Breaking News
French Navy Aims for Eighteen More Frigates to Address New Maritime Challenges from Mediterranean to Pacific.
French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, recently confirmed the objective of strengthening the French Navy by increasing its fleet to eighteen first-rank frigates. This announcement was made in Le Parisien on February 22, 2025, in response to an increasingly tense international context and an operational workload that far exceeds the strategic guidelines previously established. Currently, the French fleet consists of fifteen frigates, including five La Fayette-class ships, which until recently were not classified as first-rank vessels.
The primary objective of increasing the number of frigates is to meet France's evolving strategic needs, particularly amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, the Mediterranean, and the North Atlantic. (Picture source: French MoD)
For several years, the French Navy has been advocating for an expansion of its fleet to meet the growing intensity of its missions. In 2017, Admiral Christophe Prazuck, then Chief of Staff of the Navy, had already pointed out the outdated nature of the operational contracts defined by the 2013 White Paper on Defense and National Security. That document outlined that the Navy was to conduct two permanent missions—deterrence and protection—while maintaining deployment capabilities in two operational theaters. However, in practice, it currently operates in five, significantly straining both personnel and equipment.
Admiral Prazuck also highlighted that the White Paper's trajectory would reduce the number of frigates to fifteen by 2030, despite the increasing maritime threat, driven by renewed geopolitical rivalries and France's expanding military commitments. He cited the Falklands War as an example, where fourteen British vessels were damaged, underscoring the necessity of a more robust fleet adapted to contemporary strategic demands.
This request has now been acknowledged and appears to align with a broader trend of reinforcing defense efforts. Sébastien Lecornu explicitly stated that maintaining a sufficient naval presence across multiple maritime zones required more than the current fleet of fifteen frigates, justifying the goal of expanding to eighteen. This objective is part of a broader effort to enhance France's military capabilities, including the acquisition of twenty to thirty additional Rafale fighter jets for the Air and Space Force and accelerated investments in drones and electronic warfare for the Army.
However, achieving this expansion faces financial and industrial constraints. During discussions on the 2024-2030 Military Programming Law, Lecornu had advocated for a budget of €422 billion, but interministerial negotiations reduced it to €413 billion. This financial framework raises concerns regarding the timeline and feasibility of acquiring new frigates. According to current plans, the fifth and final Defense and Intervention Frigate (FDI) will not be delivered until 2032, which calls into question how quickly the target fleet size can be reached.
The new frigates would likely follow the existing models. The most probable option is to reinforce the fleet with additional FDI frigates from Naval Group. Another possibility is to modernize FREMM-class frigates to enhance their air defense and electronic warfare capabilities.
Currently, the French fleet comprises fifteen first-rank frigates: eight FREMM, two Horizon-class air defense frigates, and five La Fayette-class ships, which have been recently reclassified. The Navy also operates an aircraft carrier, several nuclear attack submarines, and amphibious assault ships, forming a well-balanced naval force but one that remains under significant operational pressure.
The primary objective of increasing the number of frigates is to meet France's evolving strategic needs, particularly amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, the Mediterranean, and the North Atlantic. A larger fleet would allow continuous presence across multiple maritime theaters, enhancing deterrence and safeguarding national interests. However, several challenges remain, notably budgetary and industrial constraints. Expanding ship production within a short timeframe poses difficulties, as does the need for trained personnel and adequate maintenance infrastructure.
Ultimately, the formal recognition of the need for eighteen first-rank frigates marks a shift in France's naval defense strategy. It reflects an awareness of the strategic challenges facing the Navy and the necessity of adapting its capabilities to evolving geopolitical conditions. However, achieving this goal will depend on financial and industrial capacities as well as the political commitment to sustaining this effort over time.