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French Navy’s BRF Jacques Stosskopf begins sea trials to validate its logistical and operational capabilities.
The Force Supply Ship (BRF) Jacques Stosskopf, the second unit in a series built for the French Navy under the “Flotte Logistique” (FLOTLOG) program, is scheduled to depart from Saint-Nazaire on April 9, 2025, for its first sea trials. This step marks a new phase in deploying this new generation of French support ships, designed to sustain naval operations over extended periods. Prior to these trials, the vessel was officially commissioned into service on September 13, 2024, during a ceremony held at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, just a few weeks after its float-out on August 19.
With a full-load displacement of 31,000 tonnes, a length of 194 meters, and a beam of 27.6 meters, Jacques Stosskopf is designed to carry up to 1,500 tonnes of solid cargo and 13,000 m³ of fuel (Picture source: French Government)
The commissioning ceremony brought together key stakeholders of the FLOTLOG program to mark the ship’s formal entry into service and exit from the construction basin. Now under the command of Frigate Captain Sébastien Fajon, Jacques Stosskopf was handed over to the French Navy in the presence of Emmanuel Chiva, France’s Defense Procurement Chief, Joachim Sucker, Director of OCCAR, Vice Admiral François Moreau, Inspector General of the Navy, Pierre Éric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group, and Laurent Castaing, General Director of Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Castaing emphasized the efficiency of the assembly process, noting that only five months had passed between keel-laying in March and float-out in August. He also pointed out the strength of the Franco-Italian industrial cooperation under OCCAR’s oversight and the complementary capabilities of Naval Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The FLOTLOG program is part of a joint European initiative between France and Italy to enhance naval logistics capacity through a series of Logistic Support Ships (LSS) developed for the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) and its Italian counterpart, NAVARM.
At Saint-Nazaire, the final outfitting of Jacques Stosskopf continued at the Penhoët basin in a focused working environment. Onboard, crews were still engaged in work throughout the ship, including in corridors and stairways, the medical facility equipped with an operating room, treatment and recovery areas, the propulsion and safety control center, and the cargo elevators servicing five decks for the distribution of provisions, equipment, and ammunition. Final adjustments were also underway on the replenishment-at-sea stations.
With a full-load displacement of 31,000 tonnes, a length of 194 meters, and a beam of 27.6 meters, Jacques Stosskopf is designed to carry up to 1,500 tonnes of solid cargo and 13,000 m³ of fuel. This represents a significant increase over the capabilities of the former Durance-class tankers. Its multi-fuel storage system allows it to supply both diesel for surface vessels and jet fuel for aircraft, a requirement for effective support to carrier-based air operations. This logistical role is central to the operational readiness of the French carrier strike group, currently built around the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, and in the future, around the next-generation aircraft carrier (PA-NG), expected to enter service from 2038.
The upcoming sea trials, set to begin on April 9, 2025, will take place off the coast of Brittany. These trials are intended to test all core systems: propulsion, navigation, safety, communications, refueling procedures, and logistics operations. To prepare for this phase, the vessel underwent dry dock maintenance in February in the Joubert lock basin. During its transit to Brest, expected in late June, the crew will also conduct live-condition tests, including acoustic signature trials, replenishment operations with the support ship Somme, and coordinated exercises with other military assets.
Following its stopover in Brest, Jacques Stosskopf will proceed to its homeport in Toulon, where it will be stationed like its predecessor Jacques Chevallier, the first BRF in the series, delivered to the Navy in July 2023 and declared operational in November 2024. The final delivery of Jacques Stosskopf is expected by the end of 2025. The construction of the third ship, Émile Bertin, is already underway, with delivery scheduled for 2027. The fourth and final vessel currently planned in the series, Gustave Zédé, has been delayed due to budgetary constraints and is now expected to enter service around 2033.
With Jacques Stosskopf entering the sea trial phase, the French Navy continues its efforts to modernize its logistical support capabilities. These new BRFs are intended to sustain combat units over long durations and in remote theaters of operation, providing essential support in terms of fuel, cargo, and medical resources. Their introduction represents a key step in aligning the French fleet with current and future operational demands within a constantly evolving strategic environment.