Between March 16 and 20, an American underwater drone named “Razorback” was tested off the coast of Toulon by the French Navy, as reported by CNEWS. The submarine drone was launched from the Suffren attack nuclear submarine while submerged. The objective was to assess the submarine’s ability to send this type of drone for visual and acoustic reconnaissance before engaging in a riskier intervention.
The underwater drone is supported by an external deck hangar equipped on submarines like Suffren. These removable hangars allow for the embarkation of small submarines, with or without crew, according to the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Nicolas Vaujour. During the tests, the underwater drone was launched and recovered from this deck hangar for the first time. The hangar can also accommodate combat swimmers 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 initially used for hydrographic missions. Being able to launch a drone from a crewed submarine opens up interesting operational capabilities, as explained by the admiral.
The purpose of this underwater drone is primarily to explore an area for reconnaissance, allowing the submarine to maintain a certain distance. According to Défense nationale, these tests conducted off the coast of Toulon demonstrate effective collaboration with the US Navy.
