- Yes
- No
History:
The BRF or Bâtiment Ravitailleur de Forces class of ships are the latest French resupply ships made to replace the Durance class. The BRF class is a modified variant of the Italian Vulcano-class logistic support ships with differing armament.
The BRFs are part of a French effort to modernise the French navy alongside the Amiral Ronarc’h-class frigates and the PA-NG aircraft carriers. The BRFs role is to allow the Amrial and PA-NG ships (as well as older vessels) to operate for a prolonged period of time outside of allied ports.
A total of 4 vessels have been planned, of which 2 have been completed and entered service. The first was Jacques Chevallier on the 20th of November 2024 and the second is Jacques Stosskopf which entered service on the 18th of May 2026. The third ship, Émile Bertin is underway and is expected to be delivered in 2027 while the fourth in the class, Gustave Zédé is planned for 2032.
The BRFs have already seen some operational duties.
Jacques Chevallier initially deployed to both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans despite not being commissioned yet in October 2023 before returning to Toulon in February 2024. Jacques Stosskopf would also patrol multiple oceans before here commissioning, this time it would be the Pacific, West Indies and Far North in 2026. Jacques Chevallier alongside frigate Alsace and aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the May of 2026 as a response to the intensifying combat between Iran, Israel and the USA.
(Jacques Chevallier with Alsace)
Specifications:
Crew- 140
Max speed- 37km/h
Armament- 2x Mistral SAMs and 2x 40mm 40CT cannons
Displacement- 31,000t (Full load)
Length- 194m
Width- 27.60m
Draught- 9m
Sources:
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/11/second-brf-supply-ship-delivered-to-the-french-navy/