Naval Systems

Félix Éboué class patrol vessel

Also known as
  • Patrouilleur Outre-Mer (POM)
  • Patrouilleur Outre-mer
  • POM
  • classe Félix Éboué
  • Félix Éboué-class patrol vessel
  • Auguste Bénébig
  • Auguste Benebig
  • Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai
  • Jean Tranape
  • Philippe Bernardino
  • Auguste Techer
  • Félix Éboué
  • Felix Eboue class
  • POM-class OPV

The Félix Éboué class patrol vessel, also known as the Patrouilleur Outre-Mer (POM), is France's six-ship overseas offshore patrol vessel program for sovereignty, maritime surveillance, law-enforcement, environmental-protection, and rescue missions in distant EEZs. Built by Socarenam with CNN MCO support and designed by MAURIC, the class is distributed across Nouméa, Papeete, and La Réunion and combines diesel-electric propulsion, a 5,500 nm range, a 24-knot top speed, UAV integration, and a 20 mm Narwhal remote weapon station for extended Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean patrol work.

Félix Éboué class patrol vessel, Offshore patrol vessel, Naval Systems
Image source: The French Navy patrol ship Auguste Bénébig (P779) during exercise Kakadu 2024 | Wikimedia Commons

Role in Conflicts

2015 Various Conflicts
Side
Unconfirmed conflict context

No publicly documented use in a named armed conflict found in the sources reviewed. Public sources describe the class as overseas patrol vessels for France's overseas territories, with surveillance, sovereignty, and maritime-security missions.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
France
Built by
SocarenamCNN MCO
Type
Offshore patrol vessel
Service note
2020s-present
Designer
MAURIC
Designed
2019
Produced
2020-present
Number built
6 planned

Specifications

Displacement
About 1,300 t full load
Length
79.9 m
Beam
11.8 m
Draft
3.5 m
Speed
About 24 knots
Range
Up to 5,500 nm at 12 knots
Crew
30 sailors plus 23 passengers
Propulsion
Diesel-electric
Armament
20 mm Narwhal remote-controlled turret, 12.7 mm machine guns, and 7.62 mm machine guns
Aviation
Survey Copter Aliaca UAV
Class size
Six patrol vessels ordered for the French Navy
Basing plan
Two each for Nouméa, Papeete, and La Réunion
Boats
Two 6.5-to-8 m RHIBs, one stern-ramp launched and one davit-launched
Missions
Sovereignty patrols, EEZ surveillance, fisheries policing, maritime-security, anti-trafficking, pollution response, environmental protection, and rescue assistance
Mounted Naval Systems

The Félix Éboué class carries a light naval armament and shipborne surveillance UAV fit for overseas patrol work.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Narwhal 20 mm remote-controlled turret, 20 mm naval remote weapon station, Naval SystemsNarwhal 20 mm remote-controlled turret20 mm remote-controlled turret

Naval News identifies the POM class armament as a 20 mm remote-controlled turret, Narwhal by Nexter.

Sources: Video: French Navy's New POM OPV for the Indo-Pacific | Naval News

12.7 mm heavy machine gun, Belt-fed, crew-served heavy machine gun class, Infantry Weapons12.7 mm heavy machine gun12.7 mm heavy machine gun

Naval News says the POM class will include 12.7 mm machine guns in its armament fit.

Sources: Video: French Navy's New POM OPV for the Indo-Pacific | Naval News

7.62 mm machine gun, Belt-fed general-purpose / vehicle-mounted 7.62 mm machine gun class, Infantry Weapons7.62 mm machine gun7.62 mm machine gun

Naval News says the POM class will include 7.62 mm machine guns in its armament fit.

Sources: Video: French Navy's New POM OPV for the Indo-Pacific | Naval News

Survey Copter Aliaca UAV, Maritime mini uncrewed aircraft system, Aircraft & UAVsSurvey Copter Aliaca UAVShipborne maritime surveillance UAV

Naval News and French official sources identify the POM class as operating the SMDM Aliaca UAV to extend surveillance and identification reach during overseas patrol missions.

Sources: Video: French Navy's New POM OPV for the Indo-Pacific | Naval News, La DGA réceptionne le premier patrouilleur outre-mer (POM) | Ministère des Armées

Embarked Mission Systems

The class has a documented onboard-systems fit beyond its gun armament, combining an embarked mini-UAS, fast boats, surface-search sensors, identification equipment, and a combat-management system for long overseas patrols.

Uncrewed aircraft

Naval News identifies the shipboard UAV as the SMDM Aliaca by Survey Copter, while the French Ministry of Armed Forces describes UAV integration as a main asset of the POM.

Sources: Video: French Navy's New POM OPV for the Indo-Pacific | Naval News; Patrouilleur Outre-Mer (POM) | Ministère des Armées.

Boats and launch gear

MAURIC says Auguste Techer operates two interchangeable 6.5-to-8-meter RHIBs, one launched by stern ramp and one by davit; Naval News identifies Vestdavit fast-rescue-boat davit systems for the class.

Sources: Third Offshore Patrol Vessel Auguste Techer Reached La Réunion Island | MAURIC; Video: French Navy's New POM OPV for the Indo-Pacific | Naval News.

Sensors and management

Naval News reports Nexeya supplying the combat-management system and HENSOLDT UK supplying Kelvin Hughes Mk11 SharpEye surface-search radars combined with HENSOLDT MSSR 2000 IFF systems.

Source: Video: French Navy's New POM OPV for the Indo-Pacific | Naval News.

Timeline

Félix Éboué class patrol vessel Key Events

  1. Six-ship order awarded

    France awarded the six-ship POM contract to a Socarenam and CNN MCO consortium on 24 December 2019; Naval News later summarized the plan as two ships each for New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and La Réunion.

    Sources: Video: French Navy's New POM OPV for the Indo-Pacific | Naval News

  2. Auguste Bénébig departed for Nouméa

    The French Navy reported that Auguste Bénébig, the first of six POMs, left Brest on 17 January 2023 for its Nouméa home port in New Caledonia.

    Sources: Départ de l’Auguste Bénébig, premier des six POM, pour Nouméa | Marine nationale

  3. First ship received by the DGA

    The DGA received Auguste Bénébig, the first POM, at Nouméa on 5 May 2023, marking the lead ship's handover at its home port.

    Sources: La DGA réceptionne le premier patrouilleur outre-mer (POM) | Ministère des Armées

  4. Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai sailed for Papeete

    The French Navy reported that Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai left Brest on 16 March 2024 to reach Papeete, its future home port.

    Sources: Le patrouilleur outre-mer Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai appareille de Brest pour rallier Papeete | Marine nationale

  5. Second ship admitted to active service

    The Ministry of the Armed Forces announced that Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai, the second Félix Éboué-class POM, was admitted to active service on 17 July 2024 after its long deployment and DGA delivery at Papeete.

    Sources: Admission au service actif du Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai, second patrouilleur outre-mer de la Marine nationale | Ministère des Armées

  6. Jean Tranape entered trials status

    The French Navy reported the prise d’armement pour essais ceremony for Jean Tranape at Boulogne-sur-Mer on 5 March 2025.

    Sources: Prise d’armement pour essais du patrouilleur outre-mer Jean Tranape | Marine nationale

  7. Auguste Techer reached La Réunion

    The Marine nationale reported that Auguste Techer arrived in La Réunion on 25 August 2025 after its first long deployment and joined FAZSOI there.

    Sources: Le patrouilleur outre-mer Auguste Techer est arrivé à La Réunion | Marine nationale

  8. Philippe Bernardino scheduled for trials status

    A Bulletin officiel des armées decision fixed 1 December 2025 as the prise d’armement pour essais date for the patrol vessel Philippe Bernardino.

    Sources: Décision N° 1190/ARM/EMM/MGM portant prise d’armement pour essais du « Philippe Bernardino » | Bulletin officiel des armées

  9. Jean Tranape arrived at Nouméa

    The French Navy reported that Jean Tranape reached its new Nouméa home port on 18 June 2026.

    Sources: Le patrouilleur outre-mer Jean Tranape est arrivé à Nouméa | Marine nationale

Media

Félix Éboué class patrol vessel Images

Félix Éboué class patrol vessel, Offshore patrol vessel, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: AugusteTecher La Réunion.jpg | Wikimedia Commons
Félix Éboué class patrol vessel, Offshore patrol vessel, Naval Systems - view 2
Source: 2023 MBST 370 O 001 006.jpg | Wikimedia Commons
Related Weapon Systems
Confiance-class patrol vessel, Offshore patrol vessel class, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsConfiance-class patrol vesselOffshore patrol vessel classThe Confiance-class patrol vessel is a French Navy offshore patrol vessel class built by Socarenam from MAURIC designs for overseas sovereignty patrols in Guyane and the Antilles. The three 61-meter PAG ships combine a 20 mm remote weapon station, heavy machine guns, fast craft, navigation sensors, and pollution-response capacity for EEZ surveillance, fisheries policing, anti-trafficking, space-launch security, and crisis-response missions.
PCG-NG class, Next-generation coastal patrol vessel class, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsPCG-NG classNext-generation coastal patrol vessel classThe PCG-NG class is a French next-generation coastal patrol vessel programme designed by Mauric and built by Socarenam for state-action-at-sea missions. The 46-metre vessels combine a stern ramp, fast RHIB launch-and-recovery, seven-day endurance, and light machine-gun armament for maritime policing, border control, fisheries enforcement, surveillance, search and rescue, and patrol support around metropolitan and overseas French waters.
Flamant-class patrol vessel, Patrouilleur de service public / OPV54 patrol vessel, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsFlamant-class patrol vesselPatrouilleur de service public / OPV54 patrol vesselThe Flamant class is a three-ship French Navy OPV54 public-service patrol-vessel class used for Action de l'Etat en mer tasks in the Channel and North Sea, including maritime traffic surveillance, fisheries policing, anti-trafficking patrols, pollution response, and sea rescue. The Cherbourg-based ships entered service in 1997, carry two 12.7 mm machine guns, and remain active while the French Navy extends their service into the mid-2030s.
OPV 270, Offshore patrol vessel, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsOPV 270Offshore patrol vesselThe OPV 270 is OCEA's large aluminum offshore patrol vessel design for exclusive-economic-zone surveillance, maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, pollution response, helicopter operations, and long-range coast-guard presence. The known Philippine Coast Guard example, BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), was delivered by OCEA in December 2019, reached Manila in April 2020 after an overseas repatriation tasking, and later appeared in joint maritime training and RIMPAC preparation rather than documented combat use.
River-class offshore patrol vessel, Offshore patrol vessel, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsRiver-class offshore patrol vesselOffshore patrol vesselThe River-class offshore patrol vessel is the Royal Navy's British-built patrol-ship family for territorial-water security, maritime security, law-enforcement support, and sustained overseas presence. BAE Systems and Royal Navy sources distinguish the early Batch 1 ships from the larger Batch 2 vessels, whose 90 metre hull, 30 mm gun, Merlin-capable flight deck, and rotating forward-deployed crews make them useful for Caribbean, South Atlantic, Mediterranean, West African, and Indo-Pacific tasks. HMS Trent gives the class a specific documented crisis role through its 2023-2024 deployment to Guyana during the Guyana-Venezuela Essequibo crisis.
D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso, Aviso / light corvette, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsD'Estienne d'Orves-class avisoAviso / light corvetteThe D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso, also known as the Type A69, is a French-built light corvette and offshore-patrol family developed for coastal anti-submarine warfare, escort, and overseas-presence missions. Arsenal de Lorient built the French class around an 80-meter diesel hull with Exocet missiles, a 100 mm CADAM gun, torpedoes, and a 375 mm anti-submarine rocket launcher; later French service shifted surviving ships into high-seas patrol duties after heavy anti-submarine and anti-ship weapons were removed.

Sources

Patrouilleur Outre-Mer (POM) | Ministère des ArméesPublisher: Ministère des Armées | Note: Supports the POM class background, mission set, dimensions, range, speed, crew, propulsion, and industrialists Socarenam and CNN MCO. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Video: French Navy's New POM OPV for the Indo-Pacific | Naval NewsPublisher: Naval News | Note: Supports the six-ship POM order, Socarenam/CNN MCO contract background, planned basing at Nouméa, Papeete, and La Réunion, class-member names, mission set, dimensions, endurance, SMDM Aliaca UAV fit, crew/passenger capacity, armament, Nexeya combat-management system, HENSOLDT/Kelvin Hughes SharpEye radar and MSSR 2000 IFF fit, and Vestdavit fast-rescue-boat davit systems. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Third Offshore Patrol Vessel Auguste Techer Reached La Réunion Island | MAURICPublisher: MAURIC | Note: Supports MAURIC design context, the six-ship Félix Éboué-class series, Auguste Techer arriving at La Réunion, hybrid propulsion, RHIB fit, crew and embarked-force capacity, and seakeeping design features. | Accessed: 2026-07-04La DGA réceptionne le premier patrouilleur outre-mer (POM) | Ministère des ArméesPublisher: Ministère des Armées | Note: Supports the first POM Auguste Bénébig being received at Nouméa on 5 May 2023 and class service background. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Le patrouilleur outre-mer Auguste Techer est arrivé à La Réunion | Marine nationalePublisher: Marine nationale | Note: Supports Auguste Techer's arrival at La Réunion on 25 August 2025 and the class's service background. | Accessed: 2026-07-04The French Navy patrol ship Auguste Bénébig (P779) during exercise Kakadu 2024 | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports primary image provenance and public-domain status for the entry image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04AugusteTecher La Réunion.jpg | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and Licence Ouverte 2.0 context for the arrival image. | Accessed: 2026-07-042023 MBST 370 O 001 006.jpg | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and the Marine nationale source context for Auguste Techer during fitting out. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Départ de l’Auguste Bénébig, premier des six POM, pour Nouméa | Marine nationalePublisher: Marine nationale | Note: Supports Auguste Bénébig departing Brest on 17 January 2023 to reach its Nouméa home port and confirms it was the first of six POM vessels. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Le patrouilleur outre-mer Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai appareille de Brest pour rallier Papeete | Marine nationalePublisher: Marine nationale | Note: Supports Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai leaving Brest on 16 March 2024 for Papeete, its future home port. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Admission au service actif du Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai, second patrouilleur outre-mer de la Marine nationale | Ministère des ArméesPublisher: Ministère des Armées | Note: Supports Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai as the second of six Félix Éboué-class POMs, DGA delivery at Papeete on 7 June 2024, and active-service admission on 17 July 2024. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Prise d’armement pour essais du patrouilleur outre-mer Jean Tranape | Marine nationalePublisher: Marine nationale | Note: Supports the 5 March 2025 trials-armament ceremony for Jean Tranape at Boulogne-sur-Mer. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Décision N° 1190/ARM/EMM/MGM portant prise d’armement pour essais du « Philippe Bernardino » | Bulletin officiel des arméesPublisher: Bulletin officiel des armées | Note: Supports the 1 December 2025 trials-armament date for the patrol vessel Philippe Bernardino. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Le patrouilleur outre-mer Jean Tranape est arrivé à Nouméa | Marine nationalePublisher: Marine nationale | Note: Supports Jean Tranape reaching its new Nouméa home port on 18 June 2026. | Accessed: 2026-07-04