– Defense Technology International – The first-of-class Gowind corvette, the Adroit, was today put at the disposal of the French navy. This unusual procedure took place because the navy has not bought the ship—it is borrowing it from the constructor, DCNS, for the next three years.

– Defense Technology International – I don’t know whether horizontal rain and deep puddles are auspicious for ship naming ceremonies but if they are then DCNS’ latest creation, the Adroit first-of-class Gowind ocean patrol vessel (OPV) is a lucky ship indeed.

– Defense Technology International – Since 2008, the French defense ministry has ordered four production-model Engin de Débarquement Amphibie Rapide (EDA-R) craft from CNIM, with an option on two more, with the goal of providing each of the three Mistral-class amphibious-warfare ships with two of the craft. The first of these is to be delivered in September. Unit cost is EUR15 million.

– Defense Technology International – The French army and navy have never before worked in such close cooperation in a major operational mission as they are today in Libya, says French Army Chief of Staff General Elrick Irastorza.

– Defense Technology International – French shipbuilder DCNS raised eyebrows at last October’s Euronaval show with its extraordinary SMX-25 concept for a submarine like no contemporary design – sharp-prowed, with a big but low sail and a jet-like stern. At the IMDEX show in Singapore last week, DCNS gave a few more details of the design.

– Defense Technology International – The first of class FREMM Aquitaine has just completed three weeks of sea-trials and according to DCNS, which built the frigate, the French navy is very pleased, notably with its maneuverability and propulsion.

– Associated Press – As French navy Rafale and Super Etendard fighter-bombers carrying laser-guided bombs catapulted Wednesday off the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier into a cloudless Mediterranean sky, officers onboard described the difficulties they face: Despite all the modern technology, troops loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi are harder than ever to identify from the air.

– Flight Global – French navy Dassault Rafales have flown their first sorties in support of the coalition campaign against the regime of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, launching from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

– Daily Telegraph – French fighter jets could be stationed on Britain’s new aircraft carrier as the two nations’ navies become “interdependent,” the French defence minister has said.

– Defense Technology International – The French navy could have done without this embarassment just before the Euronaval show opens next Monday: their flagship Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier which should have been away on a four-month foreign tour in the Indian Ocean never left on October 15 because of a small electrical problem.

– Associated Press – A French Navy spokesman says aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has been forced to return to port for repairs on the day it set sail for a four-month mission to support the fight in Afghanistan.

AFP – French navy rebuilding Iraq ties with port call

At Iraq’s southernmost tip, windswept sands and oppressive heat greeted a once-familiar visitor — a French naval vessel, making port in the country for the first time in 32 years.

St. Petersburg Times – Arrival of French Ship Fuels Debate

Hundreds of St. Petersburg residents, many of them navy officers and shipbuilders, lined up in the fog on Wednesday to visit the French warship The Mistral, which arrived in the city on Monday and which the Russian military hopes to buy.

Associated Press – French ship Russia wants to buy in St Petersburg

A French amphibious assault ship like the one Russia hopes to buy arrived Monday in St. Petersburg, fueling concern in Georgia and other ex-Soviet nations that Russia is upgrading its navy to intimidate its neighbors.

Associated Press – Somali pirates seized after firing on French ship

European Union naval forces captured seven Somali pirates after they tried to take over a French fishing vessel, which repulsed the attack with gunfire.

BBC – Pirates hit navy ship ‘in error’

A group of Somali pirates has been captured after attacking a French navy ship by mistake, apparently thinking it was a harmless cargo vessel.

Associated Press – French navy detects Comoros crash black boxes

A French navy vessel has detected the black boxes of a Yemenia Airways plane that crashed into the Indian Ocean near the Comoros Islands.

Associated Press – Ships ending search for Air France black boxes

Two ships using U.S. listening devices to search for the black boxes of Air France Flight 447 were ending their hunt Friday, an American commander said. A French nuclear submarine, however, will continue to look.

Associated Press – Officials deny that Air France black box signals have been received

French military ships searching for the black boxes of Flight 447 have detected sounds in the Atlantic Ocean but they are not from the Air France plane’s flight recorders, French officials said Tuesday.

Washington Post – Brazil Recovers Debris From Missing Aircraft

Brazil’s defense minister confirmed Tuesday that a swath of debris found floating in the Atlantic Ocean contains remnants of an Air France jetliner, which evidently went down with the loss of all 228 passengers and crew on board. Involved in the search are C-130’s from the Brazilian Air Force and French Navy Breguet-Atlantics.

Here are photos aboard the Breguet-Atlantics

Here is more about the aircraft in French at Le Point – LE BREGUET ATLANTIQUE 2 AU LARGE DU BRÉSIL – À la recherche de l’épave de l’AF 447 and here is the same page translated into English.

Wall Street Journal – France to Open Naval Base in Abu Dhabi

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Monday his nation’s first military base in the Gulf is an important step in international cooperation to fight piracy and safeguard crucial oil routes.

Daily Telegraph – Asbestos-laden warship to set sail for Britain

A French warship deemed too toxic to be broken up in India is to set sail for Britain to be dismantled.

Defense Technology International – France’s Newest Ballistic Missile-Carrying Sub Starts Sea-Trials

The French Navy announced today that its new Triomphant class ballistic missile-carrying submarine, Le Terrible, had its first sea outing on Monday (Jan.26) off the coast of Cherbourg in northern France.

Defense Technology International – French Navy Deploys Anti-Smuggling Surveillance Frigate Off Gaza Coast

A French frigate carrying a helicopter was on its way Friday to international waters off the coast of Gaza to participate in a mission against arms trafficking in the Palestinian territory.

Defense Technology International – Surprise Present for the French Navy

Many in the French navy, disappointed that president Nicolas Sarkozy postponed a decision early this summer on whether or not to procure a second aircraft carrier, got a surprise Christmas present last week when Defense Minister Hervé Morin announced he was ordering a third Mistral-class BPC.