Video: Second BRF-class replenishment ship of the French Navy begins sea trials

The second logistics support vessel of the Jacques Chevallier class, the BRF Jacques Stosskopf, officially began its sea trial campaign on April 9, 2025, as announced by OCCAR on Friday (12).

The vessel is part of the French FLOTLOG program, conducted in partnership with Italy under the supervision of the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR). The trials mark a key milestone in the final phase before delivery, scheduled for the end of 2025.

+ Watch the video of the first ship of the BRF Jacques Chevallier class

According to OCCAR, the next stages will include acceptance tests conducted by industrial contractors with the presence of experts from the DGA (French Defence Procurement Agency) and the Marine Nationale, to verify that the ship’s systems and equipment meet the operational requirements of the French Navy.

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In addition to the current trials, further sessions are planned in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The official delivery will take place in Toulon, the main French naval base in the south of the country.

BRF Class: strategic reinforcement for the French Navy

The BRF Jacques Stosskopf is the second of four logistics support ships of the Jacques Chevallier class, also known as BRF (Bâtiment Ravitailleur de Forces). The first in the series, the Jacques Chevallier, was delivered in July 2023 and is currently operating as part of the French aircraft carrier strike group.

Construction of the ships is being handled by a consortium formed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Naval Group, with Naval Group acting as the main contractor. The ships will be delivered in stages through 2029.

The third vessel in the class, named Emile Bertin, began construction in early 2024. It will include a section manufactured in Italy, and delivery is scheduled for 2027.

Franco-Italian cooperation in defense

The FLOTLOG program is part of a joint initiative between France and Italy to develop modern logistical support ships, under the Logistic Support Ship (LSS) program. The initiative is coordinated by OCCAR on behalf of the French DGA and Italian NAVARM, strengthening interoperability between European navies.

Source and images: CEMM_FR / Marine Nationale. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.