French navy

The oceans are mankind’s common heritage, playing a central role in the organisation and development of the world. They cover 75% of the world’s surface and are both a resource and an area without borders over which pass three quarters of our traded goods.

With its overseas territories, its 7000 km of coastline and the second largest maritime area in the world, consisting of 11 million sq km, France has a coastline to all the world’s oceans. The Navy has a duty to control this area in its three dimensions (under, on and over the sea), to preserve peace and to defend the interests of France.

The job of the Navy consists of five strategic functions:

1. Knowledge and anticipation: maintaining data on the world and what is happening globally
2. Protection: safeguarding the population against all manner of threats
3. Warning: acting to prevent the occurrence of crises that could threaten our security,
4. Intervention: deploying our forces wherever necessary to restore peace,
5. Deterrence: convincing anybody who plans to attack France’s vital interests that we will respond with force.

 The Navy consists of 44,000 men and women (37,000 military and 7,000 civilians) serving France, more than 180 buildings, 200 aircraft and 6 commando units.

There are always 30 ships, 5 aircraft and a strategic submarine in action in addition to nearly 5,000 sailors on, under and over the seas to maintain the peace and security of the French people.

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