On December 14, a French Navy nuclear attack submarine (SNA) successfully fired an F21 torpedo at a real target, a decommissioned D’Estienne d’Orves-class aviso, Premier Maître L’Her.
As disclosed, the live-firing test, carried out with live combat ammunition, involved a heavy F21 torpedo, capable of destroying both surface and underwater threats.
As part of the Polaris strategy for high-intensity training, this exercise was designed to test the effectiveness of this next-generation weapon.
Designed to equip the Rubis and Suffren class nuclear attack submarines, as well as the nuclear ballistic missile submarines, the F21 torpedo represents a significant evolution in the armament of these units. It offers improved stealth, range, strike speed, and detection capabilities compared to previous models, according to the navy.
This exercise, which was part of the military programming law, is of crucial importance for the French Navy. It closely mirrors real combat conditions and provides valuable operational and human insights.
To remind, in October this year, the French Navy retired Premier Maître L’Her , a multi-purpose combat ship, after 43 years of service. The 80-meter-long vessel sailed nearly 800,000 nautical miles all around the world.
The unit took part in Operation Olifant off the coast of Beirut in 1982, during the war in Yugoslavia and the Gulf War in 1991, and in the Red Sea during Operation Condor during the crisis between Eritrea and Yemen in 1996. It was based in Toulon until 2000.