By Wang Zhengbo and Li Xiang
French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle
After the French frigate Bretagne completed a seven-month deployment, the French Navy plans to send several ships including the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific region this month in an operation dubbed Clemenceau 25, according to foreign media reports.
According to the information disclosed so far, these ships will form a Carrier Strike Group (CSG) with the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier as the core, which may include one Horizon -class air defense destroyer, two Aquitaine-class frigates (one anti-submarine and one anti-aircraft), one attack nuclear submarine, one Jacques Chevallier-class supply ship and two patrol ships, with an estimated 3,000 troops. In terms of carrier-based aircraft, the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier will carry two E-2C early warning aircraft, 24 Dassault Rafale fighter jets and four helicopters. The CSG plans to enter the Indian Ocean via the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, and then reach the Pacific Ocean. It will also make a "historic visit" to Japan and the Philippines. During the deployment, the Charles de Gaulle CSG will hold joint exercises with the navies of India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Japan and the UK to enhance interoperability.
Analysts believe that the French Navy's Clemenceau 25 faces some practical problems.
The first is the security challenge. According to the plan, the Charles de Gaulle CSG will pass through geopolitical hot spots such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea. The complexity of these regions may bring security risks.
The second is the logistics pressure. The seven-month deployment of the frigate Bretagne shows that the main challenges for naval ships to continue sailing lie in the supply of spare parts, technical support and self-sufficiency capability. Considering that the Charles de Gaulle CSG has more ships and personnel, its logistical support pressure and complexity have increased significantly. Currently, the French Navy hopes to solve this problem with the newly commissioned supply ship Jacques Chevallier. The ship is 194 meters long, 27.4 meters wide, and has a full load displacement of 31,000 tons. It is the second largest ship in active service in the French Navy after the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. It can replenish supplies and ammunition for surface combatants and submarines when sailing and berthing. At the same time, the Charles de Gaulle CSG can also make use of the logistical support provided by its partners. The results remain to be seen.
The third is the capability test. The communication reliability and command capability of the Charles de Gaulle CSG will be tested during the voyage in different sea areas. It will rely on the Marine Data Support Center established by the French Navy several years ago and share relevant data with allies to enhance data processing and sharing capabilities.
Analysts pointed out that the French Navy intends to enhance its far-sea delivery capability and regional influence by deploying the CSG to the Indo-Pacific region. However, this move is not conducive to regional peace and stability. It also weakens the French Navy's power in Europe. Meanwhile, the French Navy may find it difficult to deal with emergencies.
