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Naval Forces News - France |
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| French Minister of Defence confirms 11 FREMM Frigates and 6 Barracuda Submarines will be built | |||
French Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed this morning
in Daily Ouest-France, the construction of 11 FREMM
multi-mission frigates (as opposed to eight according to recent
rumors following the publication of a White Paper on Defense last week)
and 6 Barracuda new generation nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN).
The Minister also announced an increase in defense resources and personnel
in Brittany. |
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 FREMM Aquitaine, first ship in a class of 11 vessels (Picture: DCNS) |
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During the presentation of the French White Paper
on Defence and Security, it was announced that 24,000 jobs would be
cut between 2014 and 2015. The consequence is a growing concern in both
the French military and the suppliers or contractors of the Ministry
of Defence.
Brittany region should be spared from the anticipated cuts. It is in any case the assurance given by the Minister of Defence: "Overall, the military and defense industries located in Brittany are reinforced by the White Paper." French President Francois Hollande, already during his campaign last year, assured the maintenance of the nuclear deterrence which he considers a priority. Its two components, sea-based and air-based, "guarantees our independence and our strategic autonomy, it will therefore be preserved" said Jean-Yves Le Drian. "It involves the replacement of ballistic missile submarines based in Brest as well as their escort vessels". In French Navy doctrine, Anti-submarine Frigates and SSNs are used to secure pathways and provide escort to SSBNs when they sail out to their patrol area. This escort mission is critical and plays a key role in the credibility of the whole sea-based French nuclear deterrence. Existing ASW Frigates are expected to be gradually replaced by Aquitaine class FREMM Frigates. First of class, Aquitaine, has just been commissioned in the French Navy and is based in Brest to provide escort to SSBN. Barracuda class submarines are currently under construction and are expected to replace the existing Rubis class SSN starting in 2017. This same desire is expressed in "preserving the capability to project naval power" through the Charles de Gaulle carrier battle group (According to white paper rumors, the French aircraft carrier would be decommissioned) |
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 Barracuda class SNN (Image: DCNS) |
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Finally, "in industrial terms, the main
defense sites located in Brittany will be reinforced despite the difficult
economic circumstances," said the Minister of Defence. This
means that 11 FREMM multi-mission frigates and 6 Barracuda
nuclear-powered attack submarines will be built as originally planned.
FREMM Frigates are built at DCNS
Shipyard in Lorient, Brittany. "What is not decided
yet is the timing but it will be calibrated so that there is no gap
in the chain of production and no capacity
gap for the research and development"
Source: Ouest-France, Lignes de Défense blog by Philippe Chapleau |
French Minister of Defence confirms 11 FREMM Frigates and 6 Barracuda Submarines will be built
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