French Minister of Defence confirms 11 FREMM Frigates and 6 Barracuda Submarines will be built.

During the presentation of the French White Paper on Defence and Security, it was announced that 24,000 jobs would be cut between 2014 and 2015. The consequence is a growing concern in both the French military and the suppliers or contractors of the Ministry of Defence.
Brittany region should be spared from the anticipated cuts. It is in any case the assurance given by the Minister of Defence: "Overall, the military and defense industries located in Brittany are reinforced by the White Paper."

French President Francois Hollande, already during his campaign last year, assured the maintenance of the nuclear deterrence which he considers a priority. Its two components, sea-based and air-based, "guarantees our independence and our strategic autonomy, it will therefore be preserved" said Jean-Yves Le Drian. "It involves the replacement of ballistic missile submarines based in Brest as well as their escort vessels".

In French Navy doctrine, Anti-submarine Frigates and SSNs are used to secure pathways and provide escort to SSBNs when they sail out to their patrol area. This escort mission is critical and plays a key role in the credibility of the whole sea-based French nuclear deterrence. Existing ASW Frigates are expected to be gradually replaced by Aquitaine class FREMM Frigates. First of class, Aquitaine, has just been commissioned in the French Navy and is based in Brest to provide escort to SSBN. Barracuda class submarines are currently under construction and are expected to replace the existing Rubis class SSN starting in 2017.

This same desire is expressed in "preserving the capability to project naval power" through the Charles de Gaulle carrier battle group (According to white paper rumors, the French aircraft carrier would be decommissioned)

Finally, "in industrial terms, the main defense sites located in Brittany will be reinforced despite the difficult economic circumstances," said the Minister of Defence. This means that 11 FREMM multi-mission frigates and 6 Barracuda nuclear-powered attack submarines will be built as originally planned. FREMM Frigates are built at DCNS Shipyard in Lorient, Brittany. "What is not decided yet is the timing but it will be calibrated so that there is no gap in the chain of production and no capacity gap for the research and development"

Source: Ouest-France, Lignes de Défense blog by Philippe Chapleau