Editing French Polynesia (section)

=== Defence ===
The defence of the collectivity is the responsibility of the [[French Armed Forces]]. Some 900 military personnel are deployed in the territory – incorporating the Pacific-Polynesian Marine Infantry Regiment (RIMaP-P)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/actualites/fapf-bilan-mission-pacific-aito-du-patrouilleur-arago|title=FAPF – Bilan de la mission PACIFIC AITO du patrouilleur Arago|website=Ministère des Armées|date=28 February 2023|access-date=28 February 2023|archive-date=28 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228180729/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/actualites/fapf-bilan-mission-pacific-aito-du-patrouilleur-arago|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fpolynesia">{{cite web |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/monde/asie-pacifique/forces-armees-polynesie-francaise |title=Forces armées de Polynésie française |trans-title=Armed Forces of French Polynesia |publisher=Ministère des Armées |language=fr |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114111103/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/monde/asie-pacifique/forces-armees-polynesie-francaise |url-status=live }}</ref> – along with modest air transport and surveillance assets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.usni.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/French-deployments.jpg |access-date=28 November 2021 |title=French Military Presence in the Indo-Pacific |website=United States Naval Institute News |archive-date=24 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724031507/https://news.usni.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/French-deployments.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref> The latter include three [[Dassault Falcon 20|Falcon 200 Gardian maritime surveillance aircraft]] from [[French Naval Aviation]], which are to be replaced by the more modern [[Dassault Falcon 2000|Falcon 2000 Albatros]] starting in around 2025/26.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/les-avions-de-surveillance-maritime-gardian-prolonges-a-tahiti-et-noumea |title=Les avions de surveillance maritime Gardian prolongés à Tahiti et Nouméa |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |website=Mer et Marine |language=fr |date=13 December 2024 |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/26468-french-navy-to-receive-new-eyes-in-the-sky-from-dassault |title=French Navy to receive new eyes in the sky from Dassault|work=AeroTime|date=19 November 2020|access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=13 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113213457/https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/26468-french-navy-to-receive-new-eyes-in-the-sky-from-dassault |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/un-nouvel-helicoptere-pour-la-fregate-de-surveillance-prairial-en-polynesie |title=Un nouvel hélicoptère pour la frégate de surveillance Prairial en Polynésie |work=Mer et Marine |language=fr |trans-title=A new helicopter for the surveillance frigate Prairial in Polynesia |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |date=17 October 2022 |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018083522/https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/un-nouvel-helicoptere-pour-la-fregate-de-surveillance-prairial-en-polynesie |url-status=live }}</ref> The former is composed of two [[CASA/IPTN CN-235|CN-235]] tactical transport aircraft drawn from the Air Force's ET 82 "Maine" transport squadron.<ref name="fpolynesia"/>

As of mid-2024, three principal [[French Navy]] vessels are based in the territory, including the surveillance frigate {{ship|French frigate|Prairial||2}}, the patrol and support ship [[D'Entrecasteaux-class patrol ship|''Bougainville'']], and ''Teriieroo to Teriierooiterai'', a vessel of the new [[Patrouilleur Outre-mer|''Félix Éboué'' class]] of patrol vessels.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-marine-nationale-met-en-service-son-deuxieme-patrouilleur-d-outre-mer |title=La Marine nationale met en service son deuxième patrouilleur d'outre-mer |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |website=Mer et Marine |language=fr |date=19 July 2024 |access-date=19 July 2024}}</ref> In 2026 a second vessel of the ''Félix Éboué'' class, ''Philip Bernardino'', is to be deployed in Tahiti to further reinforce France's maritime surveillance capabilities in the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.opex360.com/2024/07/18/le-patrouilleur-outre-mer-teriieroo-a-teriierooiterai-a-ete-admis-au-service-actif/ |title=Le patrouilleur outre-mer " Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai " a été admis au service actif |work=zone militaire |last=Lagneau |first=Laurent |language=fr |date=18 July 2024 |access-date=16 August 2024}}</ref>  As of 2021, two smaller port and coastal tugs (RPCs), ''Maroa'' and ''Manini'', were also operational in the territory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-marine-nationale-n-a-plus-aucun-batiment-disponible-en-nouvelle-caledonie |title=La Marine nationale n'a plus aucun bâtiment disponible en Nouvelle-Calédonie |work=Mer et Marine |language=fr |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |date=16 July 2021 |access-date=5 March 2023 |archive-date=5 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305120331/https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-marine-nationale-n-a-plus-aucun-batiment-disponible-en-nouvelle-caledonie |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Marine Nationale Dossier d'Information, pp. 19 and 23 |url=https://www.colsbleus.fr/sites/default/files/2023-02/DIM%202023_PLANCHE_0.pdf |date=January 2023 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Cols Bleus |language=fr |archive-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304112422/https://www.colsbleus.fr/sites/default/files/2023-02/DIM%202023_PLANCHE_0.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Flottilla 35F of [[French Naval Aviation]] deploys a detachment of three [[Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin|AS 365N Dauphin]] helicopters in Tahiti.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marine Nationale Dossier d'Information, p. 23 |url=https://www.colsbleus.fr/sites/default/files/2023-02/DIM%202023_PLANCHE_0.pdf |date=January 2023 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Cols Bleus |language=fr |archive-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304112422/https://www.colsbleus.fr/sites/default/files/2023-02/DIM%202023_PLANCHE_0.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The helicopters carry out a variety of roles in the territory, and may be carried on the frigate ''Prairial'' as needed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-05-07/french-navy-revamps-its-helicopter-fleet |title=French Navy Revamps Its Helicopter Fleet |work=AIN Online |last=Donald |first=David |date=7 May 2020 |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114111121/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-05-07/french-navy-revamps-its-helicopter-fleet |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[National Gendarmerie]] deploys some 500 active personnel and civilians, plus around 150 reservists, in French Polynesia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.polynesie-francaise.pref.gouv.fr/Services-de-l-Etat/Securite/Gendarmerie-Nationale#:~:text=La%20gendarmerie%20exerce%20sa%20responsabilit%C3%A9,li%C3%A9s%20par%20contrat%20(ESR) |title=Le Commandement de la Gendarmerie pour la Polynésie Française |trans-title=The Gendarmerie Command for French Polynesia |language=fr |publisher=Haut-Commissariat de la République en Polynésie Française |date=9 October 2022 |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107141134/http://www.polynesie-francaise.pref.gouv.fr/Services-de-l-Etat/Securite/Gendarmerie-Nationale#:~:text=La%20gendarmerie%20exerce%20sa%20responsabilit%C3%A9,li%C3%A9s%20par%20contrat%20(ESR) |url-status=live }}</ref> The patrol boat ''Jasmin'' of the [[Maritime Gendarmerie]] is also based in the territory and is to be replaced by a new PCG-NG patrol boat around 2025–2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Le Jasmin sera remplacé en 2024 |url=https://www.service-public.pf/dpam/2019/06/12/le-jasmin-sera-remplace-en-2024/ |date=12 June 2019 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Direction Polynésienne des Affaires Maritimes |language=fr |archive-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304184337/https://www.service-public.pf/dpam/2019/06/12/le-jasmin-sera-remplace-en-2024/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://lessor.org/operationnel/le-premier-des-six-nouveaux-patrouilleurs-cotiers-de-la-gendarmerie-maritime-officiellement-commande | title=Le premier des six nouveaux patrouilleurs côtiers de la Gendarmerie maritime officiellement commandé | date=2 September 2022 | access-date=5 March 2023 | archive-date=5 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305121333/https://lessor.org/operationnel/le-premier-des-six-nouveaux-patrouilleurs-cotiers-de-la-gendarmerie-maritime-officiellement-commande | url-status=live }}</ref>