French Navy |
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The French Navy's modernization, as is the case with the Army and Air and Space Force, is pursued on the basis of successive 7-year Military Planning Laws (Loi de Programmation Militaire or LPM). [1] The latest LPM covers the 2024-2030 period and is tailored around four strategic priorities: the strengthening of deterrence assets; preparation for high-intensity warfare; protecting national interests in all French territories (notably the Outre-mer), shared spaces and key domains (e.g., maritime, digital, outer space); and finally, the strengthening of international partnerships. [2]
Major programs encompass a wide variety of capabilities; from the replacement of the current generation of ballistic missile submarines, nuclear attack submarines and nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the ongoing modernization of the first-rank surface combatant fleet as well as offshore patrol and logistic support fleets.
Surcouf (F711) is a La Fayette-class frigate of the French Navy. Construction began at Lorient Naval Dockyard on 6 July 1992, launched 3 July 1993, and the ship was commissioned May 1996. Since entering service, Surcouf has taken part in numerous missions, notably in Operation Antilope, Operation Trident (Kosovo) and Mission Khor Anga in the Djibouti zone.
The Floréal class is a type of light "surveillance frigates" designed for the needs of the French Navy in low-threat environments ordered in 1989. The ships are named after months of the Republican Calendar. They use construction standards of commercial ships. The frigates were built between 1990 and 1993 by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique at Saint-Nazaire, France. The six French ships of the class, Floréal, Prairial, Nivôse, Ventôse, Vendémiaire and Germinal, remain in active service.
Courbet is a general purpose stealth frigate of the French Navy of the La Fayette class. She is the third French vessel named after the 19th-century Admiral Amédée Courbet.
Guépratte is a general purpose La Fayette-class frigate of the French Marine Nationale. She is the second French vessel named after the 19–20th century admiral Émile Paul Amable Guépratte. The ship was commissioned in 2001 and is currently in service. She is scheduled to remain in service until 2031.
The Force d'action navale is the 9,600-man and about 100-ship force of surface warships of the French Navy. As of August 2023, it is commanded by L’amiral Nicolas Vaujour.
The P400-class patrol vessels were small patrol boats of the French Navy. They were designed to accomplish police operations in the French exclusive economic zone (EEZ). They were built by the Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie, which specialise in small military craft. Two similar ships are in service in Gabon, the similar Macaé-class operates with the Brazilian Navy, and two ships were transferred from the French Navy to Kenyan and Gabon navies. The P400 class were originally designed in two versions: one armed with Exocet MM38 missiles, and another public service version with a smaller 16-man complement; eventually neither of these versions were commissioned as the French Navy chose an intermediate version.
The D'Entrecasteaux class is a class of oceanic patrol ships of the French Navy. The ship's designation is Bâtiment multi-mission (B2M) in French, meaning "multi-mission ship", and sometimes dubbed the "Swiss Army knife of the Navy". The ship is designed to perform sovereignty, law enforcement and logistics missions. The class replaced the aging BATRAL-class landing ships in some of these roles. The D'Entrecasteaux-class perform similar roles in French overseas territories that the four Loire-class ships perform in Metropolitan France.
The Vulcano class is a class of replenishment oiler used by the Italian Navy, with lead ship Vulcano of the class entered service on 12 March 2021. The ships are designed to support fleet operations with fuel and dry stores and expected to replace the Stromboli class, another class of replenishment oiler from the Navy. Vulcano was financed under the 2014 Naval Law, for €346 million, then increased to €374.6 million, when the length was extended by 12 metres (39 ft). A second ship Atlante was ordered in January 2022 for projected delivery in 2025. The Navy also had an option for a third ship of the class. However, under the Italian MoD’s Multi-Year Defence Planning Document for the 2023-2025 timeframe, a fourth ship was added to the program.
The defence and intervention frigate or FDI, also known as the Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire or FTI, is a class of French frigates. As of February 2022, five ships have been ordered for the French Navy, with the lead ship being named Amiral Ronarc'h, and an additional three, more heavily armed vessels, for the Hellenic Navy, with the lead ship named Kimon.
The bâtiments ravitailleurs de forces, or BRF, are a class of future fleet tankers that are to replace the Durance-class units in French Navy service. Until January 2019, the programme was known as Flotte logistique. First ship of the class completed the first stage of her sea trials in January 2023 and was formally delivered to the French Navy in July to continue her sea trials. The ships are part of the Vulcano-class logistic support ship programme.
Premier-Maître L'Her (F792) was a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy.
Commandant Blaison (F793) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy.
Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubet (F794) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy.
Commandant Ducuing (F795) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy. The vessel is home ported at Toulon.
Commandant Birot (F796) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy.
Commandant Bouan (F797) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy. The ship is homeported in Toulon.
The Patrouilleurs Outre-mer (POM), or Félix Éboué class, are a class of offshore patrol vessels of the French Navy. They are to be based at Nouméa, Tahiti and La Réunion, replacing the P400-class patrol vessels which are nearing the end of their service. At 1,300 tonnes, the POM class ships have four times the displacement of the P400 and possess a wider range of capabilities. The lead ship, Auguste Bénébig, was commissioned in May 2023, with delivery of all six units ordered expected by 2026.
The Confiance class or Patrouilleurs Antilles Guyane (PAG), previously called "Patrouilleurs légers guyanais" (PLG, "Light Guyane patrol vessel") until January 2019 is a type of high sea patrol vessel developed and built by Socarenam based upon plans by Mauric. They are in service with the French Navy.
The Nexter Narwhal is a type of remotely operated naval artillery turret made by the French company Nexter. It houses a 20 mm autocannon based on the Nexter M621 and M693. The name "Narwhal" is a backronym of "NAval Remote Weapon, Highly Accurate, Lightweight". It is designed to fit warships of all types ranging from patrol boats to frigates to aircraft carriers, notably as a close-quarters self-defence weapon.