The first steel plate of the hull of the first of the French Navy’s four new logistic support ships (LSS) has been cut in a ceremony at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard.
The ceremony held on May 18 marked symbolically the start of the construction of the first vessel of the France’s FLOTLOG (Flotte logistique) program.
La cérémonie de découpe de la 1ère pièce d’acier de la coque du premier des quatre Bâtiments Ravitailleurs de Force (BRF) destinés à la @MarineNationale a eu lieu ce jour en présence de @florence_parly et @amiralPrazuck à Chantiers de l’Atlantique en coopération avec Naval Group. pic.twitter.com/RfFK5M2C4J
— Naval Group (@navalgroup) May 18, 2020
Back in January 2019, the French defense procurement agency “Direction Générale de l’Armement” (DGA) officially ordered the four Bâtiments Ravitailleurs de Force (BRF) – replenishment vessels. FLOTLOG ships will be built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Naval Group in cooperation with Fincantieri which will provide technical assistance and deliver some parts of the hull.
This order is part of a Franco-Italian program led by Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement (OCCAR) on behalf of DGA and its Italian counterpart NAVARM.
As informed, the vessels are scheduled for delivery in the period from late 2022 to 2029.
With a capacity of 13,000 cbm, the newbuilds will provide logistical support to the combat vessels of the French Navy. They carry fuel, ammunition, spare parts, as well as food for the vessels.
Compliant with international standards, their characteristics are adapted to their specific missions of support to the aviation group constituted around the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, the flagship of the naval air force group.
Chantiers de l’Atlantique is in charge of the design and the construction of the four ships, ensuring the integration and the implementation of the embedded systems.
Naval Group is responsible for the design, development and integration of the military systems of the platform. The combat system of the four ships, whose architecture is based on the Polaris Combat Management System of Naval Group, ensures the protection against close threats and the fight against asymmetric threats.
The new ships will feature a length of 194 meters, a width of 27.6 meters and a of 31,000 tons. They will be able to accommodate 190 people, including 130 crew members and 60 passengers.
The 14,870 dwt LSSs will replace the French Navy’s single-hulled Durance-class replenishment ships which entered service in the 1970s and 80s.