French Sailor's Fitness App Run Exposes Aircraft Carrier Location
A French sailor has inadvertently revealed the exact position of the nation's flagship aircraft carrier after recording a jog on the fitness tracking application Strava. The crew member logged a 4.3-mile workout lasting approximately 35 minutes while running laps on the deck of the Charles de Gaulle as it sailed towards the eastern Mediterranean on March 13.
Real-Time Data Pinpoints Warship
Data from the run was uploaded to a public Strava account, effectively pinpointing the vessel's location in near real time, according to a report by the French newspaper Le Monde on Thursday. Satellite imagery captured shortly afterwards is said to show the distinctive outline of the 262-metre-long nuclear-powered warship in the same area.
France's only aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, had been deployed to the region by President Emmanuel Macron in the days following US-Israeli strikes in late February, as tensions with Iran escalated. The vessel, the sole nuclear-powered carrier outside the US Navy, had initially been participating in exercises in the North Atlantic before being rerouted.
Security Protocols Breached
While the carrier's presence in the region was not a secret, Le Monde noted the sailor had effectively disclosed its precise location. The outlet had previously warned about the risks posed by publicly shared fitness data, having used Strava activity to uncover sensitive movements of world leaders' security teams and even patrol routes of French nuclear submarines.
When contacted, the French Armed Forces General Staff stated that posting the running route on the Strava app 'does not comply with current regulations,' to which 'sailors are regularly made aware.' It added that 'given that digital hygiene for combatants is a prerequisite before any deployment, appropriate measures will be taken by the command.'
Multiple Incidents Highlight Broader Issue
This is not an isolated case. At least one other public profile posted photos of their sporting activities, revealing the ship's location. Other public profiles also feature images of the deck, additional military personnel, and sports equipment inside the vessels.
The incident occurs as tensions remain critically high in the Middle East, with the Strait of Hormuz—a vital route for around one-fifth of the global oil supply—effectively closed amid the ongoing conflict. In a joint statement on Thursday, the French government, along with Britain, Japan, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Canada, said they would 'contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait.'
Escalating Military Operations in the Region
Simultaneously, the United States has intensified military actions. American forces have deployed low-flying A-10 Warthogs and Apache attack helicopters to target Iranian ships and drones. The Pentagon aims to neutralise threats from Iranian weapons and reopen the strait, which has seen only about 90 ships cross since the conflict began.
Air Force General and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan 'Raizin' Caine stated that the mission is engaging attack ships along the southern Iranian coast. 'The A-10 Warthog is now engaged across the southern flank, targeting fast-attack watercraft in the Strait of Hormuz,' he said on Tuesday. He added that the Apaches have 'joined the fight on the southern flank' and noted that some allies have used them to 'handle one-way attack drones.'
However, The Wall Street Journal reported that it could take weeks for the US to clear the strait and restore operations closer to normal levels. Concurrently, the US has been striking Iranian bases and IRGC cruise missile batteries, destroying over 120 of the country's naval ships, according to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Thursday.
Iran has retaliated by employing small, unmanned boats equipped with explosives, projectiles, and airborne drones to attack enemy vessels, further complicating the security landscape.
