They have the Triomphant-class strategic nuclear submarine, with an underwater displacement of 14,000 tons, capable of carrying 16 M-51 submarine-launched missiles. The Rubis-class attack submarine, with an underwater displacement of 2,660 tons. And the Barracuda-class attack submarine, with an underwater displacement of 5,300 tons.
In addition to its nuclear submarines, France also has the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, which displaces 42,500 tons.
In this parallel world, it's a conventionally powered carrier, not nuclear-powered like in Mavi's previous life. In terms of combat capability, it can carry 40 different types of aircraft and is equipped with 4x8-cell Aster anti-aircraft missile launchers and 2x6-cell Mistral anti-aircraft missile launchers. It is a symbol of the French Navy.
...
In this life, just like in his last, South Korea's behavior is exactly the same. In his past life, when they were bullied, they would turn to their big brother, the U.S., for joint military exercises. In this life, they're clinging to the EU and getting the French to join them in a military exercise to challenge Russia.
However, South Korea's aggressive stance this time is undoubtedly due to France. Mavi would never believe they could be this brazen without France's backing.
Upon hearing that South Korea and the French Navy were going to hold joint military exercises right on his doorstep, the Russian President, whose anger hadn't subsided, became even more furious!
"Get me the Pacific Fleet and the Far East Command Headquarters immediately! We can't let the South Koreans and the French run amok on our doorstep!" the Russian President said decisively to his aide.
As his subordinate connected the call, the President shook his head and muttered to himself, "This Mavi, he really knows how to stir up trouble for me."
For the Russian President, Mavi's emergence has helped solve some of the country's financial problems and injected new life into Russia's economy and job market. (The Ma V Group has been restructuring for the past two years, with a focus on Russia and China.)
But at the same time, Mavi has also caused a significant amount of trouble. In the last two years, eight out of ten major events Russia has experienced have been related to Mavi. For example, the Varyag carrier detained by Turkey, the crew members intercepted by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, the fighter jet shot down by al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, and now, South Korea and France brazenly challenging Russia right on its national border...
With such a list of "meritorious" troublemaking records, Mavi is starting to resemble a certain "elementary school student" who brings death wherever he goes. A complete troublemaker, to be sure...
"Your Excellency, the commanders of the Pacific Fleet and the Far East Command are on the line and ready to talk," the aide reported to the Russian President.
"Good, connect me," the President said, picking up the phone on his desk to handle the escalating situation.
With the help of a certain troublemaker, Russia's military has improved significantly. Not only have they ordered a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier from the Ukrainian Black Sea Shipyard, but they've also dealt with some of their burdensome nuclear submarines.
In addition, the Russian Navy's new Sovremenny-class destroyers and frigates are in production, as are their new long-range rocket artillery, medium- and long-range ballistic missiles, and fourth-generation fighter jets, which are still under development. They just need some more time to fully transform.
So, Russia is currently in the middle of this transformation. How to deal with the joint French-South Korean fleet requires careful consideration. It would be best to resolve it without consuming too many resources.
Their last confrontation with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force was a great victory, but that was thanks to having enough time to draw ships from all four fleets to the Sea of Japan.
This time, South Korea and France have deliberately played a timing game. They know Russia won't have enough time to dispatch warships to the Far East within a week, which gives them a huge advantage.
...
The news that the South Koreans and the French were holding joint military exercises in the Far East—right on Russia's doorstep—quickly spread throughout the world. Every country had a different opinion on this escalating conflict.
Most South Koreans supported the move. After all, they had old grudges and new ones with Russia that they had never dared to settle. When two of their passenger planes were shot down by former Soviet fighter jets, causing the deaths of over 400 South Koreans, the government didn't even dare to utter a word of protest. If they were to act like cowards again, the Republic of Korea might as well change its name to the Republic of Cowards.
"I support the government's decision to show the Russians what we can do! Our economy is so much more advanced than theirs that we can exhaust them in a war of attrition!" a South Korean citizen wrote angrily online.
"Are the South Koreans really going to fight the Russians? They've even brought the French for backup. They sure know how to find allies. I heard the French Charles de Gaulle carrier has already reached the Sea of Japan. I wonder if Japan will join in," a Chinese netizen commented.
Japan, having been humbled by Russia last year, had no reason to and would not participate in this military standoff.
As for the French Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group, it had indeed sailed close to the Sea of Japan. In addition to the 42,500-ton aircraft carrier, the French had also dispatched the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, which displaces 32,300 tons. They also sent four Rubis-class attack submarines and six La Fayette-class frigates.
Three Aquitaine-class destroyers, with a full displacement of 6,050 tons, were also present. They carried eight Exocet anti-ship missiles, Storm Shadow cruise missiles, 16 Aster-15 short-range air defense missiles, and two six-cell MU90 torpedo launchers.
The Mistral-class amphibious assault ship is the French Navy's primary vessel for amphibious operations and long-distance deployment. This class of ship can carry more than 16 NH90 or Tiger attack helicopters and over 70 vehicles, including space for 13 main battle tanks. It also has space for 900 marines.
This modern carrier strike group is very powerful and capable of overwhelming many countries. However, it has a fatal flaw: insufficient air defense. The French's small attack submarines are not designed for large-scale battles in the open ocean, so their air defense capability is not even as good as a fully staffed Queen Elizabeth carrier group with Type 45 destroyers.
A week quickly passed, and the day for the joint naval exercise between the French and South Korean navies finally arrived. As the host nation, the South Koreans naturally sent a large number of ships.
South Korea claims its navy ranks fifth in the world, largely because its economy grew rapidly after the 1980s, and at one point, six of the world's top ten shipyards were South Korean.