What was until now halfway between rumor and logical deduction has been confirmed today by Commander Ghislain Deleplanque in charge of the protection and security office of the National Navy. The 10 new Ocean Patrol Vessels which will replace the A69 class Offshore Patrol Vessels from 2025 will therefore indeed be equipped with a 40 mm RapidFire cannon. This close protection system will allow ships to ensure, in addition to their protection against light and medium naval targets, but also against drones, helicopters, combat planes operating at low altitude, as well as anti-ship missiles with a grazing trajectory. .
This is therefore the second class of ships intended to soon enter service within the French Navy to receive RapidFire to ensure their self-defense, after the 4 supply tankers built in cooperation with the Italian Fincantieri, and identified by the French Navy under the name Bâtiment de Ravitaillement de la Force, or BRF. The ships, which must be delivered between 2022 and 2029 by the Saint-Nazaire shipyards, will effectively be equipped with this system to ensure their close protection. There is also talk of equipping future Minehunters of the French Navy with it, which will replace the Eridan class ships in service since the mid-80s.
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