Defence Innovation Agency
French Ministry of the Armed Forces agency that runs defence innovation programmes.
Last refreshed: 8 November 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Timeline for Defence Innovation Agency
Co-signed the demonstrator contract
Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea: France signs Naval Group for combat UUVSelected three teams for DANAE
Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea: France shortlists three armed boat teamsBackground
France's Defence Innovation Agency and the French Navy cut seven armed uncrewed surface vessel Teams to three for DANAE in October 2026. Each finalist has twelve months to improve its boat, and a Navy choice is due at the end of 2027.
On 3 November 2026 the agency co-signed, with the DGA and Naval Group, a contract for an ocean-going combat uncrewed underwater vehicle demonstrator over 10m long, with sea trials from 2028.
The agency was announced in March 2018 and created in September 2018 under the DGA, to pull the armed forces ministry's innovation work into one body. Its director has linked the underwater programme to rivals that can interfere with the seabed.
When was France's Defence Innovation Agency created?
Which boats made the DANAE shortlist?
When will France pick a DANAE drone boat?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 8 November 2026. Editorial standards.