List of active French Navy ships

❧

Wikipedia

Naval ensign of France

This is a list of active French Navy ships.[1][2][3] The French Navy consists of nearly 100 vessels of the Force d'action navale (Naval action force)[4] and the 9 submarines of the Forces sous-marines (Submarine force). Primary assets include one nuclear aircraft carrier, 3 amphibious assault ships, 14 surface combatants of the "first rank": 2 Horizon-class destroyers, 8 Aquitaine-class, 1 Amiral Ronarc'h-class frigates) and 3 of the 5 La Fayette-class general-purpose frigates (which have been upgraded to incorporate enhanced capabilities over those possessed by their two sister ships). The navy also deploys around 16 offshore patrol vessels (including six vessels classed as "surveillance frigates"). The surveillance frigates/offshore patrol vessels are supplemented by additional coast guard/Maritime Gendarmerie vessels. The surveillance frigates and a significant number of the patrol vessels are based in France's overseas territories.

The submarine force consists of five nuclear attack submarines and four nuclear ballistic missile submarines.

Integral to supporting the Force d'Action Navale at sea are the French Navy's 3 replenishment oilers, 16 mine countermeasure vessels, 8 offshore patrol/support & assistance vessels (four of which are based in France's overseas territories) and 6 support/pollution response ships. In addition to the above units, the Navy operates five survey vessels, four experimentation ships, four ocean tugboats, 14 training vessels as well as numerous smaller vessels and tugs.

The main base for French naval forces in the Atlantic is located at Brest while the principal base in the Mediterranean is Toulon.[5][6]

Submarine fleet (Forces sous-marines)

Nuclear ballistic missile submarines (4)

Class Picture In service Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Notes
Triomphant class
4
 TriomphantS616199714,335 tonnesBallistic missile submarine Four boats constituting the strategic component of France's nuclear deterrent, the Force de dissuasion.
TéméraireS6171999
VigilantS6182004
TerribleS6192010

Nuclear attack submarines (5)

Class Picture In

service

 Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Notes
Suffren class
3

(+3 on order)

 SuffrenS635[7]20205,300 tonnesNuclear attack submarine Three additional vessels of the class under construction
Duguay-TrouinS6362023[8]
TourvilleS6372024
Rubis class
2
 AméthysteS60519922,660 tonnes Being incrementally replaced by the Suffren class.
PerleS6061993

Surface fleet (Bâtiments de combat)

Aircraft carrier (1)

Picture In service Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Notes
1
 Charles de GaulleR91200142,500 tonnesAircraft carrier Only active nuclear powered CATOBAR aircraft carrier in NATO outside of the United States Navy.

Amphibious warfare / helicopter carriers (3)

Class Picture In service Ship No. Commissioned Displacement Type Notes
Mistral class
3
 MistralL9013200621,500 tonnesHelicopter carrier-amphibious assault ship
TonnerreL9014
DixmudeL90152012

Major surface combatants (16)

The French Navy does not use the term "destroyer". While officially classed as "frigates", the larger major surface combatants of the first rank are nevertheless registered as destroyers (with hull numbers "Dxxx"; though, as of 2023, French Navy vessels are incrementally having hull numbers removed from display on all ships).[9][10]

Class Picture In

service

 Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Notes
Horizon class
2
 ForbinD62020087,050 tonnesair defence destroyers
Chevalier PaulD6212009
Aquitaine class
8
 AquitaineD65020126,040 tonnesAnti-submarine warfare (ASW) destroyers
NormandieD6512020
ProvenceD6522015
LanguedocD6532017
AuvergneD6542018
BretagneD6552019
AlsaceD6562021Air defence/ASW destroyers
LorraineD6572023
Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention
1

(+4 on order)

 Amiral Ronarc'hD660mid-2026

[11][12][13][14]

 4,500 tonnes Delivered to the navy in October 2025 and continuing work-up[15]
La Fayette class
5
 La FayetteF71019963,900 tonnesGeneral-purpose frigates Three vessels (F710, F712 & F713) upgraded with enhanced capabilities
SurcoufF7111997
CourbetF712
AconitF7131999
GuépratteF7142001

Offshore patrol vessels (16)

Class Picture In

service

 Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Notes
Floréal class
6
 Floréal F730 1992 2,950 tonnes Offshore patrol vessel Class has anti-ship missiles removed and functions in a second-rank "surveillance frigate"(OPV) role for French overseas territories.
Prairial F731
Nivôse F732
Ventôse F733 1993
Vendémiaire F734
Germinal F735 1994
D'Estienne d'Orves class
3
 Commandant BlaisonF79319821,250 tonnes Reclassified as OPVs in 2012[16] To be replaced from 2027 as part of the acquisition of a new class of patrol vessels

(“Patrouilleurs Hauturiers” - PH).[17][18][19]

Enseigne de Vaisseau JacoubetF794
Commandant BouanF7971984
Confiance class
3
 La ConfianceP7332017700 tonnes Based in Guiana
La RésolueP734
La CombattanteP7352020 Based in Fort-de-France
Félix Éboué class
4

(+2 on order)

 Auguste BenebigP7792023[20][21]1,300 tonnes Based in Noumea[22]
Teriieroo a TeriierooiteraiP7802024[23][24] Based in Papeete
Auguste TecherP7812025[25] Based in Réunion[26][27]
Jean TranapeP782 Projected 2026[28] Sea trials as of November 2025; to be based in Noumea[29]

[30]Large Coastguard patrol boats (6)

Class Picture In

service

 Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Notes
Flamant class
3
 FlamantP6761997390 tonnes Coastguard patrol boats Based in Cherbourg; to be replaced from 2027 as part of the acquisition of new class of "PH" patrol vessels.
CormoranP677
PluvierP678
Lapérouse class
1
 AragoP6751988980 tonnes An ex-hydrographic survey vessel. As of late 2024, based in Brest to fill gap in the Atlantic until arrival of "PH"-class OPVs in latter 2020s.[31][32]
—
1
 FulmarP7401991550 tonnes An ex-trawler based in Saint Pierre
—
1
 Le MalinP70119971,300 tonnes Ex-trawler based in Réunion; to be replaced in 2027 with POM-class OPV[33][34][35][36]

Mine countermeasures vessels (19)

Class Picture In

service

 Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Notes
Éridan class
9
 AndromèdeM6431984615 tonnesMinehunter Being replaced by Système de lutte anti-mines futur (SLAM-F) starting in 2023[37]
PégaseM6441985
OrionM6451986
Croix du SudM646
AigleM6471987
LyreM648
CéphéeM652
CapricorneM653
SagittaireM6501996
Vulcain class
4
 VulcainM6111986490 tonnesClearance diving To be replaced by SLAM-F
PlutonM6221986
StyxM6141987
AchéronA613
Antarès class
3
 AntarèsM7701993340 tonnesSonartowing vessel Being withdrawn from service, starting with Antarès in 2025/26; to be replaced by SLAM-F autonomous vessels[38]
AltaïrM771
AldébaranM7721994
Ophrys class
3
 OphrysY60402022105 tonnesDiving support vessel (VSP) Part of SLAM-F program, total of eight units planned up to 2026.[39][40][41][42][43][44][45]
AcaciaY60412025
IrisY6042
YuccaTBCProjected early 2026

Auxiliary fleet

Replenishment ships (3)

Class Picture In

service

 Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Notes
Jacques Chevallier class
2

(+1 on order)

 Jacques ChevallierA7252024[46]31,000 tonnesReplenishment oiler A726 on post-acceptance sea trials;[47] additional vessel planned for delivery in 2027; fourth projected in 2032[48][49][50][51]
Jacques StosskopfA726Projected 2026[52]
Durance class
1
 SommeA631199017,900 tonnes To be retired in 2028[53]

Intelligence, research and experimentation vessels (4)

Class Picture In

service

 Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Notes
—
1
 MongeA601199221,040 tonnesTracking ship
—
1
 Dupuy de LômeA75920063,600 tonnesSIGINT
—
1
 AlizéA64520051,600 tonnesDGSE diving support Also used to test new equipment and diving procedures
Lapérouse class
1
 ThétisA78519881,050 tonnesMine-warfare experimentation To be replaced by SLAM-F

Support ships (14)

Class Picture In

service

 Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Notes
D'Entrecasteaux class
4
 D'Entrecasteaux A621 2016 2,300 tonnes Offshore patrol/support/ assistance vessel
Bougainville A622
Champlain A623 2017
Dumont d'Urville A624 2020
Loire class
4
 Loire A602 2018 2,960 tonnes
Rhône A603 2019
Seine A604
Garonne A605 2020
—
4
 Argonaute — — ~4,000 tonnes Support and pollution control Operated

under charter

Jason —
Pionnier —
Sapeur —
UT712 class
1
 Rebel — — 2,900 tonnes
UT745 class
1
 Partisan — — 2,340 tonnes

Survey vessels (6)

Class Picture In

service

 Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Notes
—
1
 L'Astrolabe P800 2017 4,000 tonnes Icebreaker/ support vessel/offshore patrol Based in Réunion; co-operated by the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) Administration and the French Navy.
—
1
 Pourquoi Pas?—20056,600 tonnesOceanographic survey Operated by IFREMER (55%) and the French Navy (45%) with civilian crew.[54]
—
1
 Beautemps-BeaupréA75820033,600 tonnes
Lapérouse class
3
 LapérouseA7911988980 tonnesHydrographic survey To be replaced from 2027 to 2029 by 2 new hydro-oceanographic vessels.[55]
BordaA792
LaplaceA7931989

Ocean tugboats (4)

Class Picture In

service

 Boat No. Commissioned Displacement Type Notes
UT515
2
 VB Abeille Bretagne (formerly Abeille Bourbon)-20054,600 tonnesOceangoing tugOperated under charter
Abeille Liberté-
VS-491 CD
2
 VB Abeille Normandie-20103,978 tonnes
Abeille Méditerrannée-

Port and coastal tugboats (53)

Class Picture In

service

 Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Note
RPC12 class
17
 FréhelA6751989220 tonnesHarbour tugboat
SaireA676
ArmenA677 1991
La HoussayeA678 1992
KéréonA679
SiciéA680 1994
TaunoaA681 1996
LardierY638 1995
GiensY639 1994
MengamY640
BalaguierY641 1995
TaillatY642
NividicY643 1996
Port CrosY649 1997
Le Four Y647 1998
Eckmühl Y646 —
Rascas A682 2003
RP30/RPC30 class
4
 CéladonY60512022 &

2023

 275 tonnesHarbour tugboat Originally to have been 20 vessels;program stopped at four units due to cost[56][57][58][59]
Zinzolin A6652
Turquin Y6052
Azur Y6053
Maito class
3
 MaitoA6361984228 tonnesHarbour tugboat Maito based in Fort de France; Maroa and Manini in Pape'ete[60][61]
Maroa A637 1985
Manini A638 1984
RP10 class
29
 2019-202583 tonnesHarbour tugboat 19 vessels based in metropolitan France (Brest, Toulon and Cherbourg); others in Fort-de-France (2), Reunion (2), Noumea (2), Papeete (2) and Djibouti (2)[62][63]

Training (12)

Class Picture In

service

 Boat No. Commissioned Displacement Type Note
Léopard class
8
 LéopardA7481982470 tonnes Training ship
PanthèreA749
JaguarA750
LynxA751
GuépardA7521983
ChacalA753
TigreA754
LionA755
Glycine class
2
 GlycineA7701992295 tonnesNavigation training
ÉglantineA771
Paimpolaise class
2
 ÉtoileA6491932275 tonnesSail trainingSchooner
Belle PouleA650

For a complete list of Bâtiments de soutien (Auxiliaries) see Bâtiments de soutien at the official Marine Nationale website.

Silhouettes

Silhouettes of major fleet units:

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Mistral-class amphibious assault ship
Mistral		 Mistral-class amphibious assault ship
Tonnerre		 Mistral-class amphibious assault ship
Dixmude
Horizon-class frigate
Forbin		 Horizon-class frigate
Chevalier Paul
 
Amiral Ronarc'h
FREMM multipurpose frigate
Aquitaine		 FREMM multipurpose frigate
Normandie		 FREMM multipurpose frigate
Provence		 FREMM multipurpose frigate
Languedoc
FREMM multipurpose frigate
Auvergne		 FREMM multipurpose frigate
Bretagne		 FREMM multipurpose frigate
Alsace		 FREMM multipurpose frigate
Lorraine
La Fayette-class frigate
La Fayette		 La Fayette-class frigate
Surcouf		 La Fayette-class frigate
Courbet		 La Fayette-class frigate
Aconit		 La Fayette-class frigate
Guépratte
Triomphant-class submarine
Triomphant		 Triomphant-class submarine
Téméraire		 Triomphant-class submarine
Vigilant		 Triomphant-class submarine
Terrible
Barracuda-class submarine (France)
Suffren		 Barracuda-class submarine (France)
Duguay-Trouin		 Barracuda-class submarine (France)
Tourville		 Rubis-class submarine
Améthyste		 Rubis-class submarine
Perle

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Forces sous-marines" (in French). defense.gouv.fr. 12 March 2012. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Liste des bâtiments de combat de la Marine nationale par unité" (in French). defense.gouv.fr. 19 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Liste des bâtiments de soutien par unité" (in French). defense.gouv.fr. 21 October 2014. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Force d'action navale".
  5. ↑ "Toulon Naval Base". Naval Technology. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Arsenal de Brest". Naval Technology. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  7. ↑ Vavasseur, Xavier (27 November 2021). "Naval Group Rolls Out 2nd Barracuda Type Submarine". Naval News. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  8. ↑ "French Navy Receives 2nd Barracuda Type Submarine". navalnews.com. 12 August 2023.
  9. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (17 March 2023). "Marine nationale : l'anonymisation n'ira pas jusqu'aux bâchis". Mer et Marine. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  10. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (6 March 2023). "Deux frégates du type FREMM anonymisées l'une à côté de l'autre, trouvez les différences !". Mer et Marine. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  11. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (16 September 2025). "Naval Group en passe de livrer sa première FDI à la Marine nationale". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Tanguy, Jean-Marc (11 July 2024). "La frégate La Fayette fera une première mission en Atlantique cet été". le Marin (in French). Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  13. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (17 December 2021). "En présence des Grecs, la France met sur cale sa première FDI". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  14. ↑ "France accelerates the FDI frigates program". navyrecognition.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  15. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (16 September 2025). "Naval Group en passe de livrer sa première FDI à la Marine nationale". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  16. ↑ Between 2011 and 2017 some heavy armaments were removed.
  17. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (11 December 2024). "La Marine nationale veut ses 10 patrouilleurs hauturiers, quitte à faire glisser ses futures corvettes". Mer et Marine.
  18. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (13 March 2023). "La Marine nationale n'obtiendrait que 7 nouveaux patrouilleurs hauturiers au lieu des 10 prévus". Mer et Marine.
  19. ↑ Vavasseur, Xavier (25 June 2020). "French Navy Ageing PHMs And PSPs Patrol Vessels To Be Replaced With 10 New OPVs". Naval News. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  20. ↑ Lagneau, Laurent (26 July 2023). "Premier patrouilleur outre-Mer, l'Auguste Bénébig a été admis au service actif par la Marine nationale". zone militaire (in French). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  21. ↑ "Départ de l'Auguste Bénébig, premier des six POM, pour Nouméa; Ministère des Armées". 18 January 2023.
  22. ↑ "EN IMAGES. L'arrivée du patrouilleur "Auguste-Bénébig" à Nouméa". nouvellecaledonie (in French). 3 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  23. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (19 July 2024). "La Marine nationale met en service son deuxième patrouilleur d'outre-mer". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  24. ↑ "Le nouveau patrouilleur destiné à la Polynésie française se prépare à rejoindre Papeete". Mer et Marine (in French). 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  25. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (21 October 2025). "La Réunion : le patrouilleur Auguste Techer est entré en service". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  26. ↑ "Nouveau patrouilleur Outre-mer: arrivée imminente de l'Auguste Técher". Le Quotidien (in French). 25 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  27. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (25 September 2024). "Socarenam : le patrouilleur Auguste Techer débute ses essais en mer". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  28. ↑ "Premier tours d'hélices pour le Jean Tranape". Marine Nationale. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  29. ↑ "Premier tours d'hélices pour le Jean Tranape". Marine Nationale. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  30. ↑ Leclercq, Elise (6 March 2025). "Boulogne: le 4ème patrouilleur de la Marine Nationale est sorti des chantiers de la Socarenam". Radio 6. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  31. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (9 September 2024). "Prolongé de trois ans, le patrouilleur Arago quitte Papeete pour être repositionné à Brest". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  32. ↑ "Extension of patrol vessel Arago's operations in French Polynesia until 2024". Archived from the original on 2020-10-21.
  33. ↑ Lagneau, Laurent (26 August 2025). "Avec le POM Auguste Techer, la Marine nationale dispose à nouveau de deux patrouilleurs à La Réunion". zone militaire. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  34. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (17 October 2024). "Marine nationale : le patrouilleur Le Malin va terminer sa carrière en métropole". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  35. ↑ "Patrouilleurs de la Marine nationale - Sénat". senat.fr. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  36. ↑ "SOCARENAM Shipyard Selected to Deliver 6 French Navy OPVs for Overseas Territories". 3 December 2019.
  37. ↑ Vavasseur, Xavier (6 November 2020). "France Launches SLAMF Mine Warfare Program but Many Questions Remain". Naval News.
  38. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (5 December 2025). "Le bâtiment remorqueur de sonar (BRS) Antarès tire sa révérence". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  39. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (9 July 2025). "BMA livre à la Marine nationale une troisième vedette de soutien à la plongée". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  40. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (9 April 2025). "Marine nationale : CIB met à l'eau à Brest la vedette de soutien à la plongée Iris". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  41. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (17 January 2025). "Marine nationale : une nouvelle vedette de support de plongée en essais". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  42. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (20 March 2023). "Plongeurs-démineurs : Merré lance la construction en série des VSP". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  43. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (6 September 2022). "La nouvelle vedette de support à la plongée en route pour la base navale de Toulon". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  44. ↑ "Le Fauteuil de Colbert: Marine nationale : Chantier de la VSP n°1 « Ophrys » (2021 - 2022)". May 2022.
  45. ↑ Bahtić, Fatima (13 October 2025). "Merre launches fourth diving support boat for French Navy". Naval Today. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  46. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (28 November 2024). "Le BRF Jacques Chevallier admis au service actif". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  47. ↑ "Les couleurs se lèvent sur le Jacques Stosskopf". French Navy. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  48. ↑ "La Marine nationale va prendre livraison de son deuxième BRF, le Jacques Stosskopf". Mer et Marine. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  49. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (13 April 2023). "Dernière navigation pour le BCR Marne, qui passe le flambeau au BRF Jacques Chevallier". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  50. ↑ "Marine nationale : Le BRF Jacques Chevallier sera livré en 2023". 14 April 2021.
  51. ↑ "Construction Begins for French Navy's Next Gen Replenishment Tanker Chevallier-class 'BRF'". 18 May 2020.
  52. ↑ "La Marine nationale va prendre livraison de son deuxième BRF, le Jacques Stosskopf". Mer et Marine. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  53. ↑ "Le BCR Somme prolongé jusqu'en 2028". Mer et Marine. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  54. ↑ Forces de surface - Les bâtiments hydrographiques et océanographiques Archived 2013-08-03 at the Wayback Machine, defense.gouv.fr, Retrieved 28 June 2014
  55. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (15 November 2024). "Capacité hydro-océanographique future (CHOF) : Ocea se positionne avec l'OSV 315". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  56. ↑ "Piriou : à cause des hausses de coûts, la série des 20 remorqueurs de la marine s'arrête au 4ème". Mer er Marine (in French). 26 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  57. ↑ Cogné, Gaël (26 May 2023). "Zinzolin : à la découverte de la nouvelle génération de remorqueurs de la Marine nationale". Mer er Marine (in French). Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  58. ↑ "Piriou Wins Contract To Deliver 20 Harbor Tugs To The French Navy". Naval Technology. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  59. ↑ "DGA : Réception du Céladon, premier remorqueur portuaire 30 tonnes". asafrance.fr (in French). 9 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  60. ↑ "Livret de la flotte" (PDF). ecole.nav (in French). 2021. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  61. ↑ "Remorqueur côtier Maito". netmarine (in French). 2012.
  62. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (13 October 2025). "Merré met à l'eau le dernier remorqueur-pousseur du type RP 10". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  63. ↑ "La Direction générale de l'armement a réceptionné le 18ème remorqueur-pousseur de 10 tonnes". Direction generale de l'armement (in French). 24 November 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2025.