French Navy (Marine Nationale) Mistral-class LHD “Mistral” and La Fayette-class frigate “Surcouf” set sails for the North Atlantic and will transit via the Arctic as part of the “JEANNE D’ARC 2025” mission.
French Navy press release
On February 24, 2025, the amphibious group formed around the landing helicopter deck Mistral and the frigate Surcouf set sail for the ‘Jeanne d’Arc’ mission, a long duration training for naval officers. For five months, its crews and detachments will carry out an operational mission in the Atlantic, integrating into maritime operations and interacting with France’s partner countries.
Traditionally, the Jeanne d’Arc mission is the first long-duration deployment for cadet officers in the French Navy. This is where these “midships” complete their training at the Naval Academy. In contact with the crews of the LHD Mistral and the La Fayette frigate Surcouf, then other vessels temporarily integrated into the amphibious group, the future officers will learn the arcana of their profession. The operational dimension of this mission, and the fact that several naval airwings and army detachments will be on board, will also provide this on-board school with a concrete learning environment. As part of the crews, the student officers will participate in operations from key job positions, those they will assume during their careers.
Before the Mistral set sail, the departure ceremony, presided over by Patricia Mirallès, Minister Delegate for Remembrance and Veterans, kicked off the mission. The traditional halberd of the helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc, symbol of this mythical mission, was handed over to Captain Vieux-Rochas, commanding officer of the mission, by Vice-Admiral Laurent Hemmer, commanding officer of the Naval Academy. It establishes the Mistral as a true onboard school for the next five months.
During the five-month mission, the amphibious group will sail across the Atlantic from Ivory Coast to the Arctic Circle, via the French West Indies, returning to France via the Baltic Sea. Amphibious exercises will punctuate the deployment, enabling the embarked battle group to train with Brazilian, American and Norwegian forces. Crews will also take part in operations involving French forces, such as the Corymbe mission in the Gulf of Guinea and the fight against drug trafficking in the French West Indies.
To carry out this mission, the amphibious group brings together several units and detachments:
- LHD Mistral
- La Fayette-class frigate Surcouf
- A tactical sub-group including elements from the 13th foreign legion regiment (13e DBLE), the 1st foreign cavalry regiment (1er REC) and the 1st foreign engineering regiment (1er REG), plus their 35 vehicles.
- An aeromobile sub-group of the French Army’s light aviation, comprising two Cougar helicopters and two Gazelle helicopters from the French Army’s 5th combat helicopter regiment (5e RHC).
- A Dauphin helicopter from Flottille 34F
- An S100 Camcopter drone from Flotille 36F
- An amphibious flotilla detachment equipped with two landing crafts
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