Regularly organized by the General Secretariat of Defense and National Security (SGDSN) and the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans off a maritime coastline of the metropolitan territory, this training was conducted this year under the authority of the Prefect maritime of the Atlantic, in conjunction with the Prefect of Charente-Maritime.
The scenarios – ARMOR 2024 – simulated a counter-terrorism operation at sea, including a hostage-taking operation on board a Brittany Ferries passenger ship Cotentin. All of the decision-making and intervention chains planned for this type of event at sea were thus able to be tested for more than 24 hours, allowing the teams to consolidate their know-how, their interoperability and their expertise.
In order to conduct the interventions carried out throughout the exercise, the defense and security crisis processing center (CTC)* was quickly activated within the Atlantic maritime prefecture.
The CTC at the maritime prefecture of Brest.
More than 500 people and numerous units were mobilized for this training, including specialized units, such as the Army Health Service (SSA), the Maritime Force of Marine Rifles and Commandos (FORFUSCO) of the French Navy, the intervention group of the national gendarmerie (GIGN) and the Marseille fire brigade battalions (BMPM). The support and deployment of the intervention forces was carried out thanks to the commitment of around ten helicopters from the three armies (Puma, H160, NH90, Panther, Caracal).
The protection of the national territory and our fellow citizens as well as the preservation of the continuity of the essential functions of the Nation are at the heart of our defense and national security strategy. The defense and security forces permanently ensure the security of the territory, its airspace and our maritime approaches. They are able to provide support for crisis management operations following, for example, terrorist attacks or natural or technological disasters.
*The role of the CTC is to coordinate the interministerial systems and actions of the various actors, such as the Charente-Maritime prefecture, the Atlantic maritime prefecture, the French Navy, internal security forces and emergency services.
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