French Navy frigate FS Prairial (F731) and Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel BRP Capones (MRRV-4404) participated in a passing exercise (PASSEX) in the South China Sea on March 20.
These joint manoeuvres are an excellent way to develop inter-allied interoperability as part of France’s multilateral approach in this region.
France illustrates on this occasion its status as a coastal and sovereign nation of the Pacific, concerned with the security issues of the region.
The Prairial is a Floréal class frigate based in Papeete and belonging to the Armed Forces in French Polynesia commanded by Rear Admiral Geoffroy d’Andigné.
Dedicated to a wide range of missions such as sovereignty missions in the French exclusive economic zones or missions of aid to populations or cooperation, it is 94 meters long, has a crew of about 100 and carries a Dauphin helicopter. It regularly carries out missions in Asia.