Drone Crew Initiation and Training Center (DCITC)

Established within the French Air and Space Force Academy, the CIFED, which is the evolution of the CED (Center of Excellence for Drones), meets three main objectives for the French Air and Space Force :

• To train remote pilots and operators of all French Air and Space Force drones, whether special forces or conventional forces, commando-paratroopers, riflemen-commandos, or Reaper aircrew. It is naturally open (the French Air Force is the leading authority for air and space), and trains joint forces, directorates, and services for the secure and shared use of drones in the sky, both in mainland France and on operations. Given the rise of drones and the experience acquired by the Air Force, this training center also serves drone operators from other ministries and private operators, who seek know-how and clear expertise in the aviation sector. The Salon airspace is particularly conducive to this.

• Promote innovation and maintain technological leadership for the direct benefit of combatants in operation, whether in terms of new capabilities for mini-drones or improvements in counter-drone warfare (CDW). It enables a very short loop between training and research and combatants in operation, drawing on the work carried out within the CREA, in particular, and its rich interactions with the civilian ecosystem.

• Reflecting on and improving the combat of tomorrow means, above all, thoroughly understanding the metropolitan employment environment and that of combat. The CIFED collects and analyzes mini-drones (and LAD) experience not only to improve technical capabilities but also to ensure ongoing monitoring to produce regulatory and doctrinal recommendations to support the management and control of new capabilities.

Thus, the CIFED is a modern, rapidly growing unit that keeps its feet on the ground and its head in the clouds for the benefit of operational personnel.