At DGA, successful objective for the reception of nuclear submarines

Thus, the start of sea qualification trials for the first defense and intervention frigate, l’amiral Ronac’h, with a first sea outing from October 7 to 25, followed by a second test campaign from December 2 to 20. First tests of the first of a series of a future first-rate vessel of the Marine nationale.

SNA BARRACUDA

Nicolas Drogi explique : « Pour réaliser ces essais, le personnel de DGA TN a contribué, depuis la terre et en mer, que ce soit depuis des navires support ou à bord de la frégate ellemême. Je tiens à rendre hommage à l’équipe projet qui a travaillé à l’installation d’un nouveau site d’essais de DGA TN au sud de Lorient, sur le champ de tir opéré par la FORFUSCO au Linès. Ce site nous permet de réaliser des essais des systèmes de combat des bâtiments de surface en Atlantique, et donc d’offrir un gain de temps et une plus grande efficacité sur le calendrier des programmes et la réception des bâtiments au neuvage. Ce site a été inauguré le 26 juin 2024, moins de deux ans après la décision de sa création. Ouvrir un nouveau site à la DGA n’est pas fréquent. En ouvrir un dans un délai aussi court, c’est un véritable défi. Et pourtant, le résultat est là puisque ce site a déjà contribué à deux reprises aux essais en mer de la FDI Ronac’h et qu’il va encore être une brique essentielle des essais prévus en 2025 jusqu’à la réception du bateau », se félicite le directeur du centre d'expertises et d'essais de la DGA.

The general engineer also thanked the teams who participated in the acceptance trials of the FDI's sonar system, which took place in the golfe de Gascogne from December 9 to 13: "Almost all of the planned trials were successfully executed. So from the perspective of Paris and the program, the objective is met and it is perfect. In the field of submarines, in 2023, DGA TN participated in the successful completion of the qualification trials for the second SNA of the Barracuda class, the Duguay-Trouin, admitted to active service in April 2024. And, we did the same with the third SNA, the Tourville, which was received last November for admission to active service in 2025. Said like this, it seems routine. But receiving nuclear-powered attack submarines at this pace is by no means a given. In my previous post, I was in the Royaume-Uni, a country with a Navy and military budgets quite similar to those of France. It took the British 6 years to commission the first three submarines of the Astute class. France did it in 3 years." In addition, 2024 also saw the completion of operation Soleil du Sud, the first coupling of the NSRS, an international rescue submarine, to a Suffren-type SNA in June off the coast of Toulon. An operation carried out thanks to the preparation work of the team in charge of diving safety at DGA TN, whose quality was particularly highlighted.

AERIAL AND SURFACE DRONES

In the field of drones, DGA TN was a key player in organizing the Dronathlon in Saint-Mandrier in October with the Marine nationale and the CEPN in particular. This event mobilized the purchasing department of the DGA of Toulon for the awarding of about ten contracts. Several experts from DGA TN participated in the selection and then the evaluation of the solutions proposed by the companies. "And it was from the PEM and DGA TN sites in Saint-Mandrier that the operation was carried out, with the provision of numerous logistical, technical, and human resources. In total, 9 aerial drones, 7 surface drones, 6 underwater drones, and several types of payloads were evaluated on site in one week. In the area of support to the active fleet, like last year, activity was once again just as sustained in support of the SSF and the forces, with 29 trials in Toulon to verify the performance and effectiveness of electronic warfare systems. And 27 acoustic or magnetic measurements at FERRAT, at SESDA, and on our underwater test range in Pipady. To be exhaustive, we must add the 67 measurements carried out by the Brest teams in the Atlantique," concludes the general engineer.