The French Navy has received its first FDI (Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention) frigate, Amiral Ronarc’h (D660), delivered by Naval Group in Brest, Brittany, under a program initiated in 2015 to modernize the service’s surface fleet. The ship completed extensive sea trials in the Atlantic, proving its capability to operate in rough seas.
Naval Group will continue producing five more FDI frigates at its Lorient shipyard until 2029 — four for France and one for Greece. The second frigate, HS Kimon, has begun sea trials and is scheduled for delivery to Athens by late 2025, with two additional ships following in 2026 and another French vessel in 2027.
The FDI program aims to modernize European naval capabilities, maintain industrial know-how, and enhance NATO collaboration. Each 122-meter (400-foot) frigate carries naval autocannons, remote artillery turrets, anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles, and lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes. Designed for more than 125 crew members, they also support a medium utility helicopter and unmanned aerial systems. With a combined diesel engine producing about 43,000 horsepower, each vessel can travel 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 km/5,753 mi) at speeds up to 24 knots (44 km/h/28 mph) and remain operational for up to 45 days.
