Founded at the end of the 18th century, the Naval Group site of Angoulême-Ruelle brings together nearly 1,000 employees and accomodates the Innov’Factory on a surface area of 4,700 m2. Directed since October 2024 by Arnaud Daïna, the site – part of Naval Group’s Systems, Equipment and Propulsion Department – hosts the most advanced expertise in ship navigation and control systems as well as qualification and training simulators. Its field of expertise also covers naval equipment such as mast raising equipment, submarine torpedo launching tubes and propulsive shafts and vertical launchers for surface ships. Eighty composite specialists based in Lorient complement the workforce led by the former Safran Group engineer, who brings over 20 years of experience in major aeronautical projects, a strong international culture and a keen sense of customer service.
For Arnaud, joining the Naval Group adventure was a well-considered decision. Firstly, the chance to discover exceptional innovative products from the naval defence industry resonated with him as an engineer. And secondly, contributing to Naval Group’s sovereignty mission was a major factor attracting him to the role, and one that is all the more relevant in the current context.
Clear priorities
First of all, the Angoulême-Ruelle site roadmap gives absolute priority to ensuring safety at work. The second priority is to strengthen customer proximity by listening to their ever-increasing and rapidly evolving needs in an uncertain context. In addition to the French Navy’s submarine and surface ships programs, Angoulême-Ruelle serves more than 35 foreign navies whose needs must be fully understood in order to offer naval systems and equipment solutions that guarantee their superiority. The third priority is for Angoulême-Ruelle to be recognised as a leading original equipment manufacturer thanks to its capacity for innovation, its competitiveness and its operational excellence.
Angoulême-Ruelle at the ready
These priorities are already reflected in concrete achievements. In terms of Occupational Health & Safety and Environment (OHSE), the site has created its own escape game as an enjoyable way to help teams understand the principles of safety at work. In terms of customers, Angoulême-Ruelle is working in agile mode to design and develop the multipurpose modular launching system (MMPS), capable of adapting and responding quickly to the threats that navies encounter. And in terms of operational excellence, visual performance management is being implemented in all sectors in order to take ownership of industrial fundamentals, measure progress in terms of quality, cost and time performance and commit to a continuous improvement approach.
Industrialising product innovation
Thanks to Innov’Factory and its Open.lab, innovation permeates processes, practices, tools all across the site of Angoulême-Ruelle and also influencing choices for products such as the modular weapon handling system and the composite bridge fin. From 2025, the teams will be focusing on this engineering phase with the aim of achieving the development milestones needed to produce and integrate these innovations into Naval Group’s future major programs in good time.
