Naval Group has delivered Amiral Ronarc’h, the first defence and intervention frigate (FDI), to the French Navy on 17 October 2025.
According to Naval Group, the arrival of the ship signals the commencement of a major programme to bolster the French Navy’s capabilities with five such frigates.
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In September 2025, the ship departed from the Naval Group’s shipyard in Lorient, France, to its base port in Brest.
Replacing the French FREMM, the multi-role FDI frigate is equipped for various combat operations, including anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, anti-surface and asymmetric warfare.
The FDI frigate is an upgrade on its predecessor, as it can independently handle current and emerging threats such as modern submarines, supersonic missiles, cyber threats, and more.
The FDI is adaptable to all theatres of action due to its digital and data processing technologies.
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By GlobalDataThe frigate’s ability to endure high seas and rough waters was well tested during Amiral Ronarc’h’s maiden sea trials, which lasted 14 weeks .
Despite its advanced features, the FDI requires a relatively small crew size due to its integrated automated systems.
This operation process aligns with that of the French Navy’s multi-mission frigates (FREMM), which have maintained an availability rate of 80% over the past ten years.
Built according to NATO standards, this ensures interoperability and connectivity with allied navies.
Naval Group’s modern construction process allows two ships to be produced per year.
Currently, five more FDI units for both the French Navy and the Greek Navy are under construction at Naval Group’s Lorient site.
One of these FDIs, named HS Kimon, intended for the Hellenic Navy, is undergoing sea trials and is due to be delivered by the end of 2025.
The creation of one FDI involves one million hours of work and design, engaging 1,200 Naval Group employees and 400 subcontractors.
With a displacement of 4,500 tonnes, a length of 122 metres (m), a width of 18m, and a top speed of 27 knots, the frigate can function for 45 days with an accommodation capacity for a crew of 125 plus 28 passengers.
Naval Group chairman and CEO Pierre Éric Pommellet said: “The delivery of the Amiral Ronarc’h, the very first frigate in the FDI series, is a major milestone for Naval Group. This new generation of top-of-the-range multi-purpose frigates will soon enter operational service and will help to strengthen the capabilities of our French Navy thanks to its exceptional capabilities, already demonstrated during sea trials. We are fully committed to this major programme, which we are proud to be carrying out for the French Navy.”
