A suspected Russian drone approached the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle while it was docked in Malmö, Sweden, Swedish authorities reported on Thursday. The incident occurred as the carrier was in port for a strategic exercise.
Russian drones and aircraft have increasingly approached and tested NATO airspace in the Baltic and Northern Europe since 2022. These incidents, often occurring near key military assets, have prompted allied nations to strengthen air and maritime surveillance and deploy countermeasures to deter potential threats.
Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson told SVT that there is likely a connection between the drone and a nearby Russian military ship. He said the incident may have involved a violation of Swedish airspace.
The Swedish Armed Forces confirmed they observed the suspected drone during a routine maritime patrol in the Öresund Strait. Countermeasures were deployed to disrupt the drone, after which contact with it was lost. The authorities have not disclosed the drone’s origin or whether additional measures were taken.
“No further drone activity has been reported,” the Defence Ministry said. It is now investigating whether the incident constitutes a breach of Sweden’s access regulations.
The Charles de Gaulle is the French Navy’s flagship and the world’s largest non-American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. It measures more than 260 meters in length and typically carries several thousand crew members along with about 30 fighter aircraft.
