On Feb. 25, Swedish forces jammed a suspected Russian drone that approached the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle while it was docked in Malmö during NATO's LA FAYETTE 26 exercises. Swedish patrols detected the drone in the Öresund Strait; authorities say it likely originated from a nearby Russian military vessel. Electronic countermeasures disrupted the drone's control link and contact was lost. The incident, confirmed by Swedish and French officials, occurred amid heightened tensions in the region and follows other recent military incidents involving Russia and NATO.
Sweden Jams Suspected Russian Drone Near French Carrier During NATO Drills
Rafale M (Marine) fighter jets parked on the flight deck with the conning tower in the background as the French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle.(Getty Images)
On Feb. 25, Swedish forces used electronic countermeasures to jam a suspected Russian drone that approached the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle while the ship was docked in Malmö during NATO's LA FAYETTE 26 exercises, Swedish and international outlets reported.
The flagship of the French Navy was visiting the southern Swedish port as part of the deployment, which has brought NATO naval units into the Baltic Sea region amid heightened tensions with Moscow.
According to Swedish public broadcaster SVT, the unmanned aircraft was launched from a nearby Russian military vessel and moved toward the carrier before being detected by Swedish forces patrolling the Öresund Strait. A Swedish Navy ship encountered the suspected drone during routine sea patrols.
Putin is testing the boundaries of NATO with aircraft incursions, allied states say.
In response, Swedish operatives activated electronic warfare systems to disrupt the drone's control link. The Swedish Armed Forces said:
"A ship from the Swedish Navy observed a suspected drone during ongoing sea patrols in the Öresund. In connection with the observation, the Swedish Armed Forces took countermeasures to disrupt the suspected drone. After that, contact with the drone was lost."
Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson told SVT the device "probably" came from Russia because a Russian military vessel was in the immediate vicinity at the time, Le Monde reported. French military spokespeople also confirmed the event. Colonel Guillaume Vernet, a spokesman for the French General Staff, said the drone was jammed about seven nautical miles from the Charles de Gaulle and that "the Swedish system worked perfectly and this did not disrupt operations on board."
It remains unclear whether the drone returned to the Russian vessel after being jammed or crashed into the sea. The incident occurred hours after Poland scrambled fighter jets in response to another wave of strikes over Ukraine, further heightening regional tensions. It also follows recent warnings from Russian President Vladimir Putin about the risks of escalation.
Why It Matters
Officials have framed the episode as part of a worrying pattern of Russian-linked drone activity near Western military assets, raising questions about reconnaissance practices and the risk of accidental escalation during major NATO maneuvers in Northern Europe.
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