French Navy Prepares for 2025 Delivery of Amiral Ronarc'h Frigate.

According to information published by the French MoD on December 13, 2024, the Amiral Ronarc’h Defense and Intervention Frigate (FDI) is conducting its second round of sea trials. This phase marks the completion of propulsion system tests, which are now being overseen by the ship's commissioning crew.
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First French Navy's FDI frigate Amiral Ronarc'h. (Picture source: French MoD)

For three weeks, both industrial teams and state authorities, including the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) and the French Navy (Marine Nationale), are rigorously testing the vessel's combat systems.

The Captas-4 Compact Towed Sonar, designed for deep-water detection, enhances the frigate’s underwater situational awareness, enabling the detection and tracking of submarines at great depths. The STIR Radar Fire Control System ensures precise targeting for the frigate’s 76mm gun, critical for engagements against aerial and surface threats. The cutting-edge Seafire Multifunction Radar, a next-generation fixed-panel radar developed by Thales, delivers advanced 360-degree surveillance and detection capabilities for both aerial and surface targets. Notably, it can simultaneously track multiple high-speed targets, including supersonic missiles.

The frigate is specifically designed to address contemporary and high-intensity combat scenarios, capable of countering aerial, maritime, and submarine threats. Additionally, the FDI is inherently protected against cyber threats, a vital feature in modern naval warfare. This second sea trial is part of a broader series of tests leading up to the Amiral Ronarc’h’s official delivery to the French Navy in 2025.

Context

The French Navy is undergoing a significant modernization of its frigate fleet to enhance operational capabilities and address evolving maritime threats. This initiative encompasses the introduction of new classes of frigates and the upgrading of existing vessels.

FREMM Frigates

The Aquitaine-class FREMM (Frégate Européenne Multi-Mission) frigates are central to this modernization. Initially, France planned to acquire 17 FREMM frigates to replace older vessels. However, budgetary revisions reduced this number to eight, including six anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variants and two air-defense variants known as FREMM DA (Frégate Européenne Multimissions de Défense Aérienne). The FREMM DA frigates, such as the Alsace and Lorraine, are equipped with enhanced air-defense capabilities, including the Thales Herakles radar and Aster 15 and Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles. The Alsace was delivered to the French Navy in April 2021 and achieved full operational status in November 2021.

FDI Frigates

To further enhance its fleet, France launched the FDI (Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention) program in 2015, aiming to produce a new class of first-rank frigates. The FDI frigates, also known as the Amiral Ronarc'h class, are designed to complement the FREMM frigates. These frigates feature advanced technologies, including the Thales SEA FIRE 4D AESA radar, and are equipped with Exocet MM40 Block 3c anti-ship missiles and Aster surface-to-air missiles.

La Fayette-Class Upgrades

In addition to introducing new frigates, the French Navy has upgraded three of its five La Fayette-class frigates to extend their operational life into the early 2030s. These upgrades include the integration of active sonar and other improvements to enhance their capabilities.

The modernization efforts are part of a broader trend among global naval forces to enhance capabilities in anticipation of potential maritime confrontations. Between 2016 and 2023, approximately $323 billion was invested globally in the construction of combat ships equipped with new technologies, underscoring the strategic importance of naval power in contemporary geopolitics.