French attack submarine chased in the Mediterranean

Between 28 April and 11 May, a French submarine was "chased" in the Mediterranean Sea by an anti-submarine force.

According to the media outlet L’Indépendant, the French nuclear attack submarine Suffren took part in exercise Courco/Squale 2025. According to the French Navy, which issued a statement on 14 May, the submarine was pursued by an inter-allied "task force" — an operational force made up of aircraft and frigates. Other military units also participated in the exercise, including a US SH-60 helicopter, Caïman helicopters from the French Navy’s 31F and 33F squadrons, two Dutch NH90 helicopters, and French maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique 2.

In near-real conditions

These large-scale exercises are regularly organised by the French Navy, in collaboration with other allied vessels, to "validate the qualification of naval force-level anti-submarine warfare officers". Through these drills, the Navy can assess the ability of anti-submarine warfare officers to "plan and command a complex, coherent anti-submarine warfare system at force level".

Regarding the Courco/Squale 2025 exercise, it primarily allowed crews to "train in near-real conditions, implementing bold tactics", according to L’Indépendant.

(MH with Manon Pierre – Source: L’Indépendant – Illustration: ©Unsplash)