Classify Floréal

A new concept: the frigate of monitoring

The conflicts of great scale seeming less probable, the end of the cold war imposed new challenges on the National marine. The Aviso S were not adapted any more to the basic conflicts intensity, it became necessary to create a new type of ship more adapted to this new environment. The big challenge was the monitoring of the exclusive economic Zone (ZEE), of an extent of 12.000.000km ² for the France! One thus needed boats smaller, faster and carrying a Hélicoptère, less sophisticated, but less expensive and easier to build.

In April 1988 the project was launched, and, to respect this schedule of conditions, a small revolution take place… Use of a civil building site, the Building sites of the Atlantic, to build the six ships. And for the first time this building site was going to apply one of the rules of construction of the civil boats, construction in " tranches". The frigate S Classe Fayette were going to benefit from this new know-how. Another innovation, this class meets the civil standards of the boats transporting of the passengers, watertight bulkheads, supply of energy or safety regulations.

Construction and tests

Once the hull and the systems " civils" installed, the Building sites of the Atlantic, also dealt with the tests with the sea, the navy being there only like observer. When the ship was judged good, the DCN taken again in hand the equipment in military materials, communications, detection, armament… Indeed, to be credible in its role, the frigates of monitoring must carry an armament whose power must be dissuasive. To final, a ship will leave every year the Building sites of the Atlantic.

Operations

These ships are in permanent operations, their mission being primarily of time of peace.

Operation Azalea of neutralization of Bob Denard with the the Comoros
Somalia in 1993

Other ships of the class

External bonds

standard Frigate of monitoring Floréal Site of the National marine

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