The French Navy has marked a significant milestone with the launch of the Amiral Ronarc’h, the lead ship of the newly established Amiral Ronarc’h-class Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI). This event took place at the Naval Group shipyard, where the frigate began its journey after being first launched in 2022. Following a series of sea trials expected to commence in 2024, the vessel will be stationed in Brest and is set to complete the navy’s approval process in October.
The Amiral Ronarc’h is one of five planned FDI frigates, which also include its sister ships: Amiral Louzeau, Amiral Castex, Amiral Nomy, and Amiral Cabanier. These vessels are characterized by their advanced digital architecture designed to bolster defense capabilities against cyber threats, reflecting a modern approach to naval warfare.
The FDI program, initiated in 2017, aims to enhance the French Navy’s capabilities by introducing a sophisticated fleet of multi-role frigates, each weighing 4,500 tons. The ships are engineered for air, surface, and submarine combat, particularly in contested environments where deployment of special forces is required.
Measuring 122 meters (400 feet) in length and 18 meters (59 feet) in width, the Amiral Ronarc’h is built to accommodate a crew of 125 personnel, alongside 28 additional passengers. It boasts impressive speed, reaching up to 27 knots (50 kilometers or 31 miles per hour). The frigate is armed with modern weaponry, including Exocet MM40 B3C anti-ship missiles, Aster surface-to-air missiles, MU90 torpedoes, and various naval guns.
Designed for prolonged missions, the vessel offers an operational endurance of 45 days at sea, exceeding the standard 30-day autonomy of conventional frigates. Furthermore, it has the capability to support a 10-ton helicopter as well as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) weighing up to 700 kilograms (1,543 pounds).
The Amiral Ronarc’h sets a high benchmark for its class, and notably, its design and capabilities will also serve as a model for four additional frigates ordered by the Hellenic Navy. As these vessels begin to roll out, the French Navy is poised to significantly enhance its operational scope and effectiveness on the maritime front.
