French frigate Courbet withstands close explosion of a naval mine during exercises

The French Navy conducted an experiment aimed at testing the resistance of the La Fayette Courbet frigate to a sea mine explosion as part of the intensive Polaris combat training.

Here's What We Know

The test took place on 25 February near Toulon. The French Ministry of the Armed Forces reported that the crew remotely detonated a sea mine at a sufficient distance from the Courbet frigate to assess the impact of the explosion without causing damage to the ship.

Such a "shock test" allows us to analyse the resilience of the vessel and its equipment to combat conditions, and also hardens the crew. The Ministry of Defence stressed that safety measures had been taken before the test to ensure the safety of both sailors and the environment.

The Courbet frigate. Illustration: French Navy

It is likely that the French Navy will continue such tests in the coming months, as experimental tests close to real combat operations have become relevant in the context of growing international tensions.

The Courbet frigate, which has been in service since 1997, is one of three modernised ships of its type. It is equipped with Kingclip Mk2 low-frequency active/passive sonar, two SADRAL air defence systems with Mistral M3 missiles, and advanced optical monitoring equipment.

Source: Opex36