Another SSN deployment?
In 2020, before the storm of AUKUS, Rubis-class attack submarine Emeraude along with a support ship conducted a prolonged deployment to the region.
Earlier this year the now-former ALPACI, Admiral Rey, revealed that he had met the head of the U.S 7th Fleet submarine force, to discuss the upcoming deployment of a French SSN to the region. ALPACI, however, provided few details as to when and where the submarine will visit, besides saying that it will make a stop in Tahiti for the Pacific Submarine Seminar.
Senior French officials, who spoke to Naval News on the condition of anonymity, were understandably tight-lipped as to when, and if even if, an SSN will deploy to the region.
One official told Naval News that France would “work with Australia on any deployment of assets” to the Indo-Pacific region, however, they declined to comment on the specific case of the SSN.
Mission Jeanne D’Arc 2023 and Exercise Croix du Sud
French officials were much more forthcoming about the upcoming “Jeanne D’Arc 2023” deployment. Jeanne D’Arc is an annual long duration and joint deployment which aim is to provide officer cadets with “at sea” operational training before joining their units as officers. The mission has three main objectives:
- Train the future generations of French Navy officers
- Deploying operational capabilities in areas of strategic interest
- Interoperability and regional cooperation
The two ships, which are scheduled to deploy in February 2023, will transit the Pacific on their way around the world (via Panama) and participate in the French-led Exercise Croix du Sud (Southern Cross) off New Caledonia/Kanaky. The two vessels will likely consist of a Mistral-class LHD and an upgraded La Fayette-class frigate.
One official told Naval News that 15 nations will participate in Croix du Sud 2023 with confirmed presence of Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, United States and Australia. The exercise will be both joint and combined, it will involve navy, army and air force assets and it will feature an amphibious component.
FREMM DA Lorraine
France’s contribution to the next scheduled RIMPAC exercise is slated to be much more significant than its participation in the 2022 iteration. Naval News previously revealed that France is planning on deploying one of its two FREMM DA Frigates, to take part in the exercise as part of a broader Pacific deployment. This is an Air Defense variant of the FREMM frigate.
Vice Admiral Vaujour, Chief of Operations of the Joint Staff, who was in Australia to attend the Indo-Pacific Chief of Defence meeting told Naval News that:
“It is true, we would like to deploy that kind of asset in the area. The FREMM DA, which is an anti submarine and air defense destroyer, called “Lorraine”, we would like to put it in the Indo Pacific area […] The question is to come here and to find the nations which would like to cooperate with us and to exercise with us. So depending on when exactly we are going to deploy the ship we will have the opportunity to conduct some large exercises in the area like Croix du Sud or RIMPAC or La Pérouse. It will depend on the place and the timeline of the arrival of the ship. But definitely, yes, we will have this opportunity.”
Vice Admiral Vaujour, Chief of Operations of the Joint Staff
The vessel, which sources stressed to Naval News is not guaranteed yet to participate, would likely complement a more local French presence, composed of assets typically assigned to the ALPACI and FANC (French Armed Force in New Caledonia) areas of responsibilities.
Charles De Gaulle in 2025?
Multiple sources, including Vice-Admiral Vaujour, stressed to Naval News that any deployment of Charles De Gaulle and her strike group remains a political decision that will reflect the strategic realities of its time.
Asked specifically about Charles De Gaulle tentative trip to Asia in 2025, Vice-Admiral Vaujour said:
“I have to say, when we talk about the key assets of the French Forces, be it aircraft, tanks or the Charles de Gaulle, the question is always where are we going to deploy these kinds of assets, which are critical because, as you know, the Charles de Gaulle, we have only one. When we deploy a nuclear-powered submarine, we do not have that many [of them]. So when we deploy that kind of asset, it is each time to defend our interests. As you can see, the world is currently evolving very quickly. If I have to say where I will put the Charles De Gaulle in the months to come it will probably be in the Mediterranean or in the Atlantic. But, in the years to come, I will wait to see the evolution of the world [and respond accordingly]. Of course, we use those kinds of assets when our interests are at stake, definitely. And where are the French interests in the world ? We have the French West Indies, the North Atlantic, the Gulf of Guinea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Indo Pacific. So those are the area where we can put the Charles de Gaulle, depending on the international situation.”
Vice Admiral Vaujour, Chief of Operations of the Joint Staff
Naval News does understand that such a deployment is, at the very least, “aspirational” for the Marine Nationale. Asked about a hypothetical deployment of Charles De Gaulle to the region, Vice-Admiral Vaujour stressed that France would lean heavily on its partners, specifically Singapore, Japan, India and perhaps even Australia to support the deployment:
“We have a global partnership strategy, I mean that we have agreements with Singapore, Japan, US, Australia, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. We need to have lots of partnerships so that we can adapt what we’re doing with our partners.”
Vice Admiral Vaujour, Chief of Operations of the Joint Staff
