France Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

SamuraiBlue said:

As for Germany [...] I am sure they have plenty of money to burn

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I really do not intent to come off as mean, but if it wasn't so said, that might actually be funny.
Haven't you at all seen the reports over the past few months how, to simply properly equip one or two bataillon sized NRF / VHJTF / national MilEvacOp units, required to basicly rob the complete remaing Bundeswehr of night vision, nav and comms gear? Not to mention the massive maintenance backlog in infrastructure. Or the rather low number in flight hours for aricrew.
Investing in and establishing a complete new capability is really too much here.

... and if Spain, Italy and France owns one, I am sure Germany could find a reason as well.

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I actually do think in a properly constructed, expanded military strategy, there can be a place for such a vessel.
Maybe even more so as a NATO asset for moving military contingents via sea, or the german proposed, european ASW helicopter squadron. Although when regarding assets as large as LHDs, I believe that sharing & pooling idea is at it's limits.

Modernization of French Strategic Oceanic Force: Le Triomphant SSBN Now Fitted with M51 SLBM

On August 4, 2015, the French Navy (Marine Nationale) took over full responsibility and the effective command of ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Le Triomphant (S616). This transfer of responsibility is an important milestone following the refit period started in May 2013 for maintenance, repairs, modernization and adaptation to the M51 new generation submarine launched ballistic missile (SLMB). Le Triomphant will now start some trials at sea before returning in the operational cycle.
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Le Triomphant, head of the class commissioned in 1997, returned to the French Navy SSBN base of L'île Longue on April 14, 2015, following 20 months of work at the DCNS shipyard in Brest naval base. Work focused on the upgrade of the missile launch system. The SSBN is switching from the M45 SLBM to the new generation M51 SLBM. The submarine was also fitted with the new SYCOBS tactical combat system (a new combat management system common to Barracuda class SSN and the Le Triomphant class) and an overall more efficient navigation system (SGN-3E). Le Triomphant will also be able to deploy the F21 new generation heavyweight torpedo for self defense once procured by the French Navy. Finally, this periodic downtime was an important step for the Le Triomphant since this was her mid-life refit.

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more at

A French Navy / @MarineNationale Super Etendard Modernisé fires an AS30L air to surface missile

France to pay Russia less than €1 bln for severing Mistral contact — French minister
The minister denied the earlier report of the Le Canard enchaine weekly that claimed Paris would pay Moscow €2 billion

PARIS, August 14. /TASS/. France will pay Russia less than €1 billion for non- delivery of Mistral helicopter carriers, the country’s Finance Minister Michel Sapin has told the France Inter radio station.

"The sum of payments to Russia for Mistrals will amount to less than €1 billion," he said. The minister denied the earlier report of the Le Canard enchaine weekly that claimed Paris would pay Moscow €2 billion.

The minister said the decision on the Mistral contact will be formally made at the meeting of the defense ministers’ council in late August. Further information will be announced in public.

Sapin said France’s move to cancel the contract with Moscow is "a necessary political decision" amid the conflict in Ukraine. "We consider that Russia’s position in this conflict is not positive enough," he said.

"In these conditions, the delivery of military equipment is impossible and this was a carefully thought and balanced decision," the minister stressed.

The €1.12 billion contract for the construction of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy was signed in June 2011.

Under the contract, Russia was expected to receive the first of the two warships, the Vladivostok, in the autumn of 2014. However, Paris suspended the ship’s handover to Russia at the very last moment over Moscow’s stance on developments in neighboring Ukraine.

It was planned that the second ship, the Sevastopol, would be handed over to Russia in the second half of 2015. But the deal was suspended like in the case with the first Mistral ship. The Sevastopol has undergone three series of trials in the open sea.


Back to bottling my Grenache

2nd largest vessel in the MN fleet... yes, it is larger than a Mistral LHD

French Navy Missile Range Instrumentation Ship Monge (A601) Operational Following Major Refit

The Missile Range Insrumentation Ship Monge (A601) is back in the Marine Nationale (French Navy) fleet following a major refit started in May. Missile Range Instrumentation Ships are fitted with antennas and electronics to support the launching and tracking of missiles and rockets.
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In addition to the installation of a new kitchen, the Monge refit was use to:
- replace the entine satellite communication (SATCOM) system. The Monge is now compatible with "Syracuse III", the latest standard of French military secure SATCOM system;
- conduct the maintenance of diesel alternators and propulsion engines;
- conduct the maintenance of various pumps and compressors

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NH Industries Delivered the 14th NH90 NFH Caiman Helicopter to the French Navy

NH Industries delivered the last NH90 NFH Caiman in "Step B" standard to the French Navy (Marine Nationale) on July 17, 2015. It is the fourteenth Caiman delivered out of the 27 on order by the French Navy.
Following the usual maintenance operations before its induction, the maritime helicopter was transferred to the 33F flotilla (naval helicopter squadron) in Lanvéoc-Poulmic naval air station (Brittany) on August 12, 2015. This brings to five the number of Caimans in this flotilla.

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Operator of 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment



What are the weapons (besides M4) ?

A question for TE our specialist for technical matters concerning land armaments.

The M4 is a HK416, the smg across his chest is a HK Mp7A1 and the pistol... Again HK my guess P30.
Note Multicam uniform, eotech optic and magnifier on the carbine. Helmet is a bump type.

I know it was off duty US Military personnel ( and although initially reported as US Marines, apparently it was actually a Army National Guard and a US Air Force personnel)...but they are military and it happened in France and you can bet that the French anti-terror people will be all over this guy.

So, here are the two US off duty personnel who stopped the terror attack on the train in France talking after they subdues the terrorist.

One was slashed in the neck with a knife by the terrorist, but is in good condition. He says, "Dude, I tried to shoot him," and the other, "He did." You can see the 26 year old terrorist where the IS personnel trussed him up on the floor.


(Note: As NavyReco stated, it was found that the were off duty US National Guard Army and US Air Force)