France Issues RFI for Procurement of Six Offshore Patrol Boats

The French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has issued a Request for information (RFI) for the development, construction and supply of six new and identical offshore steel or aluminum hull patrol boats for the French Navy.

The RFI issued last Friday also asks for maintenance in operational conditions (OLS) of these vessels in overseas territories and realization of associated services, including the provision of spare parts, documentation and training. 

As an indication, these boats must be of length of about 70 m, with a draft less than or equal to 3.8 m, will be capable of a speed of 22 knots minimum. They will be implemented from naval bases in New Caledonia, Reunion Island and French Polynesia and will be adapted to the climatic conditions of these areas (particularly high heat and high hygrometry), the RFI stated.

According to the RFI, each patrol boat should be able to accommodate about a crew of 35 members and an additional 18 people. It should be equipped with a capacity to accommodate an aerial drone of about 700 kg, rotary wing (including storage under shelter, maintenance and implementation with associated means of assistance with landing and securing of flight area) as well as two rapid invention boats of about 8 meters.

It must be equipped with an autonomous handling capacity for lifting equipment and should be able to carry weapons and ammunition. It also should have tactical situation visualization system and must be able to integrate civil and military means of communication (in particular HF and satellite means). 

The boats must have capability to run missions for 30 days without refueling and should have a range of about 5,500 nautical miles.