Blocked from videoconferencing behind their computers by the Covid-19 pandemic for the two seminars initially scheduled to take place in Toulon and Marseille, participants in the 6e On Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 June 2021, the IHEDN national session on "Maritime issues and strategies" finally made a stopover in Toulon to carry out the previously cancelled visits.
On Monday morning, Captain Yann Briand welcomed the auditors and introduced them to his naval aviation base in Hyères and its field of action. The auditors had no idea that the Navy's helicopters were permanently present on all the seas of the globe to carry out missions covering the whole spectrum of strategic functions implemented by the French armed forces.
Visits to the 31F and 35F helicopters, led by their respective commanders, Commander Augustin Aubret and Lieutenant-Commander Guillaume Loiseau, enabled the auditors to assess the technological level and operational performance of some of the most capable helicopters in the world, particularly in the field of anti-submarine warfare. They were also impressed by the broad spectrum of their missions, ranging from public service missions - in particular searching for and saving human lives at sea - to high-intensity combat against the most modern submarines and frigates.
The auditors then shared lunch with officers from the 31F and 35F flotillas and the Atlantic crew of Lieutenant Benjamin Francis, deployed from the Lann-Bihoué base for a mission in the Mediterranean.
At the beginning of the afternoon, listeners were given a tour of this veritable " Swiss knife " the navy, which is involved in all the strategic functions for which the French armed forces are responsible, in particular deterrence in support of the strategic oceanic force. In addition to its missions at sea, the Atlantique 2 carries out joint missions over land, particularly in Africa in support of land forces in the fight against terrorism. While it systematically carries a " Search and rescue (SAR), this Saint Bernard of the Seas " is also a formidable fighter aircraft equipped with Exocet missiles, torpedoes and laser-guided bombs.
After an all-too-short stopover at the Musée National de la Marine, where they retraced Toulon's naval history and discovered the shipbuilding of yesteryear through the paintings and remains of certain vessels, they headed for the Ecole de Navigation Sous-Marine et des Bâtiment à Propulsion Nucléaire (ENSM-BPN). They were welcomed by Captain Frédéric Suel, the school's commanding officer, and Lieutenant-Commander Christophe Teyant, one of his deputies. The auditors discovered the exceptional capabilities of these simulation tools, with their unrivalled realism, in particular the one dedicated to the Suffren class submarines, the latest addition to the squadron, which represents an impressive technological leap forward compared with its predecessors.
The following morning, the auditors began their day at Orange Marine in La Seyne, where they were welcomed by Emmanuel Decugis, the site manager. Thanks to his presentation, discussions with the auditors and a tour of the infrastructure and buildings, the auditors now know all about the strategic issues at stake and the high level of expertise and technicality of the submarine cable industry. These information highways, whose role is often underestimated, concentrate more than 99 % of the world's Internet communications.
The afternoon began with a visit to the Bourbon company's assistance and pollution clean-up support vessel (BSAD) Jason. This vessel protects the French coastline in the Mediterranean, from the Italian coast to the Spanish coast. Its bow bears three sloping blue, white and red stripes, the hallmarks of French vessels dedicated to government action at sea (AEM).
Finally, the day ended on the French Navy's flagship, the Charles de Gaulle nuclear aircraft carrier, where the auditors were welcomed by Captain Guillaume Piney, the ship's commanding officer and an IHEDN auditor. Then, guided by frigate captain Thomas Puga, corvette captain Jean Duboin and midshipman Raphaël Montagner, they were able to discover some of the nerve centres of this strategic tool at the disposal of the Head of State. In addition to its exceptional military capabilities, which can be deployed on all the world's oceans, this veritable floating city, equipped with the most advanced technologies, including the Rafale multi-purpose fighter aircraft, represents, in the words of Hervé Coutau-Bégarie, 40,000 tonnes of diplomacy.
Over the course of two days, the auditors were able to discover the very high technological level of the navy's resources - surface ships, submarines and aircraft - as well as the expertise and high level of motivation of the sailors who operate them. At the same time, they were able to appreciate the difficulties encountered in maintaining equipment in operational condition, and in recruiting and retaining high-quality sailors in a context of increasing operational pressure and high demands on crews.
