The first defense and intervention frigate (FDI) of the French Navy (Marine Nationale), Amiral Ronarc’h (D660), set sails today for a long duration deployment. This deployment is intended to test the ship’s military capabilities. The FDI will be deployed in the North Sea, the North Atlantic, and the Mediterranean Sea.
According to the French Navy, this deployment will last “several months”. This period of tests are essential to validate the military capabilities of the vessel in conditions close to those encountered in real operations. In other words, the crew will conduct an evaluation of the performance of the various systems, through complex exercises and this long-term deployment (often called long cruise or check down cruise). The first-in-class vessel will then formally enter “active service” (“admission au service actif” in French). This is the norm for all French Navy major vessels.
“Amiral Ronarc’h will head towards the High North and then the western Atlantic Ocean to test its capabilities in diverse maritime environments, and also to develop the interoperability of this new type of vessel with our partners and allies in the areas traversed. This period at sea, conducted far away, for an extended period, and with a crew, allows us to test the FDI and its systems, and for the sailors to become more familiar with this equipment.” according to a A French ministry of the armed forces release issued today.
Naval News understand that Amiral Ronarc’h will call in Denmark and Sweden in the coming weeks, two countries where France is pitching the design for the future requirement of the Royal Danish and Swedish navies.
Displacing 4,500 tons, the FDI is a first rank surface combatant equipped with high-performance systems for anti-air (AAW), anti-surface (ASuW), and anti-submarine warfare (ASW). Capable of deploying a NH90 NFH helicopter and special forces, it also benefits from advanced communications and data link capabilities, facilitating its integration into national or allied operations.
Designed for long-term, distant deployments in crisis zones, the Amiral Ronarc’h frigate stands out for its versatility and modularity. It is designed to withstand both asymmetric attacks and high-intensity naval combat, integrating cutting-edge digital and data processing technologies to address current and future threats.
The next four frigates in the series – Amiral Louzeau, Amiral Castex, Amiral Nomy and Amiral Cabanier – will complete the fleet in the coming years, in accordance with the 2024-2030 French military planning law.
The keel laying of the first FDI took place in December 2021 and the launch in November 2022. Amiral Ronarc’h was delivered by Naval Group on October 17, 2025. 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.
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.
