Military cooperation between Madagascar and France is strengthening in the field of drones. On Tuesday, in Antananarivo, the two countries formalized an agreement focusing on training Malagasy military personnel in the piloting, operation, and maintenance of this equipment.
Eight soldiers, primarily from the air and naval forces, have benefited from this training as part of efforts to enhance the operational capabilities of the Malagasy Armed Forces.
The official visit to Madagascar by the French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans, Catherine Vautrin, was marked by several discussions with authorities. Following a meeting in Ampahibe with the Minister of the Armed Forces, military cooperation between the two nations was solidified in Ambohibao with the signing of an agreement and the handover of equipment intended for the Malagasy forces.
The objective is not merely to provide hardware. The cooperation also includes a transfer of skills to enable Malagasy soldiers to gradually master the devices. Eight military personnel, notably from the air and naval forces, have undergone training dedicated to the piloting and tactical use of drones.
The first part of the training focused on theory, simulations, system architecture, and maintenance procedures. This phase is now being complemented by on-site mentoring. The soldiers are exposed to real-world conditions to progress toward full autonomy. Maintenance of the drones is also expected to be handled by Malagasy teams, thereby strengthening their technical expertise.
This autonomy is one of the key stakes of this cooperation. For French partners, providing equipment is insufficient to build operational capacity: doctrine, organization, human resources, training, and technical support must also be developed.
Drones can address several needs of the Malagasy forces. They allow for the observation of hard-to-reach areas, the surveillance of vast spaces, the search for missing persons, and support for troops engaged in the field. They can also contribute to surveillance in the fight against cattle rustling, a mission that heavily mobilizes Malagasy forces.
Several types of devices are planned. A first series of small drones is intended to enhance short-range surveillance capabilities, while devices with greater range and endurance will gradually complete the fleet.
Among them is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone capable of approximately two and a half hours of flight time. Its delivery is scheduled for early 2027, with the possibility of an early arrival in December 2026.
Beyond the military aspect, these new capabilities can have an impact on the protection of the population. In isolated or difficult-to-access areas, aerial observation can facilitate the location of individuals, improve surveillance, and help ground teams intervene more rapidly. The Franco-Malagasy cooperation thus seeks to transform the equipment received into sustainable skills serving the missions of the Malagasy Armed Forces.
Captured & Published at: 2026-10-07 06:08:46 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/10/securite-maritime-la-france-remet-des.html