The French Navy Air Defense Destroyer Forbin made a port of call at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal, Penang recently.
The destroyer was on a mission as an escort Ship of the French Carrier Strike Group (CSG).
Penang Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow was among the VIP guests attending an official reception to mark the visit held onboard the ship.
Also present were other Malaysian officials, European ambassadors, admirals and officers of the Royal Malaysian Navy.
A commemorative ceremony at the memorial monument of the French Destroyer ‘MOUSQUET’, was also organized to pay tribute to the French sailors who gave their life on Oct 28th, 1914 off the Penang coast.
Meanwhile, as part of the mission #CLEMENCEAU25, the French CSG and the Royal Malaysian Navy will take part in the fourth edition of the multinational exercise ‘LA PEROUSE’ organised by the French Navy, which will bring gather nine partners operating together, namely Australia, Canada, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.
This maritime security exercise will take place simultaneously in three areas: the Straits of Malacca, La Sunda and Lombok.
The planned interactions will cover a broad spectrum of maritime security operations in the Strait of Malacca.
The French Navy will engage an Air Defense Destroyer and the Royal Malaysian Navy will participate with one Corvette and one Offshore Patrol Vessel.
The exercise will enable us to increase our interoperability and consolidate our cooperation mechanisms and processes.
Meanwhile, the Forbin is a large anti-air frigate launched in 2005.
Her first task is protecting aircraft carriers, capital ships or civilian ships from supersonic missile attacks; her complement of medium-range anti-air missiles allows her to support the defences of another ship under attack and avoid their saturation.
She is also capable of monitoring and controlling operations carried out from the sea by friendly aircrafts.