French Navy Submarine Launches, Recovers U.S. Navy Drone in Test Run

The French Navy tested launching and recovering a U.S. Navy Razorback Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) from a submerged French Suffren-class nuclear-powered attack submarine last month, validating the French submarine’s removable dry deck shelter can be used for underwater drone operations. A Suffren-class submarine deployed the Razorback, launching and recovering the drone with its dry deck shelter, from March 16-20 while operating off the coast of Toulon, France. The drone conducted oceanographic measurements during the operation, according to a French Ministry of Armed Forces and Veterans release. The tests were meant to explore the potential use of the drone in operations.