Nicolas Drogi: "The pace will not slow down in 2026"

In an increasingly unpredictable geopolitical and economic context, the Toulon establishment of the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) stands out as an essential pivot of French naval defense. Addressing the personnel and numerous institutional and academic partners gathered in Toulon, the director of DGA Techniques Navales (DGA TN) presented an "exceptional" assessment of 2025 before detailing the strategic challenges of the coming year. The Ingénieur général de l'armement continued: "The world we live in is increasingly unpredictable," and recalled the need to adapt to budget constraints and rapid technological developments.

To address these challenges, the establishment is aligning itself with the three priorities set by Patrick Pailloux, Délégué général pour l'armement: optimizing costs, accelerating the equipping of the forces through new technologies, and reaffirming the technical expertise of the DGA.

NEW GENERATION AIRCRAFT CARRIER The year 2026 marks a decisive step for the future new generation aircraft carrier (PA-NG). After contributing to the testing of magnetic catapults in the United States in 2025, DGA TN will launch a risk mitigation study on the digital architecture of the combat system. "A first development platform will be installed at the Mourillon site in the first half of 2026.

This platform, a true digital twin, will allow state and industrial teams to work together in a co-located space for increased responsiveness," revealed the director of the DGA TN expertise and test center. He added: "Radar activity will be just as intense, with the preparation for the installation of the Seafire radar on the Charles de Gaulle and the integration of the new radars (KGN and SMART LMM) as part of the mid-life upgrade of the Horizon frigates.

The underwater domain is not left behind. To support these operations, the site is benefiting from a "massive upgrading operation," representing several million euros of investment to renovate testing facilities and living infrastructure.

DRONES AND INNOVATION The year 2025 saw the launch in Toulon of the testing and experimentation capability for naval drones (CapXDN), a joint DGA-Marine nationale initiative. "This agility was demonstrated by the rapid acquisition of underwater gliders, delivered in just a few months. We will probably need to go a bit further.

In 2026, the DANAE trial will evaluate several surface drones in Toulon, while the mine warfare program (SLAMF) will reach a new milestone with the delivery of the first remotely operated underwater neutralization robot," estimated the director of DGA TN, referring to the strengthening of internal prototyping capabilities.

Notably, DGA TN is opening up more to services for industrial companies. In 2025, two contracts were signed with Naval Group for a total amount of 2 million euros, concerning signature measurements for foreign vessels (Belgian-Dutch minehunters and Greek frigates).

"Finally, the modernization of the sites continues. In addition to the work in Castillon, the Mourillon site will see the commissioning of a new entrance in the summer of 2026 and the transformation of a former electrical transformer into an association community space.

I am convinced that we have all the assets to meet the challenges that will lie ahead," concluded Nicolas Drogi, praising the commitment of the teams which allows the establishment to maintain a high level of performance in service of the armed forces.