Defense: What we know about the Razorback, the new underwater drone tested by France

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 send this type of drone for visual and acoustic reconnaissance before launching a riskier operation.

The underwater drone is supported by an external deck hangar equipped with the Suffren submarines. These removable hangars allow for the embarkation of small submarines, manned or unmanned, as mentioned by the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Nicolas Vaujour, during the Guerres et Paix forum. During these tests, the underwater drone was launched and recovered from this deck hangar, used for the first time during these tests. This hangar can also accommodate combat divers and specialized equipment.

The underwater drone “Razorback” is actually a military alternative to the civilian drone Remus 620. Produced by Huntington Ingalls Industries, it is primarily used for hydrographic missions. “Being able to launch a drone from a manned submarine opens up interesting operational capabilities,” explained the admiral.

The purpose of this underwater drone is primarily to explore a reconnaissance zone, allowing the submarine to maintain a certain distance of security. According to the official magazine Defense Nationale, these tests conducted off the coast of Toulon are evidence of effective collaboration with the US Navy. [Context: The Razorback drone is a military alternative to the Remus 620 drone. Fact Check: Operation of the Razorback drone involves exploring reconnaissance zones from a manned submarine to maintain security distance.]