“Amiral Ronarc’h: Sea Trials Kick Off for the Revolutionary FDI Frigate”
Following the inauguration of the Amiral Ronarc’h frigate at the close of 2022, along with the launch of two Hellenic Navy frigates HS Kimon in October 2023 and HS Nearchos on September 19, 2024, a significant milestone in the FDI (Frigates de défense et d’intervention) program was achieved on October 7, 2024, in Lorient (France) with the commencement of the first sea trials for the inaugural unit of the program, commissioned by the Armament General Directorate (DGA) and designated for the French Navy.
Set to be operated by the French Navy, FDI Amiral Ronarc’h has initiated her initial sea trials from the Naval Group facility in Lorient, Brittany. This phase allows crews to familiarize themselves with their upcoming vessel and evaluate all the systems and equipment in practical scenarios. As the Amiral Ronarc’h marks the first unit in the FDI program, the insights garnered from her trials will benefit additional units ordered by both the French and Hellenic Navies (Greece).
Differing from standard assessments typically conducted on frigates, these evaluations will extend beyond mere navigation and propulsion boundaries, incorporating tests on the combat system under authentic maritime conditions.
FDI: The First Cutting-Edge, Digital, and Cyber-Secure Multi-Role Combat Frigate
The FDI frigate is a versatile, robust high-seas vessel capable of functioning independently or as part of a naval fleet across all combat domains: anti-ship, anti-air, anti-submarine, asymmetric threats, and special forces deployment. Merging the pinnacle of French naval technologies on a compact platform, the FDI represents a formidable and groundbreaking frigate, engineered to tackle ever-evolving threats.
Crafted and manufactured utilizing the latest digital tools, they are also the first frigates to incorporate a digital architecture onboard, enabling continuous adaptation to technological and operational advancements. Consequently, the FDIs will be equipped to confront current and impending high-spectrum threats, boasting 360° coverage across all frequency ranges, while efficiently managing an increasing data flow.
The FDI will additionally be the first French frigates inherently safeguarded against cyber threats, featuring a redundant IT framework centered around two data centers that virtually host a substantial portion of the vessel’s IT applications. In terms of operational advancements, the FDI is pioneering a dedicated gateway concept aimed at countering asymmetric threats. This system will facilitate the coordination and management of responses to small, near-air and surface threats, particularly explosive-laden vessels.
Heavily armed (Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles, ASTER anti-aircraft missiles, MU90 anti-submarine torpedoes, and various calibers of artillery), the FDIs designated for the French Navy can accommodate a heavy helicopter (10t class, such as the Caïman Marine) or the forthcoming Guépard Marine, alongside an aerial drone, while also enabling the deployment of special forces utilizing two commando boats. They are outfitted with the next-generation Sea Fire radar featuring four fixed panels, developed by Thales, which, when combined with the missile deployment system, grants them extensive area defense capabilities.
Technical Specifications
- Displacement: 4,500 tons class
- Length: 122 meters
- Width: 18 meters
- Speed: 27 knots
- Autonomy: 45 days
- Accommodation: crew of 125 + 28 passengers
