Adapting to change: multipurpose French Navy seeks force balance

摘要

The French Navy is mid-way through a renaissance, with programmes such as FREMM (Fregate Europeenne Multi-mission), Barracuda, Horizon, Mistral, Rafale and Porte-Avion 2 (PA2) being developed, launched or integrated into the force. Working towards the '2015 Model', set out in the 1991 White Paper, the French Navy is honing itself into a new shape by developing a raft of modern assets and capabilities that are resolutely multipurpose, and training its 55,000-strong personnel accordingly.