Paris: OP frigates for the DOM/TOMs

Maharadja Lela (Gowind-Design), Graphics: Naval Group

Faced with the question of how to replace the six small Floréal-class frigates, France recently decided in favour of building the Gowind corvettes - and against waiting any longer until the European Patrol Corvette is ready for series production, which is not making sufficient progress as a joint project, especially in light of the findings of the last six months. Better to build something of our own, that has always been the case in Paris! The Floréal class was designed in the 1990s for low-intensity coastal defence tasks in the French overseas territories, but has been used more and more intensively and now requires more assertiveness above and below water as a military platform.

"Vendemiaire" Floréal class, photo: Michael Nitz

This is where the larger versions of the Gowind design come in handy, perhaps precisely because they are currently difficult to sell: Gowind 2500 with the same tonnage and 100 metres in length (as built for Egypt), or the 10 metre stretched version with 3,100 tonnes, like the Malaysian Maharadja Lela-class frigate still under construction as a Littoral Combat Ship, which is the subject of high-ranking scandals. Only what your own navy builds can perhaps be sold elsewhere! So something robust for France, for long deployment cycles in the vast territorial waters of the Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, as well as in the Caribbean.