They are to be based at Nouméa, Tahiti and La Réunion, replacing the P400-class patrol vessels all of which were withdrawn from service by 2023.

[1][2] Work conducted in the framework of the BATSIMAR programme and the 2017 Strategic Study for National Defence and Security[3] determined that protecting French overseas regions required capabilities of opposing terrorist action and threats of encroachment.

The POM are designed to protect territories and conduct coast guard duties, without significant offensive armament.

The ceremony for the beginning of the construction of the first ship, Auguste Bénébig, took place on 8 October 2020 during a visit of Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly at the Socarenam shipyard in Saint-Malo.

The drone, capable of up to three-hour missions over a 50-kilometre (31 mi) range, is launched by catapult and recovered automatically via a net.

[9] The first unit began her transit to her base at Nouméa in New Caledonia in January 2023, arrived in early April[15][16][17][18][19] and was commissioned in July.

[20] A second vessel, Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai, sailed for her new base at Papeete in March 2024[21] and arrived in May after rounding Cape Horn.