She was built for the trials of the submarine-launched ballistic missiles of the French Navy, and is also used to monitor the launch of Ariane rockets.

Monge is powered by two SEMT Pielstick 8PC 2.5 L400 diesel engines driving one shaft turning a controllable-pitch propeller, rated at 7,800 kW (10,400 hp).

Furthermore, there are six Antares telemetry-tracking radars operating on the E and F-bands, a laser-radar, and an optical tracking unit, and 14 antennas for telemetry.

[1][4] Monge entered service with the French Navy on 5 November 1992, given the hull number A 601, and is based at Brest, France.

In September 2002, the ship visited Toulon for the first time before travelling to Piraeus, Greece for the Armament Fair.

On 9 November 2006, Monge monitored the first launch of an M51 ballistic missile over the Atlantic Ocean from the Landes Test Centre.

[4] On 27 November 2010, the French submarine Le Terrible test-fired an M51 ballistic missile from Audierne Bay.

The vessel was within 10 miles (16 km) of the Pierres Noires lighthouse when the ship conducted tests and lost power.

[8] In April 2021 it was reported that Monge had docked at the US Navy base in Norfolk, Virginia, possibly on a mission to monitor a test of the French M51 SLBM, launched from Biscarosse in southwestern France.