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 replace the current aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle with a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as well as in the commitment to maintain 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 ballistic-missile submarines of the national nuclear deterrent, the nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet, the patrol vessel force, mine warfare units and major support ships. As of 2021, principal modernization projects include:

• 1 new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (PANG) to enter service in about 2038. In October 2018, the French Ministry of Defence launched an 18-month study for €40 million for the future replacement of the Charles de Gaulle beyond 2030. In December 2020, President Macron announced that construction would begin in around 2025 with sea trials to start in about 2036. The carrier is planned to have a displacement of around 75,000 tons and to carry about 32 next-generation fighters, two to three E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes and a yet-to-be-determined number of unmanned carrier air vehicles.[2]

• 4 Ballistic-missile nuclear-powered submarines (SSBN) - Studies were initiated in 2017 on the construction of a new class of SSBNs to renew the national nuclear deterrent in the 2030s. Current plans envisage the start of construction to begin in around 2023 with the first new SSBN to enter service between 2033 and 2035.[3]

• 8 FREMM multipurpose frigates – Eight ships were 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.[4] In 2015 the order was cut to 8 in order to allow the purchase of five FTI Mid-Size Frigates from 2023.[5] As of 2020, six vessels oriented toward anti-submarine operations are in service, with two ships oriented toward air-defence warfare scheduled to follow in 2021 and 2022.
• 5 FTI/FDI (Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention) Mid-Size Frigates from 2023.[5] Construction work on modules for the lead ship of the FDI class, Admiral Ronarc'h, began in October 2019.[6]
• 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 was commissioned in 2020.[7] The additional boats in the class will enter service through the 2020s, with the sixth submarine planned for service entry in 2030.[8]
• 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.[9]
• Six 80-metre POM-type (Patrouilleur d’Outre-Mer) 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.[10] The ships will mount a Narwhal 20mm remote-controlled gun and be able to accommodate UAVs.[11] The vessels were ordered in December 2019[12] and began construction in October 2020.[13]
• Replacement of current French Navy mine warfare vessels (Éridan-class minehunters, sonar towing vessels, EOD diver vessels) with the Système de lutte anti-mines futur (SLAM-F) is envisaged between 2023 and 2029. The system will consist of: 8x Unmanned systems (with delivery by 2024); 6x motherships (“bâtiments de guerre des mines”); 5x EOD divers support vessels (“bâtiments base plongeurs démineurs nouvelle generation”); and, 1x Mine Warfare Data Operating System (SEDGM). Initial operating capability for the unmanned systems is envisaged from 2023 starting with shore-based elements.[14][15]
• The Navy is 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 delivery of the "Patrouilleurs Océanique" (PO) is planned for 2025. As of 2020, design concepts envisage a vessel of about 2,000-tons, equipped with the Thales and Nexter 40mm RAPIDFire gun[16] and carrying a helicopter and/or UAVs. The vessel is planned to carry both air and surface radars as well as hull-mounted sonar.[17][18]
• The joint-European patrol corvette program is currently under consideration by France, Italy, Spain and Greece. For the French Navy it is envisaged that the vessel may replace the Navy's six Floréal-class surveillance frigates starting in about 2030.[19][20][21]

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

Other elements of the Navy and its equipment are also being modernised, including:

• Upgraded ATL2 Maritime Patrol Aircraft with the “Standard 6” upgrade incorporating a new radar, new acoustic subsystem and other improvements. Eighteen aircraft are being upgraded starting in 2020 in order to remain operationally relevant up to 2030.[22] Three of the enhanced aircraft were delivered by mid-2020 and the system was declared to have reached initial operating capability in December 2020. Full operating capability is expected in 2021 when five of the upgraded aircraft will have been delivered.[23]
• Introduction of 49 H160M helicopters for the Navy starting in 2028[24]
• Introduction of 3 E-2D advanced Hawkeye carrier-capable early warning aircraft starting in 2027 to replace the E-2C variant of the aircraft[25]
• Introduction of 7 (with an eventual projected total of 12) Albatros Maritime Surveillance and Intervention Aircraft (AVSIMAR) starting in 2025[26]
• 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. The first vessel, Courbet, began her conversion refit in October 2020.[27]