AN AUSTRALIAN warship with about 200 crew will join a French aircraft carrier in the Middle East fighting Islamic extremists. 
The new commitment came as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull arrived in the US to meet President Barack Obama, days after Mr Obama called for Australia and other partners to do more against IS.
Mr Turnbull visited Iraq and Afghanistan on his way to the US, and said Australia would not commit more troops to the war on IS. The French request came before Washington's. The Government confirmed yesterday it will send a guided missile frigate to meet the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, which works alongside fighter jets, submarines and other warships, and escort it out of danger as its mission ends.
"The Royal Australian Navy frigate, HMAS Darwin, will join the Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group on its departure from the Strait of Hormuz in late   February 2016, to provide escort, force protection support and combined training opportunities," Defence Minister Marise Payne said.
The nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle is the head of a flotilla that gathers intelligence and helps the US-led coalition launch air strikes against IS.
Meanwhile, Senator Payne will travel to Paris today to discuss the IS threat, meeting US, French, German, Italian, Dutch and British defence ministers. A statement from her office said Australia was committed to defeating IS.HMAS Darwin set off for the region at the end of last year. It has missiles, anti-submarine technology and hangars for two Seahawk helicopters.