Future of the French Navy

French Navy modernization is pursued on the basis of successive Projet de loi de programmation militaire ("Military programme law projects),[1]. These defence modernization plans are formulated on a rolling basis pursuant to strategic, political and budgetary factors and pressures. Current program modernizations are anchored in the commitment to an ongoing force of 15 large frigate/destroyer sized ships (the "first rank" surface combatants). Modernization also encompasses other core and supporting capabilities including the nuclear-powered submarine fleet, the patrol vessel force and major support vessels.

• 8 FREMM multipurpose frigates – Eight ships have been ordered as part of the 2003–08 defence programming law and a further three were planned to be ordered. Two ships will be optimised for anti-aircraft warfare to replace the two cancelled Horizon-class ships. Construction of the first ship in this class began in 2007 and she was commissioned in 2012.[2] In 2015 the order was cut to 8 in order to allow the purchase of five FTI Mid-Size Frigates from 2023.[3]
• 5 FTI/FDI (Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention) Mid-Size Frigates from 2023.[3] The lead ship of the FDI class, Admiral Ronarc'h, began construction in October 2019. [4]
• Six nuclear attack submarines of the Barracuda-class. The contract for the first three of these submarines was signed in 2006. The construction of the first boat in the class also began in 2006 and she is scheduled to be commissioned in 2020. The additional boats in the class will enter service through the 2020s, with the sixth submarine planned for service entry in 2030.[5]
• The Durance class will be replaced under the FLOTLOG project by four derivatives of Italy's Vulcano-class logistic support ship, to be delivered in 2022–29.[6]
• Six 80-metre POM-type patrol vessels to be delivered between 2022 and 2025 to protect the exclusive economic zone of French overseas territories in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.[7] The vessels were ordered in December 2019. [8]
• The Navy is also planning to replace its A-69 D'Estienne d'Orves-class avisos/offshore patrol vessels based in both the Atlantic and Mediterranean, and PSP Flamant-class coast guard vessels based in Cherbourg, with up to 10 ocean-going patrol vessels. Initial vessel delivery is planned for 2025 though the final design has yet to be announced. [9]One option may be the joint-European patrol corvette program, currently under consideration by France, Italy, Spain and Greece, a program which has also been mooted as providing a potential replacement for the Navy's six Floreal-class surveillance frigtates.[10][11]

French Navy
(Marine Nationale)

Naval Ensign of France Motto: Honneur, Patrie, Valeur, Discipline ("Honour, Homeland, Valour, Discipline") Command Naval Ministers Maritime Prefect Components Naval Action Force Submarine Forces Strategic Oceanic Force (FOST) Squadron of Nuclear Attack Submarines (ESNA) Naval Aviation FORFUSCO (Marine Commandos, Naval Fusiliers) Maritime Gendarmerie Equipment Current fleet Current deployments Personnel Ranks in the French Navy History History of the French Navy Future of the French Navy Ensigns and pennants Historic ships Battleships Cruisers Destroyers Submarines Ships of the line Sail frigates Historic fleets Awards Cross of War Military Medal Legion of Honour Ribbons

Equipment will also be modernised, notably:

• New models of the successful Exocet missile
• Aster and Sylver Vertical Launching Systems for anti-missile/anti-air defence
• Cruise missiles (the naval or submarine SCALP EG)
• Three La Fayette-class (La Fayette, Courbet and Aconit) will be fitted with a hull-mounted sonar as well as incorporating other improvements.

In October 2018, the French Ministry of Defence launched an 18-month study for €40 million for the eventual future replacement of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle beyond 2030. A decision for the new carrier is scheduled to take place beyond 2025, and the future carrier is to remain in service until beyond 2080.[12][13]