CHEBEC 26: Morocco and France strengthen naval cooperation with cyber training

Sunday 20 September 2026 - 10:50

The Moroccan and French navies have launched the 33rd edition of the CHEBEC exercise in Toulon, marking another stage in bilateral maritime cooperation while introducing a cyber component to the longstanding naval training programme.

The exercise began on September 14 and is structured around two complementary phases. The first focuses on preparations and coordination at naval facilities, before the participating crews move on to joint operations in the Mediterranean.

Training begins ashore before the sea phase

According to the French Mediterranean Maritime Prefecture and the Mediterranean Maritime Command and Area (Cecmed), the opening stage is designed to establish the operational framework for the exercises at sea.

Moroccan and French personnel are conducting manoeuvring and navigation simulations while also training for emergency situations aboard naval vessels. Firefighting and flood-control drills form part of the programme, allowing crews to rehearse procedures that could prove critical during operations at sea.

The Royal Moroccan Navy frigate Tarik Ben Ziyad is among the principal Moroccan assets involved in the exercise.

At the same time, a Panther helicopter from the Royal Moroccan Navy's 11F unit is training at Hyères alongside aircraft from the French Navy's 36F unit. The parallel activities are intended to strengthen coordination between naval and air assets and familiarise personnel with the procedures that will be used during the maritime phase.

Coordination takes centre stage

The shore-based phase gives the two navies an opportunity to establish common operating procedures before their vessels deploy together.

Crews practise radio communications, agreed signalling methods and the maintenance of appropriate safety distances. Repeated simulations allow personnel from both countries to become familiar with one another's operational procedures and refine the manoeuvres planned for the Mediterranean phase.

The exercises also place considerable emphasis on emergency response. Firefighting scenarios are conducted using naval-base facilities, with crews practising the deployment of firefighting and rescue equipment.

Flooding scenarios are likewise incorporated into the training. Teams work on pumping operations and watertight procedures, recreating situations that could occur aboard a vessel during an emergency at sea.

Cyber dimension broadens the exercise

While maritime safety and security remain central to CHEBEC, the 2026 edition expands the scope of cooperation by introducing a dedicated cyber component, according to Cecmed.

The addition reflects the growing role of digital systems in contemporary naval operations, where communications, navigation and other operational capabilities increasingly depend on interconnected technologies. Integrating cyber-related training alongside conventional maritime exercises provides another area in which the two navies can develop common procedures and coordination.

The combination of traditional naval drills, aviation cooperation, emergency-response training and cyber activities gives CHEBEC 26 a broader operational framework than previous editions.

CHEBEC remains part of wider bilateral defence cooperation

The French Armed Forces General Staff has previously described CHEBEC as an important element of operational cooperation between the French Navy and the Royal Moroccan Navy.

The wider partnership extends beyond exercises at sea. Bilateral naval activities include training, professional education, hydrography, oceanography and technical support.

Both countries also use their defence cooperation to support regional dialogue through the 5+5 Defence Initiative, which brings together countries from the western Mediterranean.

With the opening phase now underway in Toulon, CHEBEC 26 is set to move from simulation and preparation towards joint maritime operations in the Mediterranean. The exercise therefore combines established naval cooperation with new areas of training, notably cyber defence, as Morocco and France continue to develop interoperability between their armed forces.