French authorities have opened a judicial investigation after unauthorized drones were detected near and over military sites around Toulon during a joint military exercise held from October 5 to 16, 2026. The Mediterranean Maritime Prefecture said in an October 21 statement that the drones had entered the no-fly zone covering Toulon.
The prefecture said counter-drone systems were activated in response to each detection, in coordination with France’s internal security forces. It also said no sensitive infrastructure had been threatened. The origin of the flights remains unknown.
