The French Navy has taken delivery of the fifth frégate européen multi-mission (FREMM) frigate, Languedoc, from French shipyard group, DCNS.
The FREMM European multimission frigate is a joint programme between France and Italy to build 21 FREMM frigates for the French and Italian navies.
The vessel was put through a series of tests and trials to assess its capabilities in multiple operations theatres before being delivered.
DCNS FREMM programme director Anne Bianchi said: "With this fifth unit, DCNS has again improved its industrial and economic performance. It was possible to reduce the duration of the sea acceptance trials for the Languedoc frigate to five weeks, thanks to the experience acquired for the FREMMs already delivered."
Languedoc is the third frigate of the series of vessels ordered by the Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’armement (OCCAR) on behalf of the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) and the navy.
The French Navy has already commissioned two frigates, Aquitaine and Provence, which were engaged in the military operations led by the Task Force 50 in the Persian-Arabian Gulf, alongside the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.
The 142m-long and 20m-wide vessels feature high-tech sensors and weapons, integrated with Strategic Energy Technologies Information System (SETIS) combat and weapons systems.
DCNS was awarded a contract to build ten FREMM vessels, with eight vessels for the French Navy, six of which are expected to be delivered before mid-2019.
The French frigates are being built in two mission versions, the land attack version and an anti-submarine warfare version.
Currently, work is ongoing on FREMM Auvergne and Bretagne that are at different stages of construction.
Work is also said to have commenced on the eighth French frigate, Normandie, while DCNS is finalising the design of two FREMMs with strengthened anti-aircraft capacities, the delivery of which is slated for 2022.
DCNS had also delivered the FREMM frigates to the Royal Moroccan Navy in 2014 and the Egyptian Navy in 2015.
Image: DCNS built FREMM frigate Languedoc delivered to the French Navy. Photo: courtesy of DCNS.
