A model of the future French Navy’s Offshore patrol vessel at Euronaval 2024 in Paris, France. (Picture source: Army Recognition) Click on the photo to enlarge.
Army Recognition’s Navy News reports,
“According to a PR published by Cerbair on November 5, 2024, the French Navy’s new offshore patrol vessels, commissioned by the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) in 2023, will soon benefit from enhanced protection against drone threats. The French Navy ordered a fleet of seven vessels that will incorporate CERBAIR’s navalized radio frequency (RF) detection system, ensuring a level of security against increasingly sophisticated drone threats. This strategic move is a culmination of years of collaboration among CERBAIR, the French Navy, and key defense industry partners such as Naval Group, CMN, Piriou, and Socarenam shipyards.”
The USCG is also concerned about drone threats. The post seems to be talking an electronic warfare system. The National Security Cutters, Offshore Patrol Cutters, and 270 foot WMECs all have or will have electronic warfare systems. Their effectiveness (or not) against drones is not clear.
Probably the most effective thing the US Coast Guard could do against drones in the short term is to trade the 25mm guns they have in Mk38 mounts for 30mm guns that have airburst ammunition available. That could provide a capability on the OPCs, the SLEPed WMEC270s, and most importantly the FRCs as the units most likely to encounter this threat.
There are two different 30mm chain guns. Both fire airburst ammunition. The 25mm may be better than the 30mm M230/914 family that use the lower velocity 30x113mm round for countering surface threats, but we know the 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II/XM813 is significantly better than the 25mm against surface targets as well as air targets.
The Army Recognition post included a new photo of a model of the new class of Offshore Patrol Vessels, so thought we might take another look at the program.
These seven ships, which will perform coast guard like missions, were ordered almost exactly a year ago, 17 November 2023 and are expected to be delivered from 2026 to 2030. Three additional ships are expected to be delivered 2031,2032, and 2033.
Artist impression of the Patrouilleur Hauturier OPV underway. Naval Group image.
Wikipedia reports these vessels will be 92 metres (302′) long and will have a fully loaded tonnage of approximately 2,400 tons. They will have a range of 6,000 nautical miles @12 knots with maximum speed of 21 knots.
“They will be able to accommodate 84 people on board (crew and passengers combined). They will be able to take on board the Navy’s EDO NG and ECUME NG (RHIBs–Chuck). The hangar and the aft deck will be able to accommodate the future Guépard Marine (H160M Cheetah helicopter–Chuck) or a VSR700 type helidrone .
The patrol boats will be equipped with the RapidFire Naval close-quarters weapon system, designed by Nexter and Thales around its 40 CTC telescoping ammunition cannon, equipped with an optronic fire control system, a range of 4,000 m and a rate of fire of 200 rounds/min. They will be equipped with Thales’ Bluewatcher hull sonar as part of their mission to support nuclear deterrence.” (Force Protection for French ballistic missile submarines–Chuck)
I did a post about the gun in 2016.