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NeptEN: Bringing naval research and industry together
Established in 2026, NeptEN gives industry access to the scientific expertise and experimental facilities of the French Naval Academy (École Navale). Closely linked to the Naval Academy Research Institute (IRENav), this new organisation helps companies tackle hydrodynamic challenges.
- The French Naval Academy’s on-water testing area, now equipped with an acoustic detection system to characterise the acoustic signatures of systems in real-world conditions.
- Test section of IRENav’s hydrodynamic tunnel, used to study fluid flow, cavitation and the performance of submerged profiles.
- Diagram of the hydrodynamic tunnel, illustrating how the experimental facility works.
- Hydrofoil machined in-house as part of experimental hydrodynamics research.
© École Navale
The French Naval Academy (École Navale) is a leading military institution that combines naval officer training with scientific education underpinned by research conducted at the Naval Academy Research Institute (IRENav). NeptEN, the Academy’s first subsidiary, aims to give companies access to the institute’s expertise in hydrodynamics and acoustics, along with its experimental facilities. Through studies and testing, it helps accelerate the transition from simulation to prototype.
“We’ve found that companies don’t always use experimental testing in hydrodynamics because the necessary investment is often too high,” explains Paul Brandel, Director of NeptEN. The new subsidiary gives them access to the Naval Academy’s facilities to improve the reliability of their developments while keeping testing costs down.
Validating simulations and anticipating risks
IRENav has contributed to the development of a hydrofoil for a marine drone demonstrator. Its teams built and tested a scale model in a hydrodynamic tunnel to investigate cavitation, a phenomenon in which vapour bubbles form as water pressure drops, potentially impairing performance, damaging structures and generating noise and vibrations. The tests helped refine the manufacturer’s numerical simulations and adjust the hydrofoil’s geometry accordingly.
“Experimental testing can reveal many problems that may otherwise only emerge in the finished product,” explains Paul Brandel. The laboratory also investigates hydromechanical coupling that can cause resonance and acoustic vibrations. These phenomena can produce the characteristic whistling associated with certain hydrofoils, known as singing foils. Beyond the noise they generate, these vibrations can also affect structures and compromise the acoustic stealth of naval systems.
In September 2026, the Naval Academy’s on-water testing area was also equipped with an acoustic detection system. “Being able to test a system in the water and determine its acoustic signature in real-world conditions is a definite advantage when developing a prototype or demonstrator,” says Brandel, who trained as an engineer.
From research to industrial innovation
NeptEN also aims to strengthen ties between research, education and industry. Projects carried out with companies can inform scientific research, lead to publications with the companies’ agreement and help fund research and education. These partnerships also help students make the transition into professional life. Although the Naval Academy primarily trains officers for the French Navy, some graduates go on to work in the defence industry. “They represent a pool of talent that will help drive tomorrow’s innovations,” notes Paul Brandel.
While hydrodynamics and acoustics are its most immediately applicable areas of expertise, NeptEN can draw on a much broader range of disciplines, including signal and information processing, radar, AIS, onboard energy management, propulsion and the humanities. Human-machine interaction is another area of research, particularly in the context of growing use of artificial intelligence in onboard systems.
A graduate of the French Naval Academy and Arts et Métiers engineering school, Paul Brandel previously worked in offshore racing as a skipper and project manager before moving into mechanical design for the naval defence sector. Through NeptEN, he now aims to harness the Academy’s scientific expertise to drive industrial innovation. “The aim is to offer a wide range of studies that will enable manufacturers to explore areas they have never ventured into before,” he concludes.
- Linda Verhaeghe
