Defense News – France introduced a modernized version of its M51 submarine-launched strategic ballistic missile, a “major milestone” in the modernization of the country’s ocean-based nuclear deterrent, the Armed Forces Ministry said on Tuesday.

USNI News – The following is the English translation of France’s 2025 Indo-Pacific Strategy that was released this week.

Naval News – At a private event focusing on France’s strategy in the Indo-Pacific, senior officers from the French Navy, including an Admiral, shared some details about Clemenceau 25 revealing behind-the-scenes details of a particularly intense deployment in terms of operations, diplomacy and technology. The latter enabled the full capabilities of the French carrier strike group (CSG) to be deployed and major technological firsts to be conducted.

Naval News – The French ministry of the armed forces last week released France’s first ever “defense strategy for the Arctic”. The move comes as the Arctic is rapidly emerging as a global critical geopolitical flashpoint.

Naval News – The French Navy’s (Marine Nationale) third Suffren-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) Tourville (S637) entered “active duty” (admission au service actif in French) on July 4th, 2025.

The War Zone – France is interested in first procuring a stealthy flying-wing UCAV to fight alongside its Rafales, then getting fighter-like collaborative drones.

CIMSEC – France’s resident sovereignty and associated EEZ give France a continuing anchor in the Indo-Pacific, and interests to maintain, that other European actors do not have.

Naval News – In a recent press conference held at the French ministry of Armed Forces, Rear Admiral Cédric Chetaille – the French Navy’s deputy chief for operations, and director of seabed capability development – revealed that France’s seabed warfare strategy includes offensive means, in addition to defense ones.

War on the Rocks – Why is France interested in the Indo-Pacific? First of all, the Indo-Pacific is also France’s home. And second, France has a vested interest in the region’s security as a whole.

USNI News – The French Carrier Strike Group has completed its first deployment in the Pacific and deepened ties with U.S. and Japanese forces.

USNI News – Aircraft carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R91) made a port visit to the Philippines on Friday and Saturday after conducting drills in the South China Sea with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Defense News – France’s Naval Group has criticized Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems for hurting European submarine vendors by transferring technology to countries that later managed to build their own boats for export.

Naval News – The French Navy’s first Falcon 2000LXS Albatros maritime surveillance aircraft performed its maiden flight. Designed to replace aging Falcon 50s and Guardians as part of the AVSIMAR program, the new aircraft made its maiden flight in Bordeaux on January 24.

USNI News – The French Carrier Strike Group is spearheading the French Navy-led multinational biennial exercise La Perouse 25 that began on Thursday across three critical maritime passages in South East Asia.

The War Zone – French Navy Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft was illuminated by the fire-control radar of a Russian long-range air defense system, while flying over the Baltic Sea earlier this week, according to France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu.

Naval News – The multinational La Perouse exercise, which takes place every two years, has begun in the eastern Indian Ocean around the Indonesian archipelago. Nine French allied and partner navies are participating. The focus is to train to secure strategic sea lines of communication in the Indo-Pacific.

Naval News – Every October, budget for the French Armed Forces is updated and voted depending on the needs, the international context and the national budget situation. However, following a vote of no-confidence for the preceding government, there is now a lot of uncertainty regarding what the French military (and its navy) may expect for 2025 and beyond.

USNI News – The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is back in the South China Sea following a port visit to Port Klang, Malaysia. Meanwhile, the French Carrier Strike Group is now operating in the Indian Ocean.

Defense News – Rear Adm. Jacques Mallard has led the French carrier strike group (FRSTRIKEFOR) since August 2023, focusing his efforts on enhancing how the naval formation shares information and trains in realistic battle conditions. In an interview during the Euronaval Talks, organized in the context of the Euronaval show in Paris earlier this month, Mallard commented on the new types of environments and competitors the strike group is up against, the complexities of applying lessons learned after missions, and feedback from a recent exercise with the Italian Navy.

USNI News – French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R91) will deploy to the Indo-Pacific by the end of the year with the deployment named Mission Clemenceau 25. The French CSG will carry out operational missions around the Red Sea before moving on to the Indo-Pacific where it will carry out three major exercises with allies.

USNI News – French aircraft carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R91) is preparing to deploy, according to a French Navy release. Meanwhile the Italian Navy Cavour Carrier Strike Group has wrapped up a five-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific, arriving home in Taranto on Oct. 30.

Defense News – The pace of change in maritime warfare requires Western navies to innovate faster and work more intimately with industrial partners to defeat evolving threats, the heads of the French and U.K. navies said.

European Defense Review – Capable to perform different types of mission, depending on its payload, the BlackBird, under development by Alseamar, exploits the capabilities of the company X-SUB expendable buoys to increase the boat captain situational awareness

(Thanks to Alain)

Navy Lookout – Here we look at the French Navy’s ambitious project to construct a 75,000-tonne nuclear-powered, conventional aircraft carrier for delivery in the late 2030s.