Future of the French Navy: through the storm, but whitout glory

Of all the major biggest Western navies, the French-Navy is one of those who fared best. But despite smaller reductions than the Royal-Navy, the French-Navy suffered some falls capability. Here are my thoughts on the future of French programs :

Aicraft-Carriers: 1...and only 1 !
The Aircraft-Carrier "Charles-de-Gaulle", condemned to remain the flagship of the fleet.
After 13 very long years of construction, with weakness (underpowered, limited-size), with multiple problems (short-flight-deck, loss-of-propellers, mechanical-problems), the "Charles-de-Gaulle" came into service in 2001. It undergoes a nuclear refueling every 7 years. After modernization in 2008/2009, it must be refuelled again in 2015/2016 and in +/- 2023/2024, then +/- 2030, then to +/- 2037. With a expected service life of +/- 35/40 years, so it should be retired from service around 2037 (or at worst to 2043).

The PA02 (hypocrisy and chimera for the second French aircraft-carrier):
The French-Navy has been calling since some years (1980/1990's) the construction of a second aircraft-carrier (ideally a nuclear sister-ship of “Charles-de-Gaulle”). In 2004, with the choice of collaboration with the British, the French have chosen to use the British conventional design (CVF) for the French PA02 (CVF-FR). After 3-4 years of collaboration, the French decided to suspend the PA02 (ended cooperation with the English) and wait until 2011 (just before the presidential elections…). It now seems that a nuclear version were re-examined. Personally, I do not believe in the PA02 because:
- The French navy can not afford to have simultaneously 2 aircraft-carriers with 60 Rafale.
- Either it will be built to save the STX shipyard (political/social-choices, to give 4/5 years of workloads to the fragile shipyards)
- Either it will be delayed again and again and will-end by actually replacing the "Charles-de-Gaulle", at the earliest around 2023/2024 (in case of early disarmament of the "Charles-de-Gaulle").

Naval Airwing (+/- 58 Rafale...very slowly...)
58 Rafale are planned to become the main fighter of the French Navy (48 have already been ordered).
- The 1st batch of 10 Rafale F1 (M1-M10), entered in service around 1999-2003, will be modernized to standard F3 (18 months of work per aircraft, 300 € million for the modernisation of these 10 planes) from 2014 to 2017.
- The 2nd batch of 16 Rafale, delivered in 2004/2008.
- The 3rd batch of 12 Rafale (the first, the "M27", tat F3 standard, was delivered in 2009), 3 other planes will be delivered in 2010 and the last plane of the Batch 3 will be delivered in 2014.
- The 10 planes of the Batch 4 will be delivered in +/- 2015/2019.
- And the 12 aircraft of the 5th Batch in 2020. In late 2009, 27 Rafale were delivered (of wich, 2 were lost by accident, M22, M25). The Flotille 12F is equipped with Rafale since 1999. The Flotille 11F by 2011 and Flotille 17F by 2015 (15 aircraft each).
The +/- 20 remaining ageing SEM Super-Etandard will all be decommissioned by 2015. (With the possible sale of some aircraft in Argentina).

Naval Aviation:
- NH90 Naval: 27 planned to replace all Lynx and Super-Frelon helico. The first NH90 be delivered in 2011 and the last in 2022.
- Breguet-Atlantic 2, in service since1989-1997 (Flotille 21F, 23F). Actually 27 planes in frontlines (14 operational). 22 aircraft will be upgraded to last until 2030 (The remaining 5 aircraft be used as spare parts).
- Flottille 35F: 3 "Dauphin pedro"+ 8 "Dauphin" in SAR use.
- Flotille 24F: 8 Falcon SURMAR (4 planes were a former government aircraft) + few Xingu
- A expected 18 new maritime patrol aircraft (of the AVISMAR program) to replace all N262, FALCON and Guardian patrol aircraft)
- Flotille 4F: 3 Hawkey E2C
- Flotille 36F: 15 Panther
- + few Caracal helico, for SAR missions.

4 AAW Destroyer ... or the strict minimum !
The 2 AAW destroyers of the Jean-Bart class (in service 1988/1991), are ageing (they boarded the SM-1 missile now totally obsolete). With a 30/33 years service-life, they must be replaced by 2 new AAW frigates of the modified FREMM design (the “FREDA”, with a integrated mast). These two FREDA came into service around 2020/2022, and to be retired +/- 2050. The 2 AAW destroyers of the Horizon class (Forbin, Chevalier-Paul), in service 2009/2010, should be retired around 2040.

9 ASW Destroyers/Heavy-Frigates ... slowly replaced, one by one ...
The 2 very older ASW Destroyers of the “Duguay-Trouin” class (in service since 1974/1977) and the 7 ASW frigates of the “Georges-Leygues” (in service since 1979/1990) should be replaced between 2012-2020 by 9 new ASW frigates of the FREMM/Aquitaine class (Aquitaine, Normandy, Provence, Brittany, Auvergne, Languedoc, Alsace, Lorraine, the ninth is not yet named). These FREMM, with +/- 30/33 years service-life, must be retired by +/- 2050

5 Frigates (medium-end ships)
The 5 Frigates of the “Courbet” class (Lafayette, Surcouf, Courbet, Aconite, Guépratte). Being among the first stealth ships in the world, was once considered to be replaced their conventional Crotales launchers by more modern VLS, but this was deemed too expensive and the ships, very modern in appearance, will never receive the VLS. In service since 1996/2001, must be removed by 2026/2031. And maybe (at the best) replaced by 5 ships of the "NCF: Navires de combat du futur = Future combatant ships) project, the alternatives are currently :
- Either a improved FREMM
- Either a new ship, taking into account experience with FREMM

6 Light-Frigates (low-end ships)
6 light-frigates of the “Floreal” class (Floreal Prairal, Nivose, Ventose, Vendémiaire, Germinal). Built on civilian standards, they have +/- 25 years services-life. In service since 1992/1994, must be removed by +/- 2020/2022. The French navy, to reduce costs, want to replace them with a cheaper and similar vessels. Existing designs for such replacements are:
- DCNS "FM400", a 4000 tons, 126 meters Frigates (a dubious solution, relatively expensive)
- DCN "Gowind Action/Presence": a +/- 2000 tons, +/- 100 meters OPV (maybe possible)
- CMN "Combattante-CL78": a simple and cheaper light-corvette/OPV design, 1300 tons, 78 meters.
- CNIM "MPV Multi-purpose vessel": a very flexible innovative catamaran design Warships, 2000 tons, 90 meters. (maybe possible, but a innovative = expensive solution) But with the economic condition of France in the next 5/8year, it is possible that the French Navy is obliged to replace the 5 Courbet and 6 Floreal by a single class. In this case, the French navy could be tempted to retain in services the Floreal class few more years for permit replacement of 11 vessels by a single new class.

4 SSBN (a great cost...)
The modernization of the French SSBNs fleet is completed (“Le-Triomphant” 1997, “Le-Téméraire” 1999, “Le-Vigilant” 2004, “Le-Terrible” 2010). The last SSBN take tke M51 missile since its inception. The first three SSBNs must be upgraded to board the new M51 missile ("Le-Vigilant" in 2010, "Le-Triomphant" around 2013, and "Le-Téméraire " by 2015, each upgrade take 2/3 years). With +/- 30 years of service, they must be withdrawn around 2025-2040. This period coincides partially with the US-British SSBN (X) programs, but it is very unlikely that the French work with the Americans (but not impossible...).

6 SSN
6 SSN of the “Rubis” class (Rubis, Saphir, Casabianca, Emeraude, Amethyste, Perle). Originally having +/- 25/30 years of service, delays and budget problems in their replacements have pushed the French Navy to extended their life to +/- 33/36 years. Commissioned in 1983/1993, they should be gradually replaced (1 for 1 basis) by 6 new Suffren SSN (Suffren 2017, Duguay-Trouin 2019 Dupetit-Thouars 2021, Duquesne 2023, Tourville, 2025, De-Grasse 2027)

Mine-Warfare (toward a unmanned warfare)
- 11 « Eridan » class mine-hunter (Eridan, Cassiopée, Andromède, Pegase, Orion, croix du sud, Aigle, Lyre, Sagittaire, Cephée, Capricorne) in service. 2 others, recently disarmed (Persée, Verseau), serve as spare-parts. These mines-hunters, into service by 1984/1996, are to be retired around 2014/2026. They will most likely not be replaced by single-purpose mine-hunters ships, but more probably by a modular-vessels. The French navy is considering “mother-ships”, capable of implementing drones-submarines and unmanned-surface-vehicles (project SLAMF: système anti-mines futur). The design is not yet decided, but these 11 older ships will not be replaced by 11 new ships (probably 11 olders ships replaced by 7/9 new ships, around 2018): Currently designs are possible: (CNIM "MPV Multi-purpose vessel": a very flexible innovative catamaran design, 2000 tons, 90 meters.)
- 4 Mine-Clearance-Support-Tender of the “Vulcain” class (M611: Vulcain, M613 Acheron, M614 Styx, M622 Pluton), commissioned 1986-1987, maybe partially/indirectly replaced by new modular mine-hunter "mother-ships".
- 3 Mine-Survey-Craft of the “Antarès” class (M770-772: Antares, Altair, Aldebaran, commissioned 1993-1995), to be retired around 2023/2025.
- 1 Thétis mine contermeasures experimental ship (A785 Thétis), 1988. Maybe partially/indirectly replaced by new modular mine-hunter "mother-ships"

Light Corvettes/Avisos (the Swiss Army Knife of the French fleet)
The 9 old (1979-1984) sloops/avisos of the A-69 class (F789-797: Lieutenant-de-vaisseau-Le-Hénaff, Lieutenant-de-vaisseau-Lavallée, Commandant-l'Herminier, Premier-maître-l'Her, Commandant-Blaison, Enseigne-de-vaisseau-Jacoubet, Commandant-Ducuing, Commandant-Birot, Commandant-Bouan) have recently been converted into patrol-boats (heavy-weapons: missiles, torpedoes removed). They should serve as “interim-patrol-ships” and they will be withdrawn around 2014/2019 and partially replaced by new OPV of the “BATISMAR” program.

Patrol-boats (greats concerns about the fall numbers in overseas territories)
The 10 light-patrol-boat of the “P-400” class (P681-691: La-Fougueuse, L'-Audacieuse, La-Boudeuse, La-Capricieuse, La-Glorieuse, La-Gracieuse, La-Moqueuse, La-Railleuse, La-Rieuse, La-Tapageuse), in service since 1986/1988, will be withdrawn by 2014 (La-Fougueuse in 2009, L’-audacieuse, La-Boudeuse, La-Glorieuse in 2010, two others in 2011, two in 2013 and the last retired in 2013 ...). They will be +/- partially replaced by new OPV of the BATSIMAR program.

The problem is big delay in the BATSIMAR program (“Batiment de surveillance maritime et de réponse”= “Survey & response warships”, a expected new 1000 tons OPV). It should replace 9 A-69 aviso, 10 P-400 patrlo boats, 3 BATRAL amphibious ships, and very probably the 4 Auxiliary-Patrol-Boats ("Albatross", to be retired around 2015, “Arago”, “Sterne”, “Fulmar”). But at best, the first BATISMAR ship will arrive in 2017. In fact, it is clear that a total of +/- 17/18 BATISMAR new OPV must replace a total of +/- 26 ships.
It is likely that the new design of OPV chooses either one of the Gowing family (likely the "Gowing Control": 80/90 meters, 1000 tons). Don't forget that actually DCNS started to build (on own budget) the "Hermes", the demonstrator ships of the Gowing family. It is very likely that this vessel will be leased to the french navy for trials/evaluations in 2012/2015...

Amphibious LHD (very efficient design)
- 2 BPC "Mistral", "Tonnerre", commissioned in 2006, must have a life of 25 years and be replaced by 2030. The 3rd, the Dixmude, has been financed under the stimulus of the economy plan (to counter the economic crisis). Entered service in 2012, it will be disarmed by 2037. The 4th BPC is expected to be built by 2015/2020.

Amphibious LSD/LPD (maybe to be disarmed prematurely ?)
The "Transports de chaland de débarquement" = Landing ships transports" "Foudre" (1990) and "Sirocco" (1998) should be removed in 2020 and 2028, but the advance purchase of the 3rd BPC likely to require the Foudre to be disarmed prematurely.

3 Amphibious LST
- 3 BATRAL (Jacques-Cartier, Dumont-d'Urville, La-Grandière), commissioned 1974-1987. These three ships will be promptly removed from service by 2015, and partially replaced by new OPV of the BATISMAR program.

Amphibious LCT (4, maybe to rise at 8)
- 2 EDIC 700 (Sabre, Dague), commissioned 1987/1988, the "Dague" will be retired from service in 2010/2011.
- 2 CDIC (Rapière, Hallebarde), commissioned 1988/1989.
These 4 older landing craft will be replaced in 2011/2013 by 4 revolutionaries new vessels of the L-CAT type (Fast amphibious catamaran), delivered in 2011/2013. Four more are in option for a final cost of € 125 million for 8 ships.

Amphibious LCM (15)
- 15 CTM 17-31, commissioned 1982/1992, they must be replaced by the EDA program (EDA: Engin de débarquement amphibies= Landing craft)

Auxiliary Patrol-Boats (9, some are ex-trawlers)
- 1 Albatros class (P681 Albatross), to be retired by 2015.
- 1 Lapérouse a class (converted, P675 Arago)
- 1 Fulmar class (converted, P740 Fulmar)
- 3 Flamant class (P676, 678 Flamant, Cormoran, Pluvier)
- 1 Grèbe class (type Espadon 50, P679 Grebe), fragile vessel, dating from 1991, the Navy expect to retire this ship, maybe in the coming years. -
2 Athos Class (A712-713 Athos, Aramis)

Maritime Force (28, operated by the Maritime Force)
- 2 Patrol boats of the Geranium class (P720, 722: Geranium, Violette)
- 2 Patrol boats of the Jonquille class (P721, 723: Jonquille, Jasmin)
- 24 Patrol boats of the Elorn Class (P601-624: Elorn, Verdon, Adour, Scarpe, Vertonne, Dumbéa, Yser, Argens, Hérault, Gravona, Odet, Mahury, Organabo, Maury, Charente, Tech, Penfeld, Trieux, Vésubie, Escaut, Huveaune, Sèvre, Aber Wrac'h, Esteron)

Support ships (6)
- 4 "Durance" class replenishment tanker, (A607-608, 630-631: Meuse, Var, Marne, Somme). Commissioned 1980-1990, must be replaced by 4 new ships. The study designs are already under way. At best, construction would begin around 2012. But most probably around 2015-2020; We talk about ship of 40000 tons with containers capacity. - "Le-Malin" swimmer support vessel (Le Malin A616, ex captured trawler, 1997)
- A diving support vessel of the Alizé class (A645 Alize, commissioned 2005)

Trial, experimentation and intelligence ships (3)
- 1 Monge class missile range tracking ship (A601 Monge), commissioned 1992, to be retired around 2025/2030.
- 1 Denti ASW weapon support tender (A743 Denti), commissioned 1976, ageing, any replacement expected ?
- 1 Dupuy-de-Lôme intelligence collection ship (A759 Dupuy-de-Lôme ), commissioned 2006, very recent.

Hydrography and Oceanography (4.5, more and more leased ships)
- 1 "Beautemps-Beaupré" class oceanographic and hydrographic research ship (A758 Beautemps-Beaupré), commissioned 2003. At 95% owned by french navy, and 5% owned by IFREMER.
- 1 "Pourquoi-pas ?" class oceanographic research ship, shared with IFREMER, Pourquoi-pas ? , commissioned 2005, 55% owned by IFREMER and 45% owned by the french navy.
- 3 "Lapérouse" class hydrographic survey ships (A791-793: Lapérouse, Laplace, Borda), commissioned 1988-1991.

Océanic assistance & salvage tugs (4, leased, but very efficient ships !)
- 2 "Abeille-Bourbon" class (Abeille-Bourbon, Abeille-Liberté), leased by the french navy.
- 2 "Abeille-Flandre" class (Abeille-Frandre, Abeille-Languedoc), leased by the french navy.

Tugs, Salvage & Assistance ships (From 10 to 8, and nearly half private owned...)
- 3 Regional-Assistance-ships of "Chamois" class (A668, 674, 675: Elan, Chevreuil, Gazelle), commissioned 1978.
- 2 Alcyon class assistance-salvage-tugs (UT711 design, Alcyon, Ailette), leased by the french navy.
- 1 Jason class assistance-salvage tugs (Jason), leased by the french navy.
- 2 Malabar class (A664, 669 : Malabar, Tenace), commissioned 1972-1976.
- 1 Rari class (A635 Revi), commissioned1985
- 1 Argonaute, leased since 2004.
These 10 auxiliary vessels are to be replaced under the BSAH program (Batiment de soutien d'assistance hauturière = offshore support and assistance vessels) by 8 Future AHTS (Anchor Handling Tug Supply) type vessels of 70/80 meters, 2/3000 tons, with 08/12000 HP engines towards 2014/2015. In this new program, 4 ships will be operated by the French navy and the other 4 by private operators (the contract must be signed by 2012).

Training Ships (smaller & fewer...)
- The training Cruiser "Jeanne-d'Arc", commissioned 1964, to be retired in 2010 and indirectly/partially replaced by a amphibious BPC.
- 8 Navigationnal Training crafts of "Leopard" class (A748-755 : Léopard, Panthère, Jaguar, Lynx, Guépard, Chacal, Tigre, Lyon), commissioned 1982-1983. To be retired through the 2010's decade, but actually any replacement Expected ?
- 2 Navigationnal Training craft of the "Glycine" Class (A770-771: Glycine, Eglantine), 1992 - 2 Sail Training Barkentine of the "Etoile" class (A649-650: Etoile, Belle-Poule), 1932 - A yawl Sail Training of the Mutin class (A652: Mutin) , 1927
- A ketch Sail Training Of The "La-Grande-Hermine" class (A653, La Grande-Hermine, 1932
- 2 Manoeuvers training and Instruction craft, the 2 older "Chimère","Farfadet", commissioned 1970/1971, will be replaced by 2 newly built craft of the BIM program (Batiment d'instruction et de manoeuvres= Instruction and manoeuvers vessels) by end 2010/early 2011. Built by the SOBEC, this new craft have a length of 24m and 86 tones and carry 3 crew and 10 naval student.
- 10 new small maneuvers and education crafts. Very small vessels of 8 meters and 4.6 tons, they will serve 6 naval students and will be delivered from mid 2010 to mid 2011.

It is possible that I forgot programs or made a few mistakes ?

PS: I take few days of hollidays/vacations, "Blogs-updates" to come back around 16/18 may. (same for any comment posted)
Regards