The second French Navy’s Jacques Chevallier-class (also known as ‘BRF’) replenishment tanker ‘Jacques Stosskopf‘ joins her new homeport of Toulon in southern France.
French Navy press release
- The Jacques Stosskopf force supply ship (BRF), the second unit in a series of four ships, will dock at the Toulon naval base on Thursday, 31 July 2025.
- The arrival of the second BRF in the series marks a major new step in the renewal of the French Navy’s logistical capabilities.
- Named after a brilliant naval engineer of Alsatian origin, a member of the Resistance who died in deportation, the Jacques Stosskopf will continue to ramp up its operational capabilities before being admitted to active service.
Built in Saint-Nazaire as part of the Franco-Italian FLOTLOG logistics fleet programme led by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), these ships are the result of exemplary industrial cooperation between Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Naval Group, the French procurement agency (DGA) and the French Navy. This series of logistics vessels aims to guarantee France’s strategic autonomy and its ability to conduct maritime operations over the long term, far from its national territory.
Technical specifications of the vessel
With a length of 194 metres and a displacement of 31,000 tonnes when fully loaded, the Jacques Stosskopf can carry up to 13,000m³ of fuel, as well as provisions, ammunition and spare parts. It is capable of simultaneously refuelling two vessels thanks to its four lateral transfer stations and refuelling masts capable of handling solid cargo weighing up to 2.5 tonnes. These enhanced logistical support capabilities significantly improve the autonomy of the naval air group and forces deployed on the high seas.
The vessel is also equipped with modern equipment that makes it fully capable of operating in degraded environments. Its integrated combat system, close self-defence capabilities, communications and support facilities make the BRF a versatile platform, capable of carrying out refuelling and support missions.
The logistics fleet programme
Credit: Hervé Dermoune
The first BRF, the Jacques Chevallier, was delivered in 2023 and is now fully operational. The second, the Jacques Stosskopf is arriving in Toulon today. It will be followed by the Émile Bertin scheduled for delivery in 2027, and then the Gustave Zédé by 2032.
These names pay tribute to the scientific, technical and human heritage of the Navy. The FLOTLOG series is a pillar of the 2019-2025 Military Programming Law and a concrete response to the challenges of logistical resilience and sustainable projection of French naval power.
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Naval News comment:
The BRF Jacques Stosskopf was launched on August 19, 2024 in Saint-Nazaire, and her sea trials started in spring 2025. Her delivery is scheduled for the end of 2025.
The Jacques Stosskopf features some minor modifications compared to the first-in-class ship: The Simbad-RC systems have been placed on small bridge wings, in order to give them better coverage to protect the ship.
About BRF / Chevallier-class Replenishment Tanker
Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Naval Group were awarded a contract for the construction of four supply vessels in January 2019. The vessels are set to be delivered between the end of 2022 and 2029. It is part of a Franco-Italian program led by OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement – Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation), on behalf of the French defense procurement agency (DGA) and its Italian counterpart NAVARM. As such, the design of the French BRF design is based on the Italian Navy LSS (Vulcano-class) designed by Fincantieri.
Safran Electronics & Defense was selected to supply the PASEO XLR extra long-range naval optronic identification & fire control system while to all four vessels of the class, while Vestdavit has won a tender from Chantiers de l’Atlantique to supply the davit systems for the BRFs. The RAPIDFire naval gun system developed by the consortium formed by Thales and Nexter has been chosen as the main artillery and CIWS for the class (two systems per ship, altough the first-in-class vessel may get only one initially). MBDA will supply two Simbad-RC Very Short Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) Systems per ship. GE is providing the propulsion systems (MV7000 drives) of the vessels.
Main characteristics of the BRF vessels
Gross tonnage: 28,700 GRT
Displacement at full load: 31,000 tonnes
Overall length: 194 m
Overall width: 27.60 m
Crew capacity: 190 people (including 130 crew members and capacity for 60 passengers)
Total deadweight: 14,870 tonnes
Freight volume: 13,000 m3
Total installed capacity: 24 MW
Artillery: 40 mm guns
Polaris® Combat Management System
