« This show takes place in a new international context, particularly at sea, where European fleets and the national navy are engaged in high-intensity struggles, which has not happened for a very long time. », summarizes Pierre-Eric Pommellet, president of the French company Naval group.
In addition to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East where the use of drones has changed the nature of naval combat, it is necessary to protect goods that circulate by sea, i.e. 90% of global trade in goods, as well as trade internet, 99% passing via cables across the seabed.
In this context, naval drones take on their full importance.
« With what is happening in the Black Sea, the Red Sea and Southeast Asia, navies are refocusing on the present and seeking to strengthen their combat capability », Explains to AFP Admiral Eric Chaperon, defense advisor to Thales, a French high-tech group particularly in the defense sector.
To counter attacks by Yemeni Houthis armed by Iran against maritime traffic in the Red Sea, “ we fire missiles which are extremely efficient, extremely expensive, on low-cost drones ».
« It is a system that is not sustainable », Underlines the admiral.
“Short-term solutions quickly available”
Thales will present at the show “ short-term solutions that are quickly available » while the industry usually operates in long cycles, lasting up to 15 years between development and completion.
Technologies linked to drones are evolving much faster than those linked to submarines For example.
Return of the submarines
A study commissioned by Gican, the naval construction and activity industry group which brings together 300 players, or 80% of the French sector, ahead of the show, also shows the increase in the construction of heavily armed military ships with ” the return of frigates, corvettes, nuclear ballistic missile submarines, attack and conventional nuclear submarines ».
« Before it was the patrollers who held the rope », underlines Philippe Missoffe, general delegate of Gican.
Other “ reversal of situation » in progress: between two big naval powers, « this is the first year the Chinese have built more heavily armed ships than the Americans », which explains the explosion of naval orders among its neighbors in the Asia-Pacific.
Israel present, Ukraine absent
After a ban by the French executive from participating in the show, then from exhibiting weapons used in the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, Israeli companies were finally authorized to participate by a French court decision on Wednesday October 29, 2024 .
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz welcomed “ a clear message against attempts to weaken Israel in its fight against the forces of evil ».
At the end of May, the presence of Israeli defense industrialists at the Eurosatory exhibition was canceled by decision of the French government during the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, before finally being authorized by the courts.
However, Ukraine will be absent from the show, which has sunk several Russian ships with naval drones and missiles.
Ukrainian forces have damaged or destroyed about a third of Russia's Black Sea fleet since the invasion in 2022, prompting Russia to move its fleet from Sevastopol to ports further east, such as Novorossiysk, to avoid further losses. losses.
« We offered (Ukrainian companies) free space. But unfortunately, for organizational reasons, they declined », Specified the director general of Euronaval Hugues d’Argentré.
