Royal Navy Joins France For Five-Month Deployment

40 Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel and two Wildcat helicopters have joined the French naval task force, Jeanne D’Arc, for a five-month mission.

The ship will visit Jakarta, Bali, Darwin, Saigon and Singapore.

British personnel will take part in amphibious exercises and Defence Engagement.

The MOD have said that the joint deployment “demonstrates a shared commitment from both countries to enhance their maritime cooperation in home waters and around the world.”

The deployment is part of the UK’s programme of defence cooperation with French forces.

The two nations also operate together as members of NATO, with France agreeing to contribute troops to the UK-led enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup in Estonia in 2019.