French Navy press release
On June the 13th 2022, the SQUALE exercise was launched off the coast of Toulon. Dedicated to anti-submarine warfare, this annual exercise brings together French and allied surface ships, a submarine and aircraft from the French Navy and the French Air Force, in the midst of a realistic conflict scenario, both in terms of intensity and the variety of warfare areas simulated.
In a context of increasing conflict in the air-sea space, the French Navy, in accordance with the Mercator “acceleration” plan of 2021, is focusing on its preparation for high-intensity naval combat. As a recognized expert in anti-submarine warfare, the French Navy is constantly improving the skills of its sailors in order to make the most of its equipment.
The 2022 edition of SQUALE amplifies the high-intensity operational preparation:
- by integrating the main theme of anti-submarine warfare in a fictitious context of conflict in a coastal area with the intervention of a naval force in several domains: amphibious, airborne force projection towards the land, strike against the land;
- by multiplying the number of participating units, thus increasing the interactions between units and allowing the simulation of two realistic opposing forces;
- by taking the form of an unplanned exercise designed to stimulate the sailors’ creativity and tactical thinking, while developing their reactivity.
This interallied training also contributes to interoperability and enables the exchange of practices and the sharing of know-how. SQUALE involves the landing helicopter dock Dixmude, the multi-mission destroyer Languedoc with its Caiman Marine helicopter, the multi-mission destroyer with enhanced air defense capability Alsace with its Caiman Marine, the air defense destroyer Chevalier Paul, the chartered ship Jason, several Atlantic 2 maritime patrol aircraft, a nuclear attack submarine, the American destroyer Arleigh Burke and the Italian frigate Alpino with its SH90 helicopter, the French Air Force helicopters undergoing qualification on the Dixmude.
