Pierre Éric Pommellet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Naval Group, said: “The delivery of Amiral Ronarc’h, the very first frigate of the FDI series, is a major milestone for Naval Group. This new generation of first-rank multi-role frigates will soon enter the operational cycle and will thus help strengthen the resources of our French Navy thanks to its exceptional capabilities, already demonstrated during sea trials. We are fully committed to this large-scale programme, which we are proud to deliver for the French Navy.”
Inheriting the legacy of the French FREMM class, the FDI is a first-rank, multi-role frigate designed for high-intensity combat across all areas of warfare — anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-surface and asymmetric. The vessel integrates advanced digital technologies and data-processing systems, enabling it to counter emerging threats such as next-generation submarines, supersonic missiles, cyber-attacks and asymmetric warfare.
The Amiral Ronarc’h demonstrated its seaworthiness during 14 weeks of sea trials, confirming the ship’s capability to operate effectively even in challenging environments, including a Force 6 sea state in the Atlantic Ocean. Its compact design and integrated automation systems allow operation with a reduced crew while ensuring high levels of maintainability and operational availability.
Constructed at Naval Group’s Lorient shipyard, Amiral Ronarc’h has a displacement of 4,500 tonnes, a length of 122 metres and a beam of 18 metres. The frigate reaches a top speed of 27 knots, has an endurance of 45 days, and accommodates 125 crew members plus 28 additional personnel. It is equipped with MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3C anti-ship missiles, MBDA Aster 15 and Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles, Naval Group MU90 anti-submarine torpedoes, artillery, a 10-tonne helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle of up to 700 kilograms.
Naval Group has developed an industrial process enabling the production of up to two FDI frigates per year. Five additional vessels are currently under construction at Lorient — four for the French Navy (Amiral Louzeau, Amiral Castex, Amiral Nomy and Amiral Cabanier) and one, the Kimon, for the Hellenic Navy, which has already begun sea trials. The second FDI, also for Greece, is expected to be delivered by the end of 2025, followed by two more in 2026 and one for the French Navy in 2027.
Each FDI represents one million hours of construction work and one million hours of design and development, involving 1,200 Naval Group employees and 400 partner companies. Built to NATO standards, the frigate ensures full interoperability and connectivity with allied navies, symbolising the renewal and modernisation of France’s maritime fleet.
