French Armed Forces

[xav]

Does adding a sonar to the FLF make them a 1st rank frigate? I don't see it.

FLF were always considered (by the politics) as 1st rank... even before this mid life update.
Crazy I know

[xav]

Intrigued to see what will come of FREDA and the new light frigate design. At a conservative guess, I'd say the EMPAR AESA (the only the Italian FREMM have) for the FREDA in place of the PESA Herakles, and swapping the 16 SCALP for 16 Aster-30.

It was always mentioned (including during press meetings I personally attended) that FREDA would be fitted with a "boosted variant" of Herakles... That being said, Thales reportedly said Sea Fire plannar array radar is an evolution of Herakles. FTI will be fitted with Sea Fire (or its evolution because I am not sure it is a "product" just yet). So FREDA *could* be fitted with Sea Fire as well.

In his speech, the Defense Minister said FREDA would be an ASW FREMM with increase AAW... my guess is it will be fitted with 16x Aster-15 and 16x Aster-30 (in place of the MdCN) with still MdCN capabilities (because of Aster-30 being placed in strike length silos) and top of the line ASW capabilities with Captas 4 sonar of course.

[arfah]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[sea_eagle]

A news and discussion thread for one of our closest allies, the French.

France Increases Defence Spending 'to Counter Extremism'

French President Francois Hollande says defence spending will rise by nearly €4bn to tackle extremist threats "at home and overseas".
....

He said the 2015 defence budget will remain at €31.4bn ($35bn; £22bn), and would increase by an extra €3.8bn between 2016 and 2019.

The move will save 18,500 of the 34,000 job cuts that were planned for the military over the next five years, unnamed presidential officials said.

How is it that the French defence budget appears much lower than the UK yet they seem to be able to procure and run a miltary at least as large as the UK?

[xav]

This is quite rare.. EDA-R Landing Catamaran getting inside a JSMDF LST

Japan, France and the United States Conducted A Joint Amphibious Exercise For the 1st Time

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) announced it has conducted joint amphibious maneuvers with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the US Navy last month in the East China Sea. Named Kitsune 2015, the exercise (which was a first for the three navies) involved the Mistral class LHD Dixmude and Lafayette class Frigate Aconit of the French Navy, the Osumi (head of the class) tank landing ship of the JMSDF and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Preble of the US Navy.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2773

[Ninetyfifth]

See attached link for 4 RIFLES training en France a CENZUB avec VCBI:

[SKB]

The British Army didn't buy these French made VBCI (Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie or VBCI, "Armoured vehicle for infantry combat") vehicles, they were merely lent a few for evaluation, instead of relying on reviews.

Wikipedia: "In February 2014, France agreed to lend a few VBCIs to the British Army for testing. French military sources report that the British Army is interested in purchasing the vehicle. The French Ministry of Defence has indicated that the French Army may purchase the British Watchkeeper WK450 unmanned aerial vehicle if the British Army buys the VBCI. The British Army is testing the VBCI as part of the future utility vehicle program, intended to start replacing the current fleet of protected mobility vehicles by 2022."

[Ninetyfifth]

The last CGS was particularly impressed with the French use of VCBI in the latest of France's N African campaigns. There it proved itself to be tough, reliable, hard hitting, maintainable and has an impressive endurance. Given the Army's recent lack of success in delivering a wheeled IFV, the then CGS wanted the Army to test and evaluate the French VCBI as a potential "of the shelf" whiteboard capability grab. 4 RIFLES were chosen because of the unit's mechanised infantry background and recent operational experience.

I was lucky enough to be shown round the VCBI at last year's DSEI by the French Infantry Development crew. It is an impressive machine.

[marktigger]

we need an off the shelf purchase of somethng that works.

Boxer
Pirannah
SISU
VCBI

would be the main contenders

[marktigger]

have the French decided on FAMAS replacement yet?

[xav]

^ Decision is for end of next year (2016)

DCNS delivers multi-mission frigate Provence, the second FREMM for the French Navy

On June 12th in Brest, DCNS delivered the FREMM multi-mission frigate Provence to the French Navy, as stipulated in the contract. This frigate is the second of the series ordered by OCCAR on behalf of the DGA (French armament procurement agency). Delivery of the FREMM multi-mission frigate Provence is the result of a design and construction process managed by DCNS in close cooperation with the French Navy, DGA and OCCAR teams.
...
Four FREMMat different stages of construction at DCNS Lorient Shipyard
For DCNS, the FREMM programme currently involves the construction of ten frigates, eight of them for the French Navy. Six of these are to be delivered by 2019 and the remaining two frigates, equipped with extended anti-aircraft capabilities, will be delivered before 2022. Two other were sold for export clients: the Royal Moroccan Navy and the Egyptian Navy.
The delivery of the FREMM Provence takes place at a time when the FREMM programme is powering ahead on the DCNS site in Lorient. To date, three FREMM frigates are under construction and one is being prepared before being delivered:
• The FREMM Aquitaine, first in series, delivered in 2012.
• The FREMM Mohammed VI, for the Royal Moroccan Navy, delivered in 2014.
• The FREMM Provence, delivered today, 12 June 2015.
• The FREMM intended for the Egyptian Navy, formerly the FREMM Normandie, will be delivered in summer 2015.
• The FREMM Languedoc will make its first sea outing in autumn 2015.
• The FREMM Auvergne is currently in the final stages of construction and will be launched in September 2015.
• The FREMM Bretagne is currently being assembled.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2823

[Halidon]

Have they programmed a replacement for Normandie yet?

[Tiny Toy]

The Ministère de la Défense have a stand at the Salon du Bourget (Paris Air Show) 2015:



The marins du ciel (aéronavale, French fleet aviation section) have a Caïman Marine at the stand.



There is also a Rafale Marine at the Dassault stand.

[The Armchair Soldier]

Two MPA crews have been qualified to drop GBU-12's.

http://www.colsbleus.fr/articles/7029

[xav]

^ My piece on this with more pics and video!

French Navy ATL2 MPA Can Now Self Designate GBU-12 Laser-Guided Bombs With MX-20 System

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) announced that on 18 June 2015, two Atlantique 2 (ATL2) maritime patrol crews were qualified to GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided bomb shooting procedures with self-designation. This flight marked the end of a training course which confronted crews to modern technologies used in air-to-ground support missions thanks to the Wescam MX-20D electro-optical turret fitted on ATL2 Standard V.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2848

[ArmChairCivvy]

Any guesses on whether those GBUs are primarily meant for targets of opportunity while using the MPAs over the Sahel region?

Or are the French well ahead of us in long-range ship interdiction?

[xav]

Any guesses on whether those GBUs are primarily meant for targets of opportunity while using the MPAs over the Sahel region?

Yes, you are spot on.

[xav]

Details on the FREDA: The Future Air-Defense FREMM Frigates of the French Navy

According to the recent update to the French Military Planning Law, the French Navy is set to receive two FREDA (frégate de défense aérienne or air defense frigate) by 2022. Not much information was available so far on the FREDA besides the fact they would be based on the DCNS FREMM (Aquitaine class), get a modified Thales Herakles radar and would likely deploy MBDA's ASTER 30 long range surface-to-air missiles. Navy Recognition contacted both DCNS and Thales to learn more.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2879

Edit: I was expecting a bit more for the FREDA

[GibMariner]

Explosives Stolen From French Military Base

Some 40 grenades, 180 detonators and an unknown quantity of plastic explosives have been stolen from a French military base.
The theft from the Miramas base west of Marseille happened on Sunday night.
It was discovered on Monday and the Marseille prosecutor's office has launched an investigation.
The thieves reportedly cut through a fence to access the base. As a result, the French Defence Ministry has ordered a review of security at military bases.
The 500-acre Miramas site stored munitions used by the French military in Afghanistan and Mali.

http://news.sky.com/story/1514823/explo ... itary-base

[RetroSicotte]

Details on the FREDA: The Future Air-Defense FREMM Frigates of the French Navy

According to the recent update to the French Military Planning Law, the French Navy is set to receive two FREDA (frégate de défense aérienne or air defense frigate) by 2022. Not much information was available so far on the FREDA besides the fact they would be based on the DCNS FREMM (Aquitaine class), get a modified Thales Herakles radar and would likely deploy MBDA's ASTER 30 long range surface-to-air missiles. Navy Recognition contacted both DCNS and Thales to learn more.

Edit: I was expecting a bit more for the FREDA

That's...quite underwhelming, if I'm honest. Remaining with a PESA radar, and not even expected to exceed Horizon?

Makes you wonder, why not just buy two Italian FREMMs? They've got a better radar and hgave Aster-30 capability. Saves all the development costs.

[xav]

Makes you wonder, why not just buy two Italian FREMMs? They've got a better radar and hgave Aster-30 capability. Saves all the development costs.

Can you even call that "development" ?


Watchkeeper MALE UAV: 0:36
TALIOS targeting pod: 3:07
STAR NG surveillance radar: 4:46
ILGR Induction Laser Guided Rocket: 6:00
Ground Master family of air defense radar: 8:30
RAPIDFire mobile air gun defense system: 9:31
Crotale Mk3 air defense missile system: 9:57




Jean Bart Overhaul

[RetroSicotte]

Can you even call that "development" ?

Touché, sir.

I mean, this is hardly saying they're going to be bad. Anything running around with Aster-30's on a decent hull that can still do some ASW is certainly no slouch on a global scale...I guess this is just a general sense of being underwhelmed.

Of course, one does have to wonder if they just see naval AAW as a low priotity for the budget right now. I could almost understand it, even if I don't like it.

[xav]

Can you even call that "development" ?

Of course, one does have to wonder if they just see naval AAW as a low priotity for the budget right now.

Not just "right now", more like for the past few decades.
MN always only had 4 true AAW escorts commissioned ever since the Suffren class frigates of the 60ies.
Sure there was an "intention" for 4 horizons, but ended up with 2...
Sure there was an "intention" for a true AAW FREMM http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ility.html and that was just 3 years ago...

[ArmChairCivvy]

Numbers have won over gold-plated (and few) ships?

Anyway, NavyRecognition included an interesting snippet about the French getting a new class of frigate from zero to water in the same time (or less) that we will take to get the first T26 from the supposedly frozen design (so that weapon systems can be confirmed) to a hull in the water. Both classes to be built by a "national champion" firm, granted a practical monopoly:

"The two FREDA will be the last FREMM type frigates produced by DCNS for the French Navy as France launched a new program, the FTI (Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire or Midsize Frigate). The first of five FTI frigate is set to be delivered in 2023. During a recent press event which we were attending, DCNS CEO Hervé Guillou explained that his company already received a contract for preliminary studies and that DCNS was studying several FTI designs to best match the needs of the French Navy"

[RetroSicotte]

To be fair on the Type 26 though, it's a vastly larger and more ambitious project.

Not that I'm trying to pretend it's not still late, just sayin'.