Exercise Sky Shark showcased the shared commitment of the Royal Navy and French Navy to maintaining maritime security and operational capability. “This exercise underscores the vital importance of the UK-French partnership,” said Commander Ben Dorrington, Commanding Officer of HMS Dauntless. “By working together in challenging maritime scenarios, we continue to strengthen our ability to respond effectively to shared challenges.”
The participation of HMS Dauntless, renowned for its advanced air defence systems, underlined the UK’s dedication to regional stability alongside its European partner and NATO ally. Partnering with French frigate FS Aquitaine, Dauntless safeguarded the coast against simulated naval strikes by Dutch and Spanish warships, while countering aerial threats from French Rafale jets and underwater threats from a French submarine.
A key milestone during the exercise was HMS Dauntless’s Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with the French naval tanker FS Somme, marking the British ship’s first RAS in nearly a decade. This achievement demonstrated the operational readiness and seamless cooperation between the two allied navies.
![IAI’s BlueWhale autonomous submarine completes successful trials with German Navy [VIDEO]](https://defence-industry.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IAI-and-Atlas-Elektronik-unveil-a-joint-development-integrated-in-the-BlueWhale.jpg)
