Polaris 25: A Strategic Operation of Unprecedented Scale
Polaris 25 exercise – From May 12 to June 15, 2025, the French Navy is leading one of the most ambitious military exercises in recent years: Polaris 25. This is a multidomain and multinational event, involving over 3,000 troops from nine allied and partner nations, more than 20 surface ships, and over 40 aircraft, operating between the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel.
Organized by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, Polaris 25 is more than a simulated conflict. It is a full-scale rehearsal of modern warfare, combining naval, land, air, cyber, and space operations in an increasingly unstable and competitive environment. The main objective? To test operational readiness, crew resilience, and interoperability between participating armed forces.
The Origins of Polaris: The Doctrine of “Winning Before War”
The Polaris concept emerged in 2021 as a strategic response by the French high command to an evolving geopolitical landscape. Rooted in the doctrine of the Chief of the French Defence Staff, the idea is to win the war before the war begins. This means preparing for high-intensity conflict through credible scenarios, extreme simulations, and integrated use of all military domains.
The second edition, Polaris 25, is also part of the “Marins de combats” plan by the French Navy, aimed at boosting immediate response capabilities and reinforcing dominance in the air-maritime domain.
A Large-Scale, Complex Operation
Polaris 25 stands out for the scale of participating forces and the complexity of the scenario. Activities are divided into two main phases, with a gradual escalation of intensity:
Phase One (May 12–26): Cyber and Space Dominance
This phase focuses on hybrid warfare, cyberattacks, and space threats, simulating assaults on strategic infrastructure and naval bases. Key targets include Brest and Cherbourg, as well as French naval aviation units in Brittany and Normandy.
Two opposing forces—Blue (friendly) and Red (enemy)—will face off in a degraded digital environment, marked by communications outages, cyber offensives, and covert operations, replicating the challenges of modern hybrid conflict.
Phase Two (May 26–June 15): Amphibious and Naval Combat
The second phase unfolds in the open sea and along the UK and French coasts. After forming a multinational task force in the North Atlantic, forces will conduct amphibious operations, including a simulated landing on the British coastline near the Bristol Channel.
Naval and aerial battles will follow, featuring:
- Task Force 471 (Blue): an amphibious assault group with 5 LHDs and escorts.
- Task Force 472 (Red): opposition forces with frigates and destroyers.
The final phase involves another simulated amphibious landing along France’s Atlantic coast, designed to test crew endurance and combat efficiency under pressure.
A Multinational Force in Action
Key participants include naval and air units from France, supported by forces from Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands, and Portugal, with NATO participating through a dedicated tactical group.
The French Naval Assets
- 2 Mistral-class LHDs
- 3 Aquitaine-class FREMM frigates
- 1 Lafayette-class frigate
- 1 d’Estienne d’Orves-class OPV
- 2 support ships
- 1 Tripartite-class minehunter
- 1 logistics vessel
French Naval Aviation
- Rafale and Rafale Marine
- Mirage 2000, Alphajet, ATL2
- NH90, SA365 helicopters
- Hawkeye, AWACS
- A330 MRTT
- MQ-9 Reaper drones
International Participants
Italy
- 1 Thaon di Revel-class vessel
- Special forces and marines
United Kingdom
- 2 Bay-class landing ships
- 4 P2000 patrol vessels
- 3 Merlin helicopters, 2 Wildcats
- Royal Marines Commandos
Spain
- 1 Galicia-class LPD
- 1 Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate (F-105 Cristóbal Colón)
- 1 battalion of Spanish Marines
Netherlands
- 1 Karel Doorman-class frigate
- 1 De Ruyter-class frigate
Portugal
- 1 Karel Doorman-class frigate
Germany
- 1 Rhön-class replenishment ship
United States
- 1 P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft
- U.S. Marines
Brazil
- Naval units and marines operating alongside French forces
Polaris 25 as a Modern Warfare Testbed
Polaris 25 is a key milestone in the transformation of the French Armed Forces. Today’s strategic environment demands adaptability, resilience, and seamless coordination across all operational domains—land, sea, air, cyber, space, and information. The aim is not just to fight conventional wars, but to operate effectively in hybrid and nonlinear conflicts.
In addition to sharpening operational readiness, the exercise also emphasizes joint command capability, with integrated staff structures and shared logistics support. What makes Polaris special is its ability to train diverse forces to act as one cohesive military organism, ready to respond to any scenario.
Interoperability as a Strategic Priority
A fundamental aspect of Polaris 25 is the strengthening of interoperability among allied forces. In today’s world of irregular warfare, cyber threats, and gray-zone confrontations, the ability to respond in a coordinated, unified manner is a major strategic asset.
The presence of NATO, extra-European partners like Brazil and the United States, and the close cooperation between navy, army, and air force units, signals a qualitative leap in how Western forces prepare for conflict.
A Strategic Message to the World
Polaris 25 also sends a strong political and military message: France and its allies are prepared to defend their strategic space, both regionally and globally. Maritime and cyber domains are now at the heart of international tensions, and controlling these areas is crucial to the security of Western democracies.
Polaris as a Modern Military Paradigm
The second edition of Polaris is not merely an exercise—it is a live-fire strategic experiment, an operational laboratory blending tradition and innovation, past and future. In a world of evolving threats, Polaris 25 embodies the determination of Western forces to stay one step ahead of potential adversaries.
Source: FRENCH MINISTRY FOR THE ARMED FORCES
Social Context: Polaris 25: 3,000+ troops and 20+ warships at sea for the French Navy’s high-intensity multinational exercise! 🇫🇷⚓ #Polaris25 #Defense #NATO
