French Defense Procurement Agency Receives Second Overseas Patrol Vessel in Polynesia

The French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) officially received the Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai, the second of six planned overseas patrol vessels (POM) for the French Navy, on June 7.

The vessel's delivery, announced by the DGA on June 25, follows an extensive sea trial campaign conducted by the DGA in collaboration with the ship's crew, the Permanent Commission for Programs and Trials (CPPE), and representatives from the shipbuilder Socarenam.

The sea trial campaign began in Brest in February 2024 and concluded during the vessel's deployment from Brest to Papeete, spanning from March 16 to May 23, 2024. Under the supervision of the French Navy, the crew will now verify the patrol vessel's military specifications before it enters active service.

Ordered in 2019, the POMs are scheduled to be delivered and commissioned by 2026, replacing the older P400 patrol vessels. These new vessels will support protection, sovereignty, and state actions at sea within the French overseas exclusive economic zones (EEZs), operating from ports in Nouméa, Papeete, and Port des Galets.

The POMs will enhance the French Navy's capacity to monitor the maritime spaces in the Indo-Pacific region. Compared to the P400, the POM boasts improved capabilities, including an air/surface surveillance radar, an optronic ball, two fast boats (one housed in a well deck), and double the freight capacity. The POM also has a greater range, approximately 20% higher than its predecessor, and is the first French Navy ship to integrate an airborne drone system from its design stage. Its stability is optimized for the challenging conditions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The vessel features a hybrid propulsion system and hydrographic capability.

The six POMs will be stationed at Nouméa (New Caledonia), Papeete (French Polynesia), and Port-des-Galets (Réunion), with two vessels per home port. They will undertake various missions, including fishery patrols, maritime pollution response, environmental protection, combating illicit activities such as drug trafficking and illegal immigration, assisting vessels in distress, and rescuing people at sea.

The key specifications of the POM are as follows: displacement of approximately 1,300 tons; dimensions of 79.9 meters in length, 12 meters in beam, and a draft of less than 3.5 meters; range of over 5,500 nautical miles at 12 knots; autonomy of 30 days; maximum speed of 24 knots; crew of 30 sailors; accommodation for 29 additional personnel, including gendarmes, commandos, and six retention places; armament comprising a 20 mm remotely operated cannon, three 12.7 mm machine guns, and three 7.62 mm machine guns; detection systems including an air/surface surveillance radar, a tactical situation system, and a day/night optronic identification system; satellite communication capability; two 8-meter fast boats (one on a ramp and davit), one service boat; deck space for one 20-foot container and a handling crane; towing and anti-pollution operations capability; and hydrographic measurement capability.