The French Navy’s lead Jacques Chevallier-class logistic support ship (LSS) has completed the maiden sea trials and officially logged its first nautical miles.
This was confirmed by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’ARmement – OCCAR).
The milestone was achieved on 20 December.
The recent trials were conducted to assess a wide range systems aboard Jacques Chevallier and to prepare the vessel for undertaking the next series of trials at the sea.
Jacques Chevallier is being constructed as part of the French-Italian cooperation, under the FLOTLOG programme (Flotte Logistique).
The programme is being led by OCCAR on behalf of French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) and its Italian counterpart Directorate of Naval Armaments (NAVARM).
A temporary consortium between Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Naval Group is executing the vessel’s construction.
Named after a 20th century French Naval Engineer, Jacques Chevallier is expected to be delivered to the French Navy in 2023.
Keel for Jacques Chevallier was laid in February last year at Fincantieri’s naval shipyard in Castellammare di Stabia in Naples, Italy.
The Italian company was responsible for constructing the forward section of Jacques Chevallier, which was successfully transferred to France in November 2021 for the final assembling.
Following the delivery of the vessel’s front section, French shipbuilder Naval Group officially launched Jacques Chevallier in May this year.
A total of four Jacques Chevallier-class replenishment ships are being built to support the French naval force.
The multi-mission vessels are being developed to serve two main roles, which involves conducting military operations and civilian rescue missions.
Other missions LSS will carry out include replenishments to deliver aviation fuel, food, water, ammunitions, spare parts to the other vessels at sea.
