Between March 16 and 20, an American underwater drone called the “Razorback” was tested off the coast of Toulon by the French Navy. The underwater drone was launched from the attack nuclear submarine Suffren, underwater, according to CNEWS. The objective was to assess the submarine’s ability to deploy this type of drone for visual and acoustic reconnaissance before undertaking a riskier operation.
The underwater drone is supported by an external deck hangar equipped on the Suffren submarines. These removable hangars allow for the embarkation of small submarines, manned or unmanned, as stated by Navy Chief of Staff Nicolas Vaujour at the Guerres et Paix forum. During the tests, the underwater drone was launched and recovered from this deck hangar, used for the first time during these tests. The hangar can also accommodate combat swimmers and specialized equipment.
Development capabilities:
The underwater drone “Razorback” is essentially a military alternative to the civilian drone Remus 620. Produced by Huntington Ingalls Industries, it is initially used for hydrographic missions. “Being able to launch a drone from a manned submarine opens up very interesting operational capabilities,” explains the admiral.
The purpose of this underwater drone is primarily to explore an area for reconnaissance, allowing the submarine to maintain a safe distance. According to the official defense review, these tests conducted off the coast of Toulon demonstrate effective collaboration with the US Navy.
