The French Navy has taken delivery of its second replenishment tanker built under the joint Franco-Italian Logistic Support Ship (LSS) programme managed by OCCAR.
Designated by the French as a Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces (BRF), the Jacques Stosskopf was handed over to the Marine Nationale, with the agreement of DGA. She was built by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard and launched in September 2024.
As per a statement from Naval Group: “The BRF will provide essential long-term support missions to the National Navy ships deployed away from French bases, in the aeronaval group or naval action groups, as well as allied ships as part of multinational missions.”
The programme is being managed by joint arms group OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’ARmement, or Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation).
Six LSS vessels are initially being produced — two for Italy and four for France. The Marina Militare has an option to procure a third LSS ship too under the terms of the programme, which has been running since 2015.
According to media reports, a potential fourth Italian LSS ship has since been mooted by the Italian Ministry of Defence.
The first Italian LSS vessel, ITS Vulcano, was delivered to the Italian Navy in March 2021, while Jacques Chevallier was delivered to the French Navy in 2023 and commissioned in November 2024.
The handover of Jacques Stosskopf took place on board the ship at the Toulon Naval Base which will be her home port.
As per an OCCAR press statement: “These modern, interoperable double-hull support ships are designed to meet current environmental regulations.”
It added: “Fully interoperable with its partners, notably NATO, these ships are particularly versatile and can ensure a large number of missions: providing logistical support to other ships (transport/delivery of naval and aeronautical fuel, fresh water, ammunition, food, spare parts) and also ensuring multiple missions with a high degree of flexibility (command of an international naval force, supporting the projection from all classes of ships conforming to NATO standards or even medical support with a hospital).
“It also has a latest generation combat system and self-protection effector with the SIMBAD RC and RapidFire systems allowing the treatment of asymmetric threats.”
- You can read more details on the OCCAR website