From 2 to 13 September, CMT Sagittaire participated in Exercise Sandy Coast with allied units in a coordinated manner. Once at sea, the maneuver began with two days of searching for historical munitions in the North Sea, allowing Sagittaire to carry out three new counter-mines. Then, the exercise continued with a LIVEX phase during which the units trained in mine hunting under asymmetric threat.
Maritime exercises with NATO countries help to strengthen interoperability and cooperation between allies. They also help to consolidate skills and share knowledge between participating nations.
In addition, the Sandy Coast exercise , which was conducted under the leadership of Belgium, provided training in NATO-level tactics, in order to be ready to face up to the situation, both at sea and on land.
The French Navy works every day to secure the French coastline and seabed. All of its mine-fighting resources (dedicated vessels such as tripartite mine hunters and mine clearance diving groups) regularly carry out operations to detect, neutralise or destroy unexploded ordnance at sea or on French beaches. In 2023, 252 historic devices were destroyed by the Channel Mine Clearance Diver Group and the tripartite mine hunters in the Channel and North Sea area, or 11,727 TNT equivalent. Carrying out this type of mission and exercise in strategic sites for maritime routes, such as the North Sea, allows for training but also for controlling the seabed by ensuring that no malicious action is carried out there.