– Reuters – As tension spikes on the Korean peninsula, a French amphibious assault carrier sailed into Japan’s naval base of Sasebo on Saturday ahead of drills that risk upsetting China.
Category Archives: FrenchNavy
French Maritime Strategic Thought On the Indo-Pacific
– CIMSEC – In Europe, France is distinctive in claiming that its boundaries actually extend outside Europe into the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, i.e. the ‘Indo-Pacific,’ through its overseas departments (département d’outre-mer), and overseas territories (territoire d’outre-mer), which are considered integral parts of France, and indeed thereby of the European Union. These Indo-Pacific possessions also have large Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). These give France important maritime interests to be maintained, and if need be defended, by the French Navy.
U.K., France and U.S. Agree to Increase Submarine Warfare, Aircraft Carrier Cooperation
– USNI News – Naval leaders from the U.K., France and the U.S. have signed a trilateral cooperation agreement that will allow the three navies to work more closely together – especially in the realms of submarine warfare and carrier operations.
French carrier to lead joint amphibious Pacific drill in show of force aimed at China
– Reuters – In a display of military power aimed at China, France will dispatch one of its powerful Mistral amphibious carriers to lead drills on and around Tinian island in the western Pacific, with Japanese and U.S. personnel and two troop-carrying helicopters sent by Britain.
Carrier Charles de Gaulle undergoing refit and upgrade
– UPI – The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is in drydock in the port of Toulon for an 18-month refit and upgrade. The carrier has been in service for 15 years and the French Navy said the midlife work will extend her operational life for at least 20 more years.
French Navy’s new frigate design unveiled
– Janes – The concept design for the new Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire (FTI) for the French Navy was unveiled by the French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on 18 October.
It’s in the mail: how submarine secrets surfaced in Australia
– The Australian – It seems that the story behind this leak may be more incompetence than espionage. The data was removed from DCNS in Paris in 2011 by a former French Navy officer who quit the service in the early 1970s and worked for French defence companies for more than 30 years before becoming a subcontractor to DCNS.
Our French submarine builder in massive leak scandal
– The Australian – The French company that won the bid to design Australia’s new $50 billion submarine fleet has suffered a massive leak of secret documents, raising fears about the future security of top-secret data on the navy’s future fleet.
French Navy Might Begin South China Sea Patrols this Year
– China Topix – Warships of the French Navy (the “Marine nationale”) are expected to begin patrols of the disputed South China Sea, perhaps by as early as this year, as the government of President François Hollande seeks to enforce its defense of the rules based international order.
Aboard the Charles de Gaulle: Sea Power and la République
– USNI Blog – Those familiar with the Nimitz class might be surprised how at home they would feel aboard the French carrier. Although somewhat smaller than USS Harry S. Truman, also currently in route to the Mediterranean, the bones of the French carrier show a common pedigree: the way the flight deck control is arranged, the quality of the maintenance, the arresting gear and catapults which are fully compatible with US aircraft and even the jersey colors on the flight deck.
France launches anti-IS strikes from carrier
– BBC – France has launched its first missions against Islamic State (IS) militants from its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.
France to deploy largest warship in mission against IS
– BBC – France is sending its largest warship, the Charles de Gaulle, to join operations again Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq.
French Carrier Charles de Gaulle Bound for India After Two Months of Strikes Against ISIS
– USNI News – French carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) has left the Persian Gulf after about two months of strike operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) militants.
French Carrier Enters Persian Gulf, ISIS Strike Missions Could Start Soon
– USNI News – French nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) has entered the Persian Gulf and could soon start strike missions against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) fighters.
French Carrier to Deploy to Indian Ocean, Could Join ISIS Fight
– USNI News – The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) will shortly leave for the Indian Ocean for exercises and to potentially join the air war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
French Navy – Two NATO Ships Leave Black Sea
– USNI News – A U.S. guided missile destroyer and a French signals intelligence ship have left Black Sea.
French Navy – Third NATO Ship Enters Black Sea, Russia Vows Increased Military Air Presence
– USNI News – A French frigate entered the Black Sea on Wednesday, growing the number of NATO surface warships in the region to three.
French Navy – J’Arrive! French Spy Ship Heads Into the Black Sea
– War is Boring – The French spy ship Dupuy de Lome is in the Black Sea. Which also happens to be an excellent location for snooping on Russian military communications.
French Navy – French Aircraft Carrier deploys to Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, will train with U.S. Navy
– Navy Recognition – The French Navy announced its carrier battle group (CVBG) just deployed for Operation “Bois Belleau”. The group is centered on the French Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91). Its escort is consists in the Horizon class AAW Destroyer Forbin (D620), the Georges Leygues class anti-submarine Frigate Jean de Vienne (D643), the Durance class replenishment oiler Meuse (A607) and Rubis class SSN (nuclear-powered attack submarine)
French Navy – A visual tour of Adroit
– Aviation Week – The Adroit offshore patrol vessel, designed and built by France’s naval systems group DCNS on its its own funds, has been on loan to the French navy since summer 2011. The navy will put it through its paces for another year before handing it back to DCNS which says it has some very interested potential customers for the ship.
French Navy – French Navy Dixmude LHD sails off with a full load of reinforcement for Serval operation in Mali
– Navy Recognition – French Navy Dixumde LHD (Mistral class) sailed off on alert from Toulon naval base. With a record (for the class) load of French Army troops, vehicles and equipment belonging to a battalion task force (JTF-battle group) the amphibious vessel contributes to the strengthening of the French military deployed in Operation Serval.
French Navy – DCNS Lorient Shipyard Visit and FREMM Frigates Program Update
– Navy Recognition – Navy Recognition was recently invited by DCNS to visit their Lorient (Brittany) based shipyard. The Lorient site specializes in surface vessel. It was the birthplace of many French Navy vessels such as Aviso type ships, the La Fayette class of frigates (and its export derivatives) and even several classes of cruisers before and after World War II. We also took this rare opportunity to sit down and ask a few questions to Vincent Martinot-Lagarde, FREMM Programs Manager.
French Navy – France: U.K. F-35 Pick Could Reduce Naval Cooperation
– Defense News – France regretted the prospect of reduced cooperation with the British fleet air arm following London’s selection of the F-35B short-takeoff, vertical-landing version of the Joint Strike Fighter, and hoped collaboration would continue.
French Navy – Inside the FREMM Aquitaine
– Defense Technology International – As promised in the previous post here are some photos of the Aquitaine’s living quarters.
French Navy – Ares boards the FREMM Aquitaine
– Defense Technology International – The first of class of the French Navy’s FREMMs, the Aquitaine, is currently undergoing the third of its four sea-trial missions, this one to check the combat management system. Despite the large numbers of people aboard (DCNS engineers and the French naval personnel actually sailing the ship), a small handful of journalists was able to squeeze aboard earlier this week and photograph almost everything.
