French Navy launches Offshore Patrol Vessel PH Trolley de Prévaux to secure Atlantic approaches.

The French Navy has confirmed the launch of Trolley de Prévaux, the first Patrouilleurs Hauturiers-class offshore patrol vessel, at Concarneau in February 2026.

On February 6, 2026, the French Navy confirmed the launch of the offshore patrol vessel Trolley de Prévaux at Concarneau, as France begins replacing aging patrol vessels operating from metropolitan bases. The ship, launched on February 5 at the Piriou shipyard, is the first unit of the seven Patrouilleurs Hauturiers-class offshore patrol vessels and entered the fitting-out phase afloat following initial construction work begun in May 2024.
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The Trolley de Prévaux is now entering its fitting-out phase afloat in Concarneau before harbor and sea trials planned for 2026, with delivery expected in 2027 or 2028, depending on trial outcomes, before its assignment to the Brest naval base. (Picture source: French Navy)

The vessel was launched on February 5, 2026, at the Piriou shipyard, about twenty months after construction began in May 2024 and following the laying of the first block on September 3, 2024. The launch was carried out using the port’s boat lift after a short delay caused by weather conditions, with the hull having already been painted and partially outfitted ashore. Trolley de Prévaux is the first of seven PH-class patrol ships ordered in November 2023 under the authority of the Directorate General of Armament, with Naval Group responsible for design and the combat system and construction shared between Piriou, CMN, and Socarenam.

The ship’s name honors Jacques Trolley de Prévaux, a French naval officer and resistance figure born in 1888, who served in the Marine nationale from the early twentieth century through the Second World War. During the First World War, he was active in naval aviation and lighter-than-air operations, and in the interwar period, he held a range of command and staff positions, including overseas assignments. During the Second World War, he entered the French Resistance, operating under the pseudonym Vox within intelligence networks that provided information on German naval and military activities, particularly in the Mediterranean. Arrested by the Gestapo in March 1944, he was executed with his wife Lotka in August 1944, and was posthumously promoted to the rank of rear admiral and awarded the title of Compagnon de la Libération, making his name emblematic of both naval service and resistance against occupation.

The Patrouilleurs Hauturiers (PH) program targets a total of ten ships intended to replace several categories of aging patrol vessels operating from metropolitan France. Seven offshore patrol vessels form the first batch ordered in late 2023, while three additional units are planned in a later phase, to complete fleet entry by 2035. Industrial responsibilities are distributed across three shipyards, with Piriou building two ships at Concarneau, CMN building two at Cherbourg, and Socarenam building three at sites including Calais, Saint-Malo, and Boulogne-sur-Mer, under a shared construction framework coordinated with Naval Group. The program aims to sustain patrol coverage across France’s Atlantic, Channel–North Sea, and Mediterranean approaches while addressing a reduction in available patrol ships expected during the second half of the 2020s, as older ships are withdrawn from service.

The PH Trolley de Prévaux measures 92 meters in length with a beam of 14.2 meters and a draught of about 3.6 meters, for a full-load displacement close to 2,400 tonnes. Propulsion is based on a diesel-electric architecture rated at 2 x 3,850 kW, using two fixed-pitch propellers driven by electric motors powered via converters from diesel generators, complemented by two bow thrusters for enhanced maneuverability. The ship is designed for a maximum speed of 21 knots, with endurance prioritized over speed compared with earlier French patrol classes. Operational range is stated at 6,000 nautical miles at 12 knots, and endurance at sea is cited as up to 30 days without resupply, to support prolonged offshore patrols and sustained presence missions at a distance from home ports.

The sensor and combat system configuration centers on the SETIS-C combat management system, integrating a Thales NS54 4D AESA multifunction X-band radar, an Identification Friend or Foe system, and a BlueWatcher hull-mounted sonar. Navigation sensors include multiple navigation radars and an optronic system, with provision for electronic warfare equipment as part of the surveillance and self-protection suite. The inclusion of an active hull sonar distinguishes the class from earlier patrol ships and supports underwater monitoring tasks, including missions linked to maritime approaches and submarine security. This sonar capability builds on experience gained from earlier installations within the French fleet and extends patrol-ship roles into areas previously covered by higher-end combatants.

Armament for the class consists of a 40 mm RapidFire Naval gun mounted forward, a remotely operated SIMBAD-RC launcher firing Mistral Mk3 missiles for short-range air defense, and a mix of 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns for close protection. The RapidFire Naval system uses 40 CTC telescoped ammunition, with an optronic fire-control system, a firing rate of about 200 rounds per minute, and an effective range of roughly 4,000 meters. The SIMBAD-RC launcher carries two ready-to-fire missiles with a stated engagement range of 8 km and is also intended to counter fast surface threats. The overall weapons layout is designed to address asymmetric threats, localized air defense, and self-protection during patrol missions rather than high-intensity naval combat.

Aviation and boat-handling facilities are integral to the ship’s mission profile, with a hangar and flight deck capable of operating an Airbus H160M Guépard helicopter and unmanned aerial systems such as VSR700 or Aliaca. The flight deck is dimensioned to accommodate helicopters up to the 11-tonne class, including NH90, while the hangar supports lighter helicopters around 6 tonnes. Boat facilities include two dedicated bays for semi-rigid craft up to about 8.5 meters, suitable for EDO NG and future ETRACO NG fast transport boats, as well as additional rigid-hull inflatable boats depending on configuration. These assets enable boarding operations, maritime interception, and support to special operations, extending the ship’s reach beyond its own sensors. Accommodation is provided for a total of 84 personnel, including a core crew of 54 sailors and 30 additional berths for embarked teams or mission-specific detachments.

The operational roles assigned to the Patrouilleurs Hauturiers (whose name literally means offshore patrol vessels in English) include maritime surveillance, protection of French waters and approaches, support to state action at sea, escort duties, interception, evacuation support, and protection of national interests. For ships based at Brest, missions also include contributing to the security of ballistic missile submarine operations through surveillance of maritime approaches and underwater monitoring. The class is also intended for deployments beyond metropolitan waters, with references to operations in Northern Europe, West Africa, and other regions where sustained patrol presence is required. A service life of about 35 years is cited for the class, along with a target availability of up to 300 days per year, reflecting an emphasis on operational persistence.

The program is closely linked to the withdrawal of legacy patrol assets, including the A69 avisos reclassified as patrol ships in 2009 and the patrol vessels of public service (PSP) Flamant, Cormoran, and Pluvier admitted to service in 1997. Several A69-derived ships have already left service, with the remaining units expected to retire between 2025 and 2027 due to age, maintenance burden, and parts availability, and without reassignment before withdrawal. During the transition period before all seven new ships enter service between 2027 and 2030, the French Navy anticipates reduced patrol capacity, with interim mitigation measures relying on other surface combatants. Within this context, the delivery sequence of the Patrouilleurs Hauturiers is intended to progressively restore the French offshore patrol capability.

Following the launch, the PH Trolley de Prévaux will undergo continued outfitting, system integration, and trials, with 2026 identified as a year focused on crew training, system activation, and initial sea outings. The crew has already been formed, and acceptance processes are planned ahead of admission to active service, currently expected during 2027 or 2028. Parallel construction continues on other ships in the class, including the D’Estienne d’Orves at Cherbourg and the Jeanne Bohec at Calais, with further units scheduled at Concarneau and Cherbourg through the end of the decade. The naming of the ten planned ships honors figures of the French Resistance from the Second World War, including Trolley de Prévaux, D’Estienne d’Orves, Jeanne Bohec, Premier maître Nonen, Jacqueline Carsignol, Commandant Ducuing, Quartier-maître Anquetil, Andrée Borrell, Émilienne Moreau, and the Île de Sein, marking the first time in modern French naval practice that several combat ships bear women’s names alongside a named commune.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.