Stéphane Rambaud: "An imperative of sovereignty in an unstable context"
The i-Naval 2026 event highlighted the crucial role of innovation in guaranteeing France's strategic independence.
Sovereignty, the cornerstone of naval defense
Toulon, France's leading military port and Europe's leading naval base, is positioning itself as the epicenter of maritime strategic reflection with the holding of the i-Naval 2026 event.
This major event brought together naval defense stakeholders—industrialists, researchers, military personnel, and public decision-makers—to outline the contours of the Marine nationale of tomorrow.
At the heart of the debates was a realization: in the face of growing geopolitical instability, mastering cutting-edge technologies has become the cornerstone of French sovereignty on the seas.
An imperative of strategic autonomy
"The international context, marked by the resurgence of high-intensity conflicts and the multiplication of threats, requires France to preserve its strategic autonomy. This involves the ability to design, produce, and maintain on its own soil the critical technologies indispensable to its defense. The i-Naval 2026 event highlighted several priority areas where innovation is not only desirable, but vital," explains the deputy of Var.
Drones, AI and cybersecurity: priority areas
Stéphane Rambaud continues: "Among them is the development of autonomous maritime drones, capable of surveillance, intelligence, or mine clearance missions without exposing human lives. The integration of artificial intelligence into command and decision-support systems is also a major challenge for analyzing complex masses of data in real time. Finally, strengthening the cybersecurity of onboard systems and naval communications, as well as perfecting underwater surveillance technologies, are considered essential pillars to guarantee the operational superiority of the French forces. forces."
Photo PRESSE AGENCE.