Snapshot
The FDI frigates are under construction following the new medium-sized frigate (Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire, FTI) programme for the French Navy, which is planned to boost surface warship numbers following the curtailment of both its Horizon-class destroyer programme at two ships and the FREMM frigate programme at eight vessels. Five ships have been ordered by France and three by the Hellenic Navy. The first vessel is expected to be delivered in 2025.
Customers
Additional information
Development and Procurement
The programme for five Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire (FTI) frigates was launched in 2015, with state shipbuilder Naval Group expected to build the ships. The company was awarded a €3.8 billion ($4.29 billion) contract in October 2017. The ships' programme name was also changed to the Fregates de Defene et d'Intervention (FDI), to which they are now commonly referred. The design is based on Naval Group’s Belharra model, also known as Belh@arra, to emphasize their digital character and the multi-role frigate is expected to have an anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capability.
The FDI frigates will augment the French Navy's existing fleet in line with the governmental intention to field 15 front-line frigates by 2030 as part of the Horizon 2030 targets. The frigates are being built with inverted bow/hull form, which maximises below-deck space and aids in the hull cutting through the water. However, there is the potential for the foredeck of such design to get swamped in heavy seas, although officials at Lorient have claimed the class would be operational in sea states up to 5.5.
In October 2022, during Euronaval in Paris, it was announced that Greek shipyards would build hull-block sections for French and Greek ships of the programme. These will be transported to Lorient for outfitting and integration into finished vessels.
Unit Cost
Naval Group was awarded a €3.8 billion ($4.29 billion) contract for the construction of the FDI frigates in October 2017. This yields a unit cost of $858 million (in 2017 values).
Class Milestones
France
Vessel name | Shipyard | Construction started | Keel laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Admiral Ronarc'h | Lorient | 24 October 2019 | 16 December 2021 | 07 November 2022 | Expected for 2025 | Sea trials scheduled to start in October 2024 |
Lorient | Expected for 2026 | ||||
Lorient | Expected for 2027 | ||||
Lorient | Expected for 2028 | ||||
Lorient | Expected for 2029 |
The Critical Design Review (CDR) was achieved in May 2019. A steel-cutting ceremony for the first ship-in-class took place on 24 October 2019, and the keel was laid down on 16 December 2021. The ship has been named Admiral Ronarc'h. The first hull was expected to be delivered by the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024, but the most recent delivery date schedule is now for mid-2025.
Naval Group, in March 2021, detailed the acceleration of the FDI programme with an order for two frigates from DGA. The order was for the second and third frigate in the build schedule, which were due to be delivered in 2025 instead of the original plan for one to be handed over every 18 months.
On 7 November 2022, the First-of-Class (FoC), Amiral Ronarc'h, was launched at Naval Group's shipyard in Lorient. The FoC will begin its first voyage for sea qualification trials in October 2024 with a view to delivery to the French Navy in the first half of 2025. Following that, the service will take delivery of its remaining ships in 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029, respectively. This programme schedule has been shifted because of the decision by Greece to purchase three plus a possible extra one FDI ship directly off the Lorient production line.
Greece
Vessel name | Shipyard | Construction started | Keel laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kimon (F601) | Lorient | 2021 | 21 October 2022 | 28 September 2023 | Expected for 2025 | Standard 1 |
Nearchos (F602) | Lorient | 13 July 2022 | 19 September 2024 | Expected for 2026 | Standard 1 |
Formion (F603) | Lorient | 12 July 2023 | 15 April 2024 | Expected for Autumn 2025 | Expected for 2026 | Standard 2 |
The construction of the first vessel is likely to have started in 2021, while the steel-cutting ceremony of the second ship took place on 13 July 2022.
The keel of the first frigate was laid down on 21 October 2022 in Lorient, and the vessel was launched on 28 September 2023.
The second frigate was launched on 19 September 2024.
Exports and Transfers
Greece
On 24 March 2022, Greece and Naval Group signed a contract for three FDI frigates, plus an option for a fourth vessel. Two warships are due to be delivered in 2025 and the third the following year, with an option to add a fourth frigate to be ready in 2027.
While the first two frigates will feature a configuration similar to those of the French vessels - called Standard-1 - the third frigate will have a Standard-2 setup: fitted with decoy launchers, 4×8-cell Sylver A50 VLS-cells (with 32 ASTER missiles), and RAM PDMS. If the additional frigate option is chosen, the fourth frigate will be Standard-2 as well. The first two vessels will be upgraded to the Standard-2 by the end of 2027.
On 24 March 2022, MBDA signed a contract with Greece for the procurement of ASTER B1 and MM40 Block 3C missiles.
Equipment Specifications
The FDI vessels have an intended 40-year service life, and with the speed of technological development, a new method of maintenance for the class was necessitated. Rather than having a single mid-life upgrade to accommodate the next generation or two of advancement, the class will be subject to incremental upgrades thanks to cyber-monitoring sustainment capabilities as they occur. I-maintenance software is being installed on all current and future-generation French naval platforms.
Weapons
France
Weapons are to include: a Leonardo 76mm main gun; two Nexter Narwal 20mm secondary weapons; eight Exocet MM40 Block III anti-ship missiles in canister launchers; two A50 Sylver vertical launch systems for the Aster 15 anti-air missile; and four MU90 light torpedo tubes.
Greece
The armament includes a Leonardo 76mm main gun, two quad-packed launchers for Exocet MM40 Block III, four Sylver A50 VLS for Aster 30 B1, a SeaRAM system, four torpedo launchers for MU 90 torpedoes, and CMLS decoy launcher for Canto torpedo decoys.
At DEFEA 2023, Lacroix confirmed the Hellenic Navy's choice to equip its frigates with the Sylena MK1 decoy launching systems.
The Greek frigates will reportedly be fitted with the Leonardo Lionfish 20mm instead of the Nexter Narwal 20mm.
Sensors and C4I
France
The FDI ships will feature the Thales Sea Fire radar, IFF Bluegate, Thales Altesse-H communication detector, the Sentinel radar detector, the Aquilon communication system, the iXBlue navigation centre, the KingKlip Mk2 hull-mounted sonar, the CAPTAS-4 Compact Independent towed array; and a Safran PASEO XLR. It is also expected that the ships will be fitted with the SETIS combat management system. The class will have an asymmetric warfare centre located immediately aft of the ship's bridge to collate 4K Day/Low Light EO images and IR data obtained via the central mast.
The ships will be fitted with the Stir EO fire-control system.
Greece
The Greek frigates will be equipped with the Thales Sea Fire radar, IFF Bluegate, Thales Altesse-H communication detector, the Sentinel radar detector, and fire control radar (Stir EO). Moreover, Greece's FDI frigates will feature Kingklip Mk2 hull-mounted sonar, the Captas 4 Compact towed-array sonar and Safran Paseo XLR.
Additional Equipment
An integrated mission management system is being developed to manage the mission of two embarked SEAQUEST-S USVs. There is space for two ECUME rigid hull inflatable boats, an NH90 helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The Hellenic Navy will use two Schiebel Camcopter S-100 on board FDI HN, which will be accommodated in a separate hangar from the MH-60R helicopter.
Technical Specifications
The FDI frigates are expected to have a displacement of 4,500t, measure 122m in length and have a beam of 17.7m. Powered by two MTU 16V 8000 engines, the ships will have a top speed of 27kt and a range of 5,000nm with a base-level crew of 111 personnel, which can be augmented with rotary staff to 125 at full complement.
Summary
- Suppliers:
- Naval Group
- Total Ordered:
- 8
- Total Delivered:
- 0
- Estimated Unit Cost:
- $858,000,000.00
- First Delivery:
- 2025
- Status:
- In production
U = Unverified
Attributes
- Length:
- 122m
- Beam:
- 17.7m
- Displacement full load:
- 4,500t
- Max speed:
- 27kt
- Range:
- 9,260km
- Crew:
- 111
- Passengers:
- 14
- Draft:
- U
U = Unverified
Subsystems
C4I systems +
Aquilon
Naval: shipboard communication systems
Aquilon is an integrated naval communications system implemented by more than 40 navies. It supports multi-platform capabilities, including collaborative planning and tasking, sharing of situational ...
SETIS
Naval: Combat Management Systems
SETIS is Naval Group's integrated combat system designed initially for French Navy's FREMM-frigates. It is currently being used on Naval Group's Gowind-class corvettes. SETIS is ...
SURFSAT-L
Naval: Radio and SATCOM
Produced by Thales, SURFSAT-L is a SATCOM terminal designed for medium to large surface vessels. According to the manufacturer, it is designed to achieve a ...
TSA 6000
Transponders and IFF
Thales TSA 6000 is a Mode 5/S IFF interrogator that uses flat, fixed panels that provide 360 degrees of coverage around the host vessel. It ...
Electronic Warfare +
ALTESSE
Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems
Alert and Surface Ship Evaluation (ALTESSE) provides alerts on communication signals, tactical situation development and COMINT capabilities. Its wideband instantaneous bandwidth and processing capacities allow ...
Engines +
Guns +
Oto 76/62
Naval guns
The 76/62 is a medium-calibre, developed by Leonardo. The 76/62 is a lightweight, automatically loading gun specifically developed for anti-missile, anti-aircraft, ASuW and naval gun ...
Narwhal
Naval guns
Narwhal is a 20mm, remotely operated naval gun turret by Nexter Systems. It utilises Nexter Systems' M621/M693 cannons, also deployed on helicopters. Narwhal can be ...
Missiles and rockets +
MM40 Exocet
Anti-ship missiles
The MM40 Exocet is a French anti-ship missile that can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
Aster 15
Surface-to-air missiles
The Aster 15 is a vertically launched surface-to-air missile produced by Eurosam, a joint venture between MBDA France, MBDA Italy and the Thales Group. It ...
Aster 30
Surface-to-air missiles
The ASTER-30 is a vertically launched surface-to-air missile produced by Eurosam, a joint venture between MBDA France, MBDA Italy, and the Thales Group. Its basic ...
Aster 30 B1
Surface-to-air missiles
The Aster 30 Block 1 (B1) surface-to-air missile represents the first evolution of the Aster 30. It is available in a land and naval version. As ...
Sensors +
STIR 1.2 EO Mk 2
Sea: naval fire control radar
STIR 1.2 EO Mk 2 is a tracking radar for gun and missile fire control. Its claimed reliability and stealth target detection capabilities support long ...
Sea Fire Multi Function Radar
Sea: naval surveillance radar
The Sea Fire is a four-panel S-band 4D AESA radar developed by Thales and unveiled in 2014. This S-band radar is designed to outfit vessels displacing ...
Paseo XLR
Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems
The Paseo XLR (Extra Long Range) is the latest member of Safran Electronics & Defense’s shipborne sighting system, which joins the Vigy Observer/Engage and the ...
Kingklip
Sea: sonar systems
Kingklip, also known as UMS 4132, is a medium-frequency active and passive hull-mounted sonar for multi-purpose corvettes, frigates or destroyers. It performs permanent torpedo and ...
Torpedoes +
MU90 Impact
Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes
The MU90 is a NATO-interoperable, multirole, fire-and-forget, lightweight torpedo designed to counter nuclear or conventional submarines. This includes submarines that are acoustically coated, capable of ...
Uncrewed aerial systems +
Camcopter S-100
Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical
The Camcopter S-100 is a rotary-wing tactical UAS manufactured by Schiebel. The S-100 is a modular platform that integrates a range of payloads, such as EO/IR payload, ...
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