In 2015, the
Direction générale de l'Armement ordered two light
patrol ships from
Socarenam, as well as six years worth of maintenance for each ship from CNN MCO. The aim was to replace the s
Gracieuse and
Capricieuse, based at
French Guiana. The contract was worth €17 million per ship, and €24 million including development and maintenance. The ships are tasked with policing fishing, as well as patrolling off French Guiana when
Ariane rockets are being launched. They are also designed to assist in policing drug trafficking using two
rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) capable of carrying special forces teams. The RHIBs are made by Zodiac Milpro International. In September 2017, a third ship, which had been pre-ordered as optional in the initial contract, was also ordered for €23 million. Order for the third ship came after
Hurricane Irma exposed a weakness in French naval capabilities in the
Caribbean Sea. The ships were based designs by Mauric and constructed at Socarenam shipyards at
Saint-Malo. The hulls were then towed to their site at
Boulogne-sur-Mer for fitting out, installing navigation equipment and mounting artillery. In late 2022,
La Résolue deployed to
Saint Lucia to assist the French Red Cross in the face of floods that affected the north of the island. The ship deployed with 350 tonnes of food, clothing and hygiene kits to support relief efforts. In early 2025,
La Confiance, operating off the coast of Martinique, intercepted a vessel carrying nine tons of cocaine. == Characteristics ==