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Pictured
FLYING SQUAD

Amazing moment golden eagle tackles drone in mid-air as military chiefs train birds of prey to keep skies safe

The birds of prey with super-powerful claws are taught to think of the flying machines as food

THESE stunning pictures show a military golden eagle being trained to take down drones and prevent a terrorist attack.

The French air force has begun training the birds of prey after several unmanned flying machines were spotted near nuclear stations.

A series of worrying sightings of unmanned drones over nuclear power stations and famous landmarks has seen France turn to birds of prey to tackle drones
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A series of worrying sightings of unmanned drones over nuclear power stations and famous landmarks has seen France turn to birds of prey to tackle dronesCredit: Reuters
The birds have been fed on top of the drones, and begin to associate the objects with food which they then powerfully attack in mid-air
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 The birds have been fed on top of the drones, and begin to associate the objects with food which they then powerfully attack in mid-airCredit: Reuters
A French army falconer works with a golden eagle as part of a military training for combat against drones at the Mont de Marsan base
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A French army falconer works with a golden eagle as part of a military training for combat against drones at the Mont de Marsan baseCredit: Reuters
These animals have been chosen because of their super powerful claws, which have ten times the gripping strength of humans
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These animals have been chosen because of their super powerful claws, which have ten times the gripping strength of humansCredit: Reuters
This is one of four eagles, which were reared last year and began their training in the summer to start tackling the potential threat of terrorist drones
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This is one of four eagles, which were reared last year and began their training in the summer to start tackling the potential threat of terrorist dronesCredit: Reuters
The eagles are trained to think that the drones have 'food coming off them' and are taught not just to attack but detect the objects
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The eagles are trained to think that the drones have 'food coming off them' and are taught not just to attack but detect the objectsCredit: Reuters

Security experts reportedly fear terrorists could fit drones with explosive charges.

Four birds have been reared by the French RAF and taught to intercept drones in mid-air.

Jaw-dropping images captured one of the golden eagles in a training exercise at the Mont-de-Marsan base on Friday.

According to the French air force, drones are "a credible threat for a terrorist mode of action on our national territory just as they do for external operations".

In 2015, authorities were also worried about mystery drones seen over Paris landmarks including the Elysée Palace.

Numerous French power stations also reported intrusions from mystery drones in 2014.

reported the eagles could be called up at major events in France such as Bastille Day on July 14 or a G20 summit in the country.

A military source told the Telegraph: "We taught them to feed off the 'carcasses' of the drones.

"Now, when they see one of these craft, they think it has food coming off it and they intercept it.

"We're teaching them not just to attack but to detect them."

The majestic creature is captured at the very moment it grips a flying drone with its powerful claws
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The majestic creature is captured at the very moment it grips a flying drone with its powerful clawsCredit: Reuters

 

In December, a golden eagle trained to intercept drones in midair was part of an air-force display at the RAF base in Mont-de-Marsan attended by French president Francois Hollande
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In December, a golden eagle trained to intercept drones in midair was part of an air-force display at the RAF base in Mont-de-Marsan attended by French president Francois HollandeCredit: Reuters
France has turned to eagles to combat the threat of drones, as the animals have the ability to spot the object from several thousand metres away
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France has turned to eagles to combat the threat of drones, as the animals have the ability to spot the object from several thousand metres awayCredit: Reuters
There are reportedly fears that terrorists could place explosive charges on drones and set them off remotely, which is suggested as a reason for France taking these steps
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There are reportedly fears that terrorists could place explosive charges on drones and set them off remotely, which is suggested as a reason for France taking these stepsCredit: Reuters
The eagles could even be deployed as cover at major events in France such as Bastille Day on July 14
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The eagles could even be deployed as cover at major events in France such as Bastille Day on July 14Credit: Reuters
Eagles have already been employed by Dutch police to fight drones, and there are reports they are being considered by UK cops
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Eagles have already been employed by Dutch police to fight drones, and there are reports they are being considered by UK copsCredit: Reuters

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Eagles were chosen because of their powerful claws, the gripping strength of an adult bald eagle is 10 times stronger than an adult human, reports the .

Jean-Christophe Zimmerman, a French air force general, told the IBT: "These eagles can spot the drones several thousand metres (yards) away and neutralise them."

Eagles have already been employed by police in the Netherlands to fight drones, but not in the army.

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