France Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Egyptian Godwind 2500/Al Fateh to Lorient with French Auvergne
View attachment 32293
Bretagne launched
View attachment 32294

Malaysia also have 6 Godwind in order but customized same power but more big 3100 t, 111 vs 102 m long.

3 Shipyards in France
- Lorient DCNS build surface combattants up to about 8000 t full max, now Godwind corvettes 1500 or 2500 t full, FFGs Aquitaine 6000 t had build Forbin 7000 t and after normaly 5 new FFGs "FTI "midsize frigate 4500 t about.
The Godwind is a good FFG design.

I believe numerous countries will end up buying them.
 
The Godwind is a good FFG design.

I believe numerous countries will end up buying them.
I recalled "discussions" about a Gowind 2500 (yes, just one was the plan) for Poland ... right now I didn't find anything newer than the presentation from last year:
f91ebc55c31ab29ea5ac624cc34970f7.jpeg
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
so I'm searching:
Csun7gEWgAAPJsv.jpg

:)

I have yet posted here since about a year you can look eventualy.

Yes 5 but in fact for deployments better 6 ideal 7 or 1 FREMM in more but seems difficult, for have 16 or 17 MSC with 15 as planned possible eventually some missions cancelated for provide to others more importants, Navy deploy MSC in general in 4 areas so 15 is a bit short.

Approx datas ofc nothing sure except do 4000 + t full displ.

Make sense :
A main gun minimum 76 mm, i hope 127 mm, would like a 380 mm but impossible LOL,
1 helo NH-90NFH, two sonars possible better hull + towed

Less sure
Missiles load the more important ! btw 16 and 32 i prefer :) normaly Aster 15 can be VL Mica or maybe also new LACM ? but i don' t see Aster 30.
MM-40 Bl 3 normaly 8 or possible a new normaly launched from a VLS the Perseus by ex interesting, to see.

In fact the reason for this new Frigate is more for price, created a new btw FREMM and Godwind more affordable especialy for export a wish from DCNS especialy.
Do a FREMM cheaper.

And you need back to White Paper 2013 for understand :
W. Paper say 15 MSC for around 2020, so few of 1 or 2 ... !

At this time for 2025 about :
Planned in 2013, 11 FREMM ( 9 ASW and 2 AAW ) and 2 Forbin only 13 MSC others retired so remains 2 to build but a class of 2 is stupid...

In more dangerous with Min of Finances he catch money for two and you have 13 :) :rolleyes: but not joking entirely... and after for regain the decrease extr. difficult.
Look British have lost not old and capable 4 Type 22 in 2010 want regain with Type 31 and no sure...

Considering it after W.P. 2013 in 2015 they are change with 2 Forbin + 8 FREMM + 5 new FTI for get a class enough numerous.

I don' t think in Def News you have see it reliable but no French o_O
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
Flotilla 17F have begin transition from Super-Etendard to Rafale completed for 2017


On 19 September 2016, on the tarmac of the naval air base of Landivisiau (Finistère), the "Glorious" combat flotilla 17F admire the launch of its first flight Rafale.

Having bid farewell to Super Etendard Modernized July 12, the flotilla proudly welcomes its new fighter. Several drivers have already succeeded in their transformation Rafale and Lieutenant Commander Vincent Isorce can count on his men to do the 17F quickly becomes operational.

On the occasion of this first flight, the commander of the 17F has gathered all its crews to mark this unique moment for the fleet established in 1958.

The transition to all Rafale is part of a modernization process of naval aviation and 17F now turning an important page in its history.

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FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
French Navy Lafayette Class Frigates Crotale SAM Systems May Be Replaced with SADRAL

During the Euronaval 2016 press tour held last week, an MBDA representative explained that French Navy (Marine Nationale)
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s' existing Crotale SAM system may be replaced with SADRAL launchers. "It is one of the options being considered for the upgrade" the representative said. According to an update to the French Military Planning Law (Loi de Programmation Militaire) released in May 2015, the Lafayette-class is set to receive an upgrade in the near future.

Two SADRAL launchers with 6 x Mistral surface to air missiles each would be fitted on top of the helicopter hangar to replace the existing Crotale laucher (with 8 x missiles). Navy Recognition believes this upgrade would address two major obsolescences: The ageing Crotale missiles (designed in the 70ies and produces in the 80ies) are nearing the end of their shelf life. In addition, according to our information, Crotale's effectiveness against modern sea-skimming anti-ship missiles is limited.

The upgrade would be fairly affordable as the plan is to re-use existing launchers currently fitted aboard the Georges Leygues-class ASW Frigates (as they are being replaced by FREMM Frigates). The Mistral is an infrared homing surface-to-air missile with an effective firing range up to 6 km and a speed of Mach 2.7.

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schenkus

Junior Member
Registered Member
How much of an upgrade would the sadral be ?
I always thought putting this kind of MANPAD on a ship is mostly a way of saving money compared to a real SAM. If this system is supposed to be better (at least against sea-skimmers), is this a sign of how outdated crotale is nowadays ?
I would have thought that if you wanted to replace crotale with a modern system in the same class, you would rather use VL Mica. Would this need a new radar ?
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
How much of an upgrade would the sadral be ?
I always thought putting this kind of MANPAD on a ship is mostly a way of saving money compared to a real SAM. If this system is supposed to be better (at least against sea-skimmers), is this a sign of how outdated crotale is nowadays ?
I would have thought that if you wanted to replace crotale with a modern system in the same class, you would rather use VL Mica. Would this need a new radar ?
Sadral for free recovered from George Leygues retired, with reloads 39 missiles, Cassard also have.

Your right only a MANPAD, Mistral and little missiles...

Actually La Fayette use a new Crotale CN 2 variant upgraded with VT-1 missiles more fast range 15 km vs 6 for Mistral have same age about so for ECM similar then i am not sure the Simbad is better or against missiles only ?

Really better i have read but possible La Fayette can receive in more VLS with 16 Aster 15, a true armament for a FFG.
 
...

Really better i have read but possible La Fayette can receive in more VLS with 16 Aster 15, a true armament for a FFG.
History Has A Tendency To Repeat Itself:
one and a half year ago
Apr 23, 2015
some time ago in this thread I called La Fayette Frigates under-armed in comparison with the Formidable-class ...https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/france-military-news-thread.t5867/page-56#post-327621 ... and it was questioned here so I let it be :) but there's a very interesting article in the most recent issue of a Polish naval journal about the La Fayette and its derivatives and the author (who for example draw the charts of the Chen De; Al Riyadh; Formidable so he did his homework :) says the La Fayette should've entered service with
  • VLS for 16 (not 32) Aster missiles (the space for their fire-control Arabel radar is still available together with an unused (sixth) console in the Combat Information Center)
  • sonar and Murene (later developed into MU90) torpedos
but didn't because of ... budget cuts in 1990s (and not of "ships' specialized role" or nothing) ... the author also says the La Fayettes will be replaced in second half of 2020s by FX4 Frigates, but this program is still classified ... do you know anything? :)
 
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