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French Frigate Chevalier Paul

The French Navy - Marine Nationale Horizon-class frigate FS Chevalier Paul D621 pictured docked at the port of Heraklion, Crete island, Greece on April 5, 2026 as part of the mission in the Mediterranean and Middle East. The Chevalier Paul is a Horizon-class frigate, a class of air defense frigates jointly developed by France and Italy, operated by the French Navy and the Italian Marina Militare. Horizon-class frigates such as Chevalier Paul are considered the most powerful surface combatants France has built, with main mission being the escort and protection of a carrier strike group. The vessel is equipped with the Aster 15 and Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles through the Principal Anti-Air Missile System PAAMS and is designed for fleet air defense, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. The Navy of France is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and a key member of the NATO alliance and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#13646086
Date Taken	5 April 2026
Location	N/A
Photographer	Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto
Category	Human Interest
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto

warship frigate port harbor docked vessel naval power sea power European navy NATO navy guided missile frigate naval defense fleet escort military ship Eastern Mediterranean Aegean Sea Greek port naval deployment European defense Chevalier Paul D621 Marine Nationale Horizon-class frigate Heraklion Crete Greece air defense frigate PAAMS Aster 30 carrier strike group surface combatant French Navy anti-submarine warfare Mediterranean 2026 cloudy Heraklion port clouds weapon armed navy sea Mediterranean Sea radar Crete Island water ocean vessel ship army ship boat FS Chevalier Paul port of Heraklion April 5 Middle East France Italy Marina Militare surface combatants Aster 15 Principal Anti-Air Missile System fleet air defense anti-surface warfare NATO United Nations Security Council Nicolas Economou NurPhoto