This operation, led by the National Center for Scientific Research and supported by the France 2030 programme, is the largest deployment of its kind ever carried out in France.
The fleet will collect valuable data on ocean currents, biodiversity and the effects of climate change in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the fastest warming seas in the world.
The gliders, which can dive to depths of up to 1,000 metres, are equipped with advanced sensors capable of measuring water temperature, salinity, oxygen levels and underwater noise.
Some will also help scientists monitor marine mammals, including sperm whales and fin whales, within the Pelagos Conservation Reserve.
Unlike conventional underwater vehicles, gliders do not have propellers.
Instead, they move by changing their buoyancy, allowing them to travel long distances while using very little energy.
Researchers say the mission will provide an unprecedented picture of ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea and will contribute to the creation of an ecological atlas of the deep ocean, helping scientists better understand and protect marine environments in the coming years.
