The 2015 Navy model defines the forces required to perform
the tasks involved in the "permanent protection posture",
deterrence, support of the FOST, prevention, the protection of our
maritime approaches and public service; as well as specifying the forces
essential for engagement in one or more conflicts that require power
projection. From the outset, the 2015 model has incorporated a degree of
balance with our European allies. French "poles of excellence",
which enable France to take responsibility for command of operations
within a coalition force, can be considered as valuable assets. These are
the aircraft carrier and its air wing, amphibious ships, SSNs and the mine
warfare group.
In 2015,
the Navy will deploy altogether:
a strategic
ocean-going force consisting of four SSBN,
one or two
aircraft carriers with a carrier borne air wing consisting of Rafale
multi-purpose aircraft and Hawkeye AEW aircraft,
an amphibious
force consisting of four LPD,
a group of
twenty-six destroyers and frigates including four AAW and eight ASW
ships,
six SSN,
overseas forces
consisting of six surveillance frigates, eleven patrol boats and five
light transport ships (BATRAL),
a mine warfare
force consisting of fifteen ships and a command ship,
a maritime patrol
aircraft wing consisting of twenty-two Atlantique aircraft and ten
maritime surveillance aircraft,
about fifty
ship-borne helicopters.
This represents a
total of 80 warships, 130 naval aircraft and five commandos units
The Navy is already operating with a fleet of this size. It
is on this basis that it is modernising, as can be seen by the
introduction into service of the nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de
Gaulle with its Rafale aircraft, and the orders placed for Forbin
and Chevalier Paul (the first two anti-aircraft frigates), Le
Terrible (the fourth new generation SSBN), Tonnerre and Mistral
(the third and fourth LPD), and the oceanographic ship Beautemps-Beaupré.The
year 2000 also marked an important milestone in the development of the
Navy, with the updating of Combat Management Systems, the modernisation of
tripartite mine-hunters and the development of the new Barracuda-class SSN.
The modernisation will continue in 2001 with the launch of the design
phase of the new multi-role frigates. These will form the backbone of the
fleet and will replace most of our frigate fleet, today made up of three
classes: F67s, F70s and "avisos" (light frigates).The management
of naval aircraft has also been subject to rationalisation. Support
helicopter activities have been refocused, particularly with regard to
search and rescue (in combat and in peace) and logistic support, and will
be gradually devolved to a joint organisation. These actions will reduce
cost of ownership and facilitate re-equipment programmes such as Rafale
and NH90.
Ships of the French Navy :
Surface Combatants :
- Charles De Gaulle Class Aircraft Carrier
The 38,000t, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles De
Gaulle was constructed at the DCN Brest naval shipyard in Brittany. The
ship was launched in May 1994 and commissioned in September 2000,
following sea trials which began in January 1999. As a result of trials
the landing deck has been lengthened by 4.4m to enable the E-2C to land
and clear the deck quickly. The carrier was due to enter service in
December 2000, but, following the breakage of a propeller blade during
long-distance trials, this was delayed to April 2001. The ship can operate
a fleet of up to 40 aircraft: Rafale M (range 3,340km), Super Etendard
(range 1,682km) and three E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft.
The ship will also support the AS 565 Panther or NH 90 helicopter.
- Jeanne D'Arc Class Helicopter-carrier
The French Navy designates Jeanne d' Arc as helicopter
carrier (porte hélicoptéres). International she is regarded as a
helicopter cruiser. Jeanne d' Arc was launched in 1961. In peacetimes she
is used as training ship for the Ecole d' Application des Officiers de
Marine (the French Navy Academy) and as command ship. Due to her age she
will be decommissioned within the next years. Her tasks will be overtaken
by one ship of the new NTCD class.
- Forbin Class (horizon project) Destroyers
Horizon is a joint programme between France and Italy. The
aim is to develop and build a common new-generation AAW frigate. The
Horizon frigate will also have anti-surface and anti-submarine
capabilities to conduct an extensive range of missions: air defence as
part of an aircraft carrier group, support of lightly armed or unarmed
vessels or operations as a single unit. Four Horizon frigates will enter
service with the French and Italian navies between 2006 and 2009.
- Suffren Class Air-defense Destroyers
The first French destroyers designed from the outset to
carry surface to air missiles. Three ships were planned with more to
follow but budget cutbacks cut this number to only two. They have been
significantly modernized over the years and should serve until sometime
after the year 2000. They are primarily used as air defense ships for the
French carriers.. She is manned by a crew of 355, including 23 officers.
Armaments consist of four Aerospatiale MM 38 Exocet anti-ship missiles
(fitted during a modernisation in 1979); an ECAN Ruelle Masurca twin
launcher taking the Mk 2 Mod 3 anti-aircraft missile
- Tourville Class Destroyers
French Tourville Class destroyer of 4580 tons displacement,
launched in 1972. She is manned by a crew of 301 including 21 officers.
Two Rateau geared steam turbines provide a top speed of 32 knots and a
range of 8000 km at 18 knots. Armaments consist of six Aerospatiale MM 38
Exocet anti-ship missiles; a Thomson- CSF Crotale Navale EDIR octuple
anti-aircraft missile launcher; a Latecoere Malafon acoustic homing
torpedo missile launcher; two DCN 100 mm/55 Mod 68 CADAM automatic
dual-purpose guns; two Oerlikon 20 mm guns; two torpedo launchers taking
the ECAN L5 anti- submarine torpedo; and two WG 13 Lynx anti-submarine
warfare helicopters.
- Cassard Class Destroyers
The French Navy Cassard Class anti-aircraft frigates are
assigned to the Force d'Action Navale with headquarters at the
Mediterranean Command base at Toulon. The Cassard (D 614) and the Jean
Bart (D 615), built at the Lorient naval Dockyard of DCN, were
commissioned in 1988 and 1991.Two four-cell missile launchers for the
Exocet MM40 are installed in a midship position between the two
citadels.The Mark 13 Mod 5 launcher for the Standard SM-1R surface-to-air
missile is installed forward of the helicopter hangar. SM-1MR has a
maximum speed of Mach 2 with a range of 45km and altitude up to 18km. The
Aster 30 missile will replace the SM-1MR during the ships' mid-life refit.
- Georges Leygues Class Frigates
French Georges Leygues Class destroyer of 3830 tons
displacement and a crew of 218 launched in 1978. Two Rolls-Royce Olympus
TM3B gas turbines rated at 46200 bhp and two SEMT- Pielstick 16PA6 CV280
diesels rated at 10400 bhp provide a top speed of 30knots; 21 knots on the
diesel engines, and a range, of 13600 km at 18 knots. Armaments consist of
four Aerospatiale MM 38 Exocet anti-ship missiles; a Thomson-CSF Crotale
Navale EDIR octuple anti-aircraft launcher with twenty-six missiles; one
100 mm/55 Mod 68 CADAM automatic dual purpose gun; two Oerlikon 20 mm
guns; four M2HB 12.7 mm machine guns; two fixed torpedo launchers and ten
ECAN L5 anti-submarine torpedoes; twelve Honeywell Mk 46 torpedoes for use
with helicopters are also carried for the ship' s two dual-purpose,
anti-submarine and anti-ship Lynx helicopters.
- Lafayette Class Frigates
The French Navy's La Fayette class multipurpose stealth
frigates have been developed by DCN. The French Navy awarded DCN the
contracts to construct the La Fayette (F710), Surcoef (F711), and Courbet
(F712) frigates in 1988, and Aconit (F713) and Guepratte (F 714) in
1992.The La Fayette class incorporates a number of stealth features - the
sides of the vessel are sloped at 10° to minimise radar cross section,
surfaces have been coated in radar-absorbent paint and the profiles of
external features have been reduced.The ship's surface-to-surface missile
is the Exocet MM40 from MBDA (formerly EADS Aerospatiale). Two four-cell
launchers are installed in a midship position between the two masts.The
ship's surface-to-air missile system is the Thales Crotale Naval CN2.
- Floreal Class small patrol Frigates
The Floreal Class Frigates entered French Navy service in
the early 1990's.
French Floreal Class patrol frigate of 2600 tons displacement, launched
in 1991, and officially described as 'Fregates de Surveillance' and
designed to operate in the offshore zone in low intensity operations.
Submarines :
- Le Triomphant class ballistic missile submarines
Le Triomphant (S616) is the French Navy’s ballistic
missile nuclear-powered submarine (SSBN), intended to replace the
L'Inflexible M4 class SSBN's. The submarine was designed and built at
DCN's Cherbourg shipyard. This first-of-class submarine was launched in
July 1993 and entered service in 1997. The second, Le Temeraire (S617),
entered service in January 2000. The construction of the third, Le
Vigilant (S618), is underway and it is due to enter service in 2004. A
fourth, Le Terrible is planned to commission in 2008.The submarine carries
16 vertically launched M45 ballistic missiles.The new enhanced M51
missile, due to enter service in 2008, will carry a warhead with twelve
MIRVS, and increased range of 8,000km.The submarine has four 533mm torpedo
tubes and has the capacity to carry a mixed load of 18 ECAN L5 Mod 3
torpedoes and Exocet missiles.
- L'Inflexible class ballistic missile submarines
These ballistic missile submarines were previously known as
the Le Redoubtable class (and are sometimes referred to as the modified Le
Redoubtable class). But when the vessel bearing that name was
decommissioned in 1991, they were renamed the L'Inflexible class, after
the newest vessel. The other four submarines have undergone a two and a
half year modernization overhaul in the 1980s which fitted the M-4
missiles, replaced the missile launch system, installed new reactor cores,
updated the sonar, and improved quieting up to the standard of the
L'Inflexible. These boats are scheduled to begin retirement one already
retired in 1996, with two others scheduled in 1998, and 2002.
- Amethyste class Submarine
The French Navy
operates six Rubis Amethyste class submarines from the naval base in
Toulon.The first four submarines were initially equipped for an
anti-surface ship role but have been re-equipped to the same standard as
the later submarines for both anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.The
torpedo tube launched Exocet SM39 anti-ship missile is manufactured by
MBDA.The submarine has the capacity to carry 14 missiles and torpedoes in
a mixed load. The Rubis Amethyste's Type 1007 navigation radar is supplied
by Kelvin Hughes and operates at I-band.
Amphibious Ships :
- Mistral class dock landing ships
The BIP multi-purpose carriers
from the DCN are a family of amphibious ships based on a common design.
This program known in France as the NTCD (Nouveau Transport de Chalands
de Débarquement/ New LPDs) has been launched in 1997 by the DCN
Internationale. This carrier can accommodate aircraft/ helicopters such as
the AV-8B Harrier II, JSF and NH-90 NFHs. Four kinds of ship have been
studied : the BIP 19, the BIP 13, the BIP 10 and the BIP 8. The aircraft
will be used as a support for marines while helicopters & LCACs
(Landing Craft Air Cushioned) will ferry freight and troops.
Two ships will be built from 2002 by the
DCN in cooperation with Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique, they will
replace the Ouragan class LPD (Ouragan and Orage). The French secretary of
defence Alain Richard confirmed the launch of the program during Euronaval'
98. In May 2000, the project has started, two ships the Mistral and
the Tonnerre will be bought, and commissioned by 2004 and 2006
within the Naval Action Force based at Toulon.
- Foudre class dock landing ships
The French Navy
operates two Foudre class landing platform dock ships, the Foudre (L9011)
and the Siroco (L9012), which were commissioned in 1990 and 1998.The
Foudre class is capable of landing and supporting a mechanised armoured
regiment of the French rapid deployment force. The three main missions of
the Foudre class are the landing of infantry and armoured vehicles on
unprepared coasts, mobile logistic support for naval forces and
humanitarian missions.. The well dock can accommodate either ten
medium-size landing craft (LCMs) or one mechanised landing craft (LSM) and
four medium-sized landing craft (LCMs).The ship, which has a 1,450m²
flight deck, can accommodate up to seven Super Puma helicopters.
- Ouragan class small dock landing ships
Displacement: 8,500 tons full load Dimensions: 149
x 21.5 x 5.40 meters (489 x 71 x 18 feet) Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2
shafts, 8,640 bhp, 17 knots Crew: 211 Aviation: midships
helicopter deck Well Deck: 120 m long (393 ft) Troops: 349 Cargo:
1,500 tons maximum Armament: 2 Mistral SAM positions, 4 40 mm
AA LSD-type ships; also can serve as maintenance, logistics and repair
ships.
- Champlain class small landing ships
Displacement: 1,386 tons full load Dimensions: 80
x 13 x 3 meters (262 x 43 x 10 feet) Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2
shafts, 3,600 bhp, 16 knots Crew: 44 Aviation: aft
helicopter deck Troops: 138 Cargo: 12 vehicles +
equipment/supplies Armament: 2 40 mm AA or 2 20 mm AA, 2 81 mm
mortars, 2 12.7 mm MG Small self-sufficient multirole landing ships
intended mainly for overseas service
Air Arm :
- Super Etendard
The Super Etendard is a carrier-based single-seat strike
fighter first introduced into service in 1978. It is an updated version of
the Etendard IVM.The naval single-seater combat aircraft, Dassault Super-Etendard,
is a modernized version of the Etendard IV M. Main modifications include
updating of the weapons system through the installation (a first for a
French production aircraft) of a modern navigation and combat management
system. The aircraft prototype made its maiden flight 28 October 1974 at
Istres (the Bouches-du-Rhône region of France). The French Navy
commissioned the plane for the first time in 1977 and 71 aircraft are now
in service on the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The Super-Etendard
will be replaced by the naval version of the multi-role combat aircraft
Rafale at the beginning of the 21st century.
- Rafale M
Rafale is a twin-jet
combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of short- and
long-range missions, including ground and sea attack, air defence and air
superiority, reconnaissance and high-accuracy strike or nuclear strike
deterrence.The Rafale M variant is a single-seater carrier-based version
for the navy.The Rafale M is scheduled to enter service on the Charles de
Gaulle aircraft carrier in 2001.The Rafale can carry payloads of over 9t
on 14 hardpoints for the air force version and 13 for the naval version.
- Atlantique 2/3
The Atlantique ATL2 has been in service with the French Navy
since 1989.The primary mission of the Atlantique is anti-submarine and
anti-surface warfare, but secondary roles include search and rescue, mine
laying and detection and long-range maritime surveillance.The flight deck
is designed for two-pilot operation. Six liquid-crystal displays provide
both pilots independently with the flight and systems management data.
- Hawkeye E-2C AEW
Northrop Grumman has delivered two E-2C Hawkeye
airborne early warning/ command and control aircraft to the French Navy.
France ordered the Hawkeye in early 1995 and the first of the two aircraft
had its maiden flight on March 12, 1998, arriving in France in late 1998;
the second arrived in early 1999. The two aircraft are now operating from
France's new carrier, USS Charles de Gaulle.
These two aircraft are Group II E-2C Hawkeyes. France
has ordered a third Group II Hawkeye to be built as part of a U.S. Navy
multiyear contract that was awarded in April 1999 for a total of 22
aircraft. It will be delivered to France in 2003.
As part of Northrop Grumman's sale of the E-2C's to
France, a team of French Navy officers and enlisted personnel came to the
United States in 1997 to study E-2C operations and maintenance at Northrop
Grumman's facilities. They visited Bethpage, N.Y., the program
headquarters and St. Augustine, Fla., where the aircraft is manufactured,
as well as E-2C suppliers elsewhere in the United States. Ninety-nine
students were in the training program.
The E-2C Hawkeye's primary mission is surveillance. An
affordable, proven airborne defense system, the E-2C eliminates the
element of surprise attack not only from bombers and fighters, but also
from ships and low-altitude aircraft and missiles.
- AS 565 SB Panther
This helicopter is a naval
military version of AS-365 Dauphin 2, a civil helicopter made by
Eurocopterin the 1970s. It rolled out in June 1987, as SA-365M Panther
within the context of the market for replacing French Army's Gazelles. It
was equipped with two Turboméca TM-333 (900 hp each one) turboshafts. The
Tiger won the competition and the Panther was re-motorized with Arriel
turboshafts. The machine was bought by Saudi Arabia. It is equipped with
two Turboméca Arriel 1 MN of 760 hp.
The French Navy bought between 1994 and
1998, fifteen examples to equip its Floréal class small-weight frigates
and Lafayette class stealth-frigates.
- SA-321G Super-Frelon
The Super Frelon first flew in 1962. The Super Frelon was
produced in a civilian transport version and military transport,
anti-submarine, and anti-ship versions.The French navy ordered twenty-nine
helicopters to equip her ASW and transport units.Less than ten helicopters
are in line in 2000. These helicopters will be replaced in 2005 by new ASW
medium-lift helicopter NH-90 NFHs. Twenty-seven examples will be ordered
to replace SA-321G Super-Frelons for transport and rescue duties.
- NH-90 (NFH)
The program of this helicopter
was launched in the 80-90's, in order to replace WG-13 Lynxs and SA-321G
Super-Frelons of the French Navy, and SA-330 Pumas of the French Army
Light Aviation. This helicopter is studied in cooperation between
Eurocopter (France and Germany), Fokker (Netherlands) and Agusta (Italy).
The various prototypes (01/ 02/ 03/ 04/ 05), respectively first flew in
December 1995 (NH-90 01), March 1997 (NH-90 02), on November 27th 1998
(NH-90 03), and 1999 (NH-90 04 and 05). NATO Frigate Helicopter version
will provide .Twenty-seven helicopters have been ordered for the French
Navy.
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