designs and manufactures underwater acoustic systems, autonomous underwater vehicles and mine countermeasures equipment for navies, research institutes and commercial maritime operators.

SilMach develops hybrid MEMS components and energy-free sensing technologies used in aerospace, defence and other critical embedded systems.

French dual-use navigation company developing MAGELLAN astro-inertial navigation for GNSS-jammed environments and RAPACE weapon calibration systems.

Integrated circuit reverse engineering and hardware security lab specializing in backdoor detection, data extraction from black-box chips, and IC forensics. Serves government and defence supply chain security through its ChipJuice software and Le Lab facility in Sophia Antipolis.

Solar-powered autonomous UAV manufacturer. The SolarXOne flies up to 12 hours carrying 5-8 kg sensor payloads for ISR missions, with near-silent operation below 42 dB and BVLOS range of 80 km. Selected for French Tech 2030 by the Agence de l'Innovation de Défense.