Marine Nationale (French Navy)

[Sandhi Yudha]

Following a year-long upgrade, the La Fayette-class frigate (FLF) Courbet has just completed its refit phase and has returned to the fleet. The refurbishment was used to modernize the combat system, improve the ship’s stability, reinforce its structures and renew the propulsion and auxiliary control systems.

First Upgraded La Fayette-class Frigate is Operational Again - Naval News

French Navy (Marine Nationale) frigate "Courbet" is back in the fleet and ready for duty. It is the first La Fayette-class frigate to benefit from a comprehensive upgrade program.

www.navalnews.com

 

[swerve]

Also added previously non-existent ASW capabilities, which I think is significant.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

The French Navy will start operating these 4+2 interim H160 helicopters in 2022 for a period of ten years.

The French Navy’s operational feedback with these H160s will benefit the design of the military version of the aircraft and its associated support system. The French MoD placed an order for 169 H160Ms in December 2021 as part of the Joint Light Helicopter programme (Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger: HIL) to replace 5 types of helicopters currently in services with the 3 French military services: the Gazelle of the army (Armée de terre), the Fennec of the air force (Armée de l’air) and the Alouette III, Dauphin and Panther of the French Navy (Marine nationale).

First French Navy's H160 SAR Helicopter Starts Flight Tests - Naval News

The first H160 helicopter for the French Navy (Marine Nationale) has started its flight tests at the Airbus Helicopters main site in Southern France. The information was shared by Bruno Even, the company's CEO on social media.

www.navalnews.com

 

[FormerDirtDart]

A little animation clip of France's Porte-avions de nouvelle génération (PA-NG) {Next Generation Aircraft Carrier}

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1513891342061027330

Translation:

From 2038, he will succeed the Charles de Gaulle. Larger, more powerful, equipped with nuclear propulsion, it will allow the

to maintain its aeromaritime power projection capacity by adapting to the challenges of the future. Journey into the future to discover the PA-NG!

 

[John Fedup]

Very nice, interesting transom. Be nice to see a second ship for the EU (Japan perhaps ??). Big question for France is what future jet fighter that will be viable 20-40 years from now?

 

[Ananda]

Setback to European Fighter Jet as Companies in Deadlock

Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet program suffered a setback as the two main contractors failed to reach agreement on its development.

www.thedefensepost.com

French already determine that carrier borne FCAS will be their next gen fighters on the PANg. Question will be if they still want to go with the German on this or not. Seems recent Rafale export success, already give more confidence on some part in French, that they still have capabilities to go in alone if necessary.

 

[John Fedup]

Setback to European Fighter Jet as Companies in Deadlock

Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet program suffered a setback as the two main contractors failed to reach agreement on its development.

www.thedefensepost.com

French already determine that carrier borne FCAS will be their next gen fighters on the PANg. Question will be if they still want to go with the German on this or not. Seems recent Rafale export success, already give more confidence on some part in French, that they still have capabilities to go in alone if necessary.

Basically a repeat of the Typhoon-Rafale saga. France is committed on development of a new naval jet and the work share arrangement for that is a big problem. A CATOBAR QE ship would have possibly made a UK/France partnership on Tempest (and likely a naval jet) together with Tempest’s other partner nations very likely. Germany would be on the sidelines with Airbus….just my opinion.

 

[ASSAIL]

It l

A little animation clip of France's Porte-avions de nouvelle génération (PA-NG) {Next Generation Aircraft Carrier}

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1513891342061027330

Translation:

It looks like a great capability and I can’t help myself for thinking that the RN got it horribly wrong with the design of the QEs.
Let’s hope it’s progress to completion is not scuttled by political interference.

 

[swerve]

Maintaining a CTOL carrier capability for just one carrier is expensive & inflexible. Keeping carrier-qualified pilots current requires constant practice, & with one carrier that needs an ally willing to let you use its carrier(s) for training when yours isn't available. It's hard to have a reserve of carrier-capable aircraft, unless you buy extra carrier aircraft & base them on land.

STOVL, on the other hand, is much, much easier to operate. Less pilot training & practice are needed. Basic conversion is very quick, so land-based pilots & aircraft are available as a reserve.

If you have a large carrier fleet I'd say it's a no-brainer: fit cat & trap. But for one or two carriers? Trickeeee . . . not an obvious choice at all.

 

[kato]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1513891342061027330

One thing that Opex360 points out about that video: There are three catapults fitted and shown in use in parallel (at around 1:40 to 1:50). Previous videos showed two catapults.

 

[Ananda]

Feedback on French Navy High Intensity Exercise POLARIS - Naval News

Review of the French Navy (Marine Nationale)'s feedback on the high-intensity exercise 'POLARIS' conducted from November 18 to December 3, 2021.

www.navalnews.com

The report on the Marine Nationale High Intensity exercise Polaris. This exersise pit two French Task Force as Red and Blue force. Using scenario of some of the Russian supersonic SSM to test what French Navy has on potential peer to peer 21st century naval enggagement.

The result shown not a good result for Marine Nationale. Marine Nationale whatever the critics put, still a leading Euro Naval power. This kind of scenario also shown limitation for Euro Naval fleet.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

A total of 18 ATL2s are planned to be upgraded and delivered to the French Navy by 2024. The Dassault-Breguet Atlantique 2 (ATL2) was set to be replaced by the French-German MAWS program. However, following Germany’s decision to procure the P-8A as an “interim” solution, rumor has it that France could develop its own MPA platform based on the new Falcon 10X by Dassault Aviation, which will be an understandable step looking to the Falcon 50M and Falcon 20G now in use with the Marine Nationale for maritime patrols. The Falcon 10X has a much greater range and endurance than the older models.

French Navy Receives 8th and 9th Upgraded ATL2 MPA - Naval News

The French Defense Procurement Agency DGA took delivery of the eighth and ninth Atlantique 2 (ATL2) maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) upgraded to standard 6 this month. The MPAs were delivered to the French Navy (Marine Nationale) at the Lann-Bihoué naval air base.

www.navalnews.com

Signed at Farnborough International Airshow, the agreement now means that Rolls-Royce and Snecma will work alongside MBDA to meet the propulsion requirements for the new FC/ASW for Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (or FMAN/FMC for futur missile anti-navire/futur missile de croisière in French).

The FC/ASW seeks to develop a new generation of deep strike and anti-ship missiles by 2030. It aims at replacing the capabilities provided by Storm Shadow/ SCALP air launched cruise missile in operational service in the UK and France as well as the Exocet anti-ship missile in France and the obsolete Harpoon Block 1C anti-ship missile in the UK.

Rolls-Royce and Safran Team Up for FC/ASW Next Gen Missile - Naval News

Rolls-Royce and Safran Power Units have jointly signed an Assessment Phase contract with MBDA, as part of the Franco-British Future Cruise / Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme.

www.navalnews.com

 

[StobieWan]

It l

It looks like a great capability and I can’t help myself for thinking that the RN got it horribly wrong with the design of the QEs.
Let’s hope it’s progress to completion is not scuttled by political interference.

Well, the choice was one working CATOBAR carrier or two STOVL available - and with two STOVL, that massively increases availability.

I think for the RN, we've got the right choice of carrier and aircraft for the budget.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

What a badluck-submarine.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1574429949171220483

Luckily the fire is not as bad as the one in June 2020.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Here an article about the future of the Marine Nationale. The 2023 French defense budget reaches €43,9 billion (including an extra 3 billion euros) which represents a 7,4% increase compared to 2022.

There is also a list of some major equipment set to be ordered or delivered in 2023.

France's 2023 Defense Budget: What to expect for the French Navy - Naval News

The French Ministry of Armed Forces just published its 2023 defense budget, shedding light on the major equipment set to be ordered for, and delivered to the French Navy (Marine Nationale).

www.navalnews.com

 

[ngatimozart]

Here an article about the future of the Marine Nationale. The 2023 French defense budget reaches €43,9 billion (including an extra 3 billion euros) which represents a 7,4% increase compared to 2022.

There is also a list of some major equipment set to be ordered or delivered in 2023.

France's 2023 Defense Budget: What to expect for the French Navy - Naval News

The French Ministry of Armed Forces just published its 2023 defense budget, shedding light on the major equipment set to be ordered for, and delivered to the French Navy (Marine Nationale).

www.navalnews.com

Interesting. We probably will see some of those new POM OPVs in NZ occasionally then. The Marine Nationale unit in New Caledonia comes visiting every so often.

 

[Ananda]

Xavier video on PANG, however in French. However it shown more detail on latest model iteration. I don't speak French, thus only guess what they are talking from the model. Quite interesting the size difference between Rafale Marine and NG Fighter Marine. This is perhaps one of the reason why significant increase on dimensions between PANG and CDG.

 

[Redlands18]

This one is in English, have also posted on the General Naval News

 

[Ananda]

I already posted that on General Naval news #307, few days ago. The newer one that Xavier post in French seems talking more details on the PANG with the technical teams. Put it here, just in case if someone who talk French can explain it more .

 

[kato]

Xavier video on PANG, however in French. However it shown more detail on latest model iteration. I don't speak French, thus only guess what they are talking from the model.

First 4 minutes are just presenting the three stakeholders he interviews, last two minutes are general statements on the need for a new carrier from the program directors at the Navy and at Naval Group respectively.

The three-minute section inbetween where they point out parts of the model with the programme director from procurement agency DGA are:

1. minor rearrangements have been made on the design for operations optimization (adaptions to helo spot behind island, catapult position/angle)
2. detail placement of systems on island has been reworked (radar, comms, layout of navigation and aviation bridges)
3. some hydrodynamics testing of hull models has been performed at DGA
4. current preliminary draft stage in second year will move on to design stage next year