France boosts maritime security with new patrol boats and anti‑mine drones

The French Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract to the Couach shipyard in Gujan‑Mestras to build 24 new coastal patrol vessels for the Gendarmerie maritime. The vessels, each about 22 m long and capable of carrying up to ten crew, will replace a fleet dating from the early 2000s. Five of the boats are earmarked for overseas territories – French Guiana, Mayotte and New Caledonia – and the first unit, named Mousquetaire, is slated for delivery in 2029. The contract is valued at over €100 million and will span eight years.

In a related move, the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) has ordered an additional dozen surface and underwater drones under the SLAM‑F programme to strengthen anti‑mine capabilities. The drones will be deployed from chartered vessels, with the first platform expected around 2027. The procurement aims to protect key maritime approaches, including those serving France’s strategic nuclear‑submarine and aircraft‑carrier bases, and involves cooperation with the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands to ensure interoperability while preserving French strategic autonomy.