French Navy kicks off Polaris 25 in Atlantic and English Channel

Offensive actions against military holdings, combat at sea, and amphibious landings on the Atlantic coast...the next few weeks are shaping up to be particularly intense for French sailors participating in Exercise Polaris 25, a major high-intensity operational readiness training from May 12 to June 15.

With more than 3,000 French and foreign soldiers deployed, Polaris 25 is a large-scale exercise for the French Navy, both in terms of the density of the training and all the soldiers involved (from units to the general staff).

From May 12 to June 15, more than 20 surface ships and 40 aircraft will be deployed in the Atlantic and the English Channel, supported by the mobilisation of the army and the air and space forces with additional resources.

"The exercise pursues a logic of combat from naval bases to the high seas, in real conditions," said Ministry of the Armed Forces.

"The scenario will prepare for the specificities of modern combat, multi-environment and multi-field. This first edition in the Atlantic will be distinguished by its duration and complexity. Objectives: to stimulate the inventiveness and combativeness of the military and increase their resilience by hardening their preparation for today's challenges."

Polaris 25 also aims to strengthen interoperability between participants, including Germany, Brazil, Spain, the United States, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom and a NATO task group.

The Polaris concept, launched in 2021, reflects the strategic vision of General Thierry Burkhard, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces to, "win the war before the war and to be ready to engage in high intensity".