French Warship Deliveries to Russia Not Affected by Sanctions

Mistral-class amphibious assault ship

The delivery of two French warships to Russia will not be affected by the current EU sanctions imposed in light of the situation in Ukraine, French Permanent Representative to the UN Gerard Araud told ."At the moment they are not affected by the sanctions," he said, adding that the sanctions are only target individuals.

"Of course, if there are new sanctions, they should be respected, but so far sanctions do not affect the deliveries," Araud confirmed.In 2011, Russia and France signed a contract worth 1.2 billion euros for the construction of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy. The first ship, the Vladivostok, built at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, is due to be delivered by the end of the year and the second, the Sevastopol, is scheduled to be handed over next year.

The ships, to be commissioned into Russia's Pacific Fleet, are capable of each carrying 16 helicopters, four landing craft, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 soldiers.


http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20140430/189483772/French-Warship-Deliveries-to-Russia-Not-Affected-by-Sanctions.html

French Warship to Enter Black Sea

An F70 type anti-submarine frigate of the French Navy, the Dupleix, will enter the Black Sea this weekend, according to Russian news agency ITAR-TASS.

The frigate will replace the US Navy’s destroyer USS Donald Cook, which is currently positioned in the western part of the Black Sea.Arrival of the French ship will keep NATO’s presence in the region at three ships, those being US Navy frigate USS Taylor, guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook and the French ship Dupuy de Lôme (A759).

USS Donald Cook arrived in the Black Sea on 10 April and she is due for departure from the area today, on April 24th.French frigate Dupleix is a Georges Leygues-class frigate and she features 129 meters in length.
She has a displacement of 4,500 tons when fully loaded and can reach a speed of 35 knots.

http://charly015.blogspot.com

French navy announces first women to serve on submarines

Women are to be allowed to serve on nuclear submarines in the French Navy from 2017, the French Minister of Defence announced today.The first three candidates will begin training next year, and if the experience is successful the job will be opened up to women, explained Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday.Until now, women in the French Navy have been barred from submarine duty, which involves two and a half months without interruption under water, twice a year.

Among the physical risks of submarine life is an elevated level of carbon dioxide, which is apparently more likely to harm women than men.Few people of either sex are suited to a lifestyle which involves long periods away from loved ones back on land and little privacy aboard.

In February a book on sexual harassment in the French army created considerable concern.
No such book about the French navy has been written but the importance of good professional relationships between the sexes in the confined space of a submarine is paramount.At the moment, only nuclear weapons-carrying submarines are large enough to accommodate women but all French submarines built or renovated from 2018 will be equipped with facilities for women.

Since 1993 France’s naval school has trained around ten female officers per year and of those, only 23 have commanded or are now commanding vessels.Many women as well as men turn down operational jobs for the sake of their family lives at around the ages of 30-35, when they might be ready to take command.


http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20140415-french-navy-announces-first-women-serve-submarines

French spy ship FS Dupuy de Lôme with ELINT equipment Passed Through Turkish Straits

French spy ship FS Dupuy de Lôme passing through the Bosphorus. Photo: Kerim Bozkurt.

Lot of activity in the Black Sea it seems

Read more at :
http://turkishnavy.net/2014/04/11/fs-dupuy-de-lome-passed-through-turkish-straits/

French warship in Marmaris, Turkey

French Durance class underway replenishment tanker A-608 FS Var arrived in Marmaris in the morning hours on 5 April 2014.

Although it was not disclosed how long the ship will stay in Marmaris, it is safe to assume that the port visit will take at least 3 days. It was reported that FS Var is going back to France after completing her deployment for NATO’s Active Endeavor in Eastern Mediterranean.

Read more:
http://www.yeniasir.com.tr/Yasam/2014/04/05/fransiz-savas-gemisi-marmariste

French Warship FS Alizé Passed Through Bosphorus

French Warship FS Alizé Passed Through Bosphorus to take part in joint sea rescue exercises in Bulgaria.

Photos: Mr. Kerim Bozkurt
http://turkishnavy.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/kb-14-03-27-gemi-0019.jpg

MBDA Anti-Ship missile: UK and France sign contract for Anti-Ship Missile

Contract for FASGW(H)/ANL (Future Anti Surface Guided Weapon (Heavy)/ Anti Navire Léger)  worth  £500 million.

Royal Navy’s AW159 Lynx Wildcat with new missile

This jointly funded Anglo-French contract for developing a Anti-Ship Missile, valued at more than £500 million has been awarded to MBDA by the UK and French and UK MODs and will be managed as part of MBDA’s Team Complex Weapons Portfolio.

This Contract will also benefit the capability and export potential of those European helicopter platforms which will integrate the FASGW(H)/ANL system over the coming years.

FASGW(H)/ANL will equip the Royal Navy’s AW159 Lynx Wildcat helicopters and the French Navy’s maritime helicopters. Weighing around 100kg, this modern primarily anti-ship missile will destroy from safe stand-off ranges vessels ranging from FIAC (Fast Inshore Attack Craft), through medium sized FAC (Fast Attack Craft) up to large vessels such as Corvettes. This missile also has a surface attack capability against coastal and land targets.

DCNS Showcasing its GOWIND combat multimission corvette at DIMDEX 2014

The Gowind Combat is the top-of-the-range from the Gowind Family. It is a multimission ship with capabilities of a light frigate, offering unrivalled operational capabilities, including full anti-submarine (ASW) capabilities (with a comprehensive sonar suite, decoys and weapons), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), electronic warfare (EW) and anti-air warfare (AAW). It incorporates DCNS’ know-how in stealth design, including low radar, acoustic and infrared signatures.

France Should Return Money if Warship Deal Cancelled – Dmitry Rogozin - Russian deputy premier

France should either fulfill its contract obligations under a June 2011 contract to deliver two Mistral-class warships to the Russian navy or return the money, a Russian deputy premier said on Wednesday.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Monday that Paris will consider canceling the 1.2-billion-euro deal if Moscow provokes further escalation in Ukraine.The remarks came after the US and EU imposed sanctions on senior Russian officials following a referendum in Ukraine's Crimea in which voters overwhelmingly supported secession and reunification with Russia.“Either stick to your contract obligations and deliver the warships in time, or return the money and parts of these warships’ hulls, assembled at our Baltiysky Zavod [shipyard],” said Dmitry Rogozin, a deputy premier in charge of the defense industry.

France will also have to pay huge penalties if it chooses to unilaterally terminate the contract.Under a June 2011 contract signed between Russia and France, the first French Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, named Vladivostok, will be delivered to Russia by the year-end, while the second warship, the Sevastopol, is due to arrive in 2015.

The ships are capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing craft, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 soldiers and are expected to be deployed with Russia’s Pacific Fleet.

Nexter Narwhal 20mm Remote Weapon System fitted onboard FREMM Frigate Normandie

Nexter Narwhal remotely operated naval gun system

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Narwhal Remote Weapon System installed on a French Navy FREMM Normandie

Narwhal consists of a gyrostabilised mounting armed with a 20mm cannon, a day camera and a fire-control system which is remotely-controlled from a control panel enabling system operation, target acquisition and tracking and fire opening by the operator

The Narwhal system was ordered when first of class Aquitaine was too close to completion and not compatible anymore. The first French Navy FREMM to be fitted with the Narwhal is Normandie. First of class Aquitaine will get its two Narwhal systems during the first major refit of the Frigate, expected in 2017. Ultimately, all FREMMs will have a Narwhal 20mm gun capability.

Marine Nationale (French Navy) and US Navy joint Aircraft Carriers deployment

Pictures of USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group combined operations with the French navy's Task Force 473 (with the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier) in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. 

The French Navy likely named the Operation “Bois Belleau” (Belleau Wood, a famous WWI battle that took place in France and involved the US Army and US Marine Corps) because some major joint Marine Nationale (French Navy) – U.S. Navy maneuvers and exercises are planned. According to the French Navy, operation Bois Belleau will enable the French and US navies to reach the highest level of cooperation to date. The U.S. Carrier Battle Group formed around the Nimitz class Aircraft Carrier USS Harry S. Truman, will be present in the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf at the same time. There will be a joint deployment and close cooperation for five weeks between the two CVBGs. France and the United States are leading strategic partners and the only nations to deploy nuclear-powered aircraft carriers capable of projecting massive fire-power.

The presence of the Charles de Gaulle will also be an opportunity for the French Navy to conduct high-level cooperation with partner countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.