As the maritime defense sector prepares for the Euronaval exhibition in Paris, scheduled from Tuesday, November 3, to Friday, November 6, military strategists are confronting a profound shift in naval warfare. Rear Adm. Cédric Chetaille, a former commander of nuclear submarines and coauthor of the book “Abysses. La guerre qui vient,” published by Allary Editions at 21.90 euros for 256 pages, points to rapid technological innovations reshaping operations beneath the waves.
These advancements have enabled Russia to target critical underwater infrastructure and allowed China to restrict access to strategic zones across the Indo-Pacific region, though Western nations are likewise advancing their capabilities. Describing the ongoing militarization of the ocean floor, Chetaille compares the trend to historic technological competition.
“As during the Cold War with the space conquest, we are witnessing a form of new underwater ‘Star Wars,'” Chetaille explains. He notes that nations are rushing to develop highly costly technologies with profound strategic impacts, driven primarily by the physical properties of the deep ocean.
Unlike surface domains, the ocean floor remains one of the few physical spaces that resist total visibility. Beyond depths of 80 meters, tracking movements and definitively attributing hostile acts becomes an extreme challenge, creating an environment that inherently encourages intimidation tactics and covert maneuvers.
