France Navy Commandant Bouan Retired

Decommissioned on 1 July 2026, ending 42 years of service. Laid down in October 1981 and commissioned on 11 May 1984, she had originally been named Commandant Levasseur before being renamed, and was the last Toulon-based aviso of the D'Estienne d'Orves class. Her retirement left Commandant Blaison, based at Brest and itself scheduled for withdrawal in 2027, as the only A69-type unit still in French Navy service. The class is to be replaced by the Patrouilleurs Hauturiers offshore patrol vessels, expected to enter service from 2027.