The French Navy’s first defense and intervention frigate (FDI), Amiral Ronarc’h (D660), docked in Brest, its homeport, on 19 September, 2025. The first-in-class ship departed the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient (where it was built) on September 15, 2025.
French Navy press release – translation by Naval News
The Admiral Ronarc’h frigate is the first of five FDIs ordered by the French Navy. The vessel reinforces the surface fleet in accordance with the 2024-2030 Military Planning Law. It is a 4,500-ton first-rank surface combatant. It features high-performance systems in all areas of warfare (air, surface, and submarine), is capable of deploying a multirole helicopter, and can deploy special forces. Equipped with powerful communications and data link capabilities, it can easily integrate into a French or allied naval force.
Upon its commissioning, scheduled for 2026, the FDI Amiral Ronarc’h will be designed for long-term, remote deployments in crisis zones. Versatile, modular, and inherently scalable, the FDIs are capable of operating in any type of environment, ranging from asymmetric attack to high-intensity naval and cyber combat. As such, they have advanced digital and data processing technologies at their disposal, enabling them to respond effectively to any type of current or future threat.
In addition to the Admiral Ronarc’h, four other FDIs will eventually equip the French Navy: the Admiral Louzeau, the Admiral Castex, the Admiral Nomy, and the Admiral Cabanier.
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Naval News comments:
1 – Amiral Ronarc’h (D660) departing the shipyard for the final time to reach its homeport in Brest
2 – Kimon (F-601) in dry dock
3 – Nearchos (F-602) fitting out
4 – Formion (F-603) fitting out
The keel laying of the first FDI took place in December 2021 and the launch in November 2022. The next five ships in the series (three for the Hellenic Navy and two for the French Navy) are still expected be delivered before 2030. The Naval Group shipyard in Lorient has been totally revamped to be able to scale up and deliver two FDI frigates per year. The above picture shows that production is well underway.
A total of five vessels are set to be delivered to France (three hulls already on order, the remaining two ships will be ordered later on). In addition, three frigates are currently under construction for Greece, with an option for a fourth unit which is expected to be enforced soon.
Lastly, Naval Group is pitching the FDI to Sweden, Denmark, as well as to Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
Technical specifications:
- displacement: 4,500 tons
- length: 122 meters
- beam: 18 meters
- max. speed: 27 knots
- autonomy: 45 days
- operational availability: 3,500 hours per year
- accomodation: 125-persons crew + 28 passengers
- aviation facility: 10 ton-class helicopter, VTOL unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
The main weapon systems of the FDI (French Navy configuration) are:
- Non-lethal weapon systems
- 16 Aster surface to air missiles developed by MBDA
- 8 Exocet MM40 Block 3c anti-ship missiles developed by MBDA
- MU 90 torpedoes developed by Naval Group
- 76 mm gun
- 2 Narwhal 20mm remote weapon stations
- 4 torpedo tubes
- CANTO counter measures developed by Naval Group
