French Navy to charter two Protée ships for mine-hunting drones

A stopgap until warships arrive

The move is part of SLAM-F, the future mine-warfare system programme launched in 2020 to replace all of the Navy's mine-warfare assets. The Protée ships are meant to speed up offshore drone deployment, notably to support strategic forces, but they are only a transitional step.

The DGA is preparing to acquire dedicated mine-warfare vessels (BGDM). The report annexed to the draft update of the military programming law foresees their acquisition from 2032, with 4 units by 2035 instead of 6. Meanwhile, the Navy is cutting its fleet of mine hunters from 8 at the end of 2024 to 2 at the end of 2030, and the Protée ships and their drones will fill the gap.

What the ships can carry

Each Protée will measure 80 metres and displace 4,000 tonnes. A civilian crew will sail the ship, while a Navy detachment handles operations. Modules can add a command post, two surface drones, two underwater drones, mine-neutralisation equipment or a team of clearance divers.

The drones keep crews away from danger and can work down to 300 metres, against 100 metres for current mine hunters. Algorithms help operators sort sonar echoes, but the ministry stresses that the decision to neutralise a mine remains human. Further drones ordered from Thales and Exail are expected from the first half of 2028.