Is the French FDI frigate becoming the leading option in Portugal’s next major naval program?.

Defence 360° reported that the Portuguese Navy has signaled a preference for acquiring three French FDI frigates, even though the government continues to present the process as an open competition with Fincantieri.

According to Defence 360° on November 20, 2025, a senior Portuguese Navy official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated an internal preference for the French FDI frigate from Naval Group for a planned three-ship procurement, despite the government stating that the competition with Fincantieri remains active. This potential acquisition would represent Portugal’s largest military acquisition since 2005, and coincides with ship visits to Lisbon by both competitors. Upcoming European funding deadlines add pressure for the government to formalize its position within weeks, indicating that a final choice may come soon.
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If Portugal officially confirms the purchase of three FDI frigates in the future, it would become the third European navy operating the ship after France and Greece. (Picture source: French Navy)

In early November 2025, the Portuguese Defence Minister told Parliament that acquiring new frigates was now a very strong possibility and directly connected this decision to NATO capability commitments, indicating that the navy requires modern warships to meet operational expectations. On the same day, the first French FDI frigate, Amiral Ronarc’h, entered Lisbon on its first foreign visit, which aligned political statements with ongoing industrial signaling. The government must also submit national projects for European funding before the end of November, which adds time constraints to the process of formalizing the acquisition. The potential value of 2 to 3 billion euros exceeds the 1 billion euros spent on the Tridente-class submarines, and Portuguese Navy officials described the frigate contract as the largest military acquisition of this century for Portugal, due to its significance for the long-term structure of the fleet.

This explains the simultaneous arrival of major European frigates in Lisbon as industry partners seek to reinforce their positions. The Italian competitor, Fincantieri, promoted its offer by sending the frigate Emilio Bianchi to Lisbon, aiming to strengthen the Italian proposal through direct engagement with Portuguese authorities and naval leadership. Fincantieri seeks to demonstrate how its design could support Portugal’s operational needs and industrial ambitions, framing its offer within the broader context of European naval cooperation. Naval Group responded by expanding its own industrial footprint through a memorandum of understanding with LASIGE, a research unit of the University of Lisbon, which strengthens work already undertaken with sixteen Portuguese companies across fifteen European programs.

Cooperation focuses on intelligent naval systems, computer vision, simulation environments, smart energy technologies, human-machine interfaces, unmanned naval systems, and cyber protection for platforms and sensors. Naval Group emphasizes the integration of Portuguese firms into digital shipbuilding and naval engineering networks to support local participation. Both foreign offers are presented in a context in which Portugal seeks to balance military modernization, industrial participation, and financial feasibility for a long-term naval program. The presence of competing frigates in Lisbon reflects a broader effort to align political priorities, naval requirements, and industry partnerships.

The frigate procurement is part of a wider modernization effort for the Portuguese Navy, which currently operates three Vasco da Gama-class (MEKO 200PN) frigates and two Bartolomeu Dias-class frigates that are approximately thirty years old. Portugal has initiated a mid-life upgrade for up to two Vasco da Gama-class units through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, with work carried out at Arsenal do Alfeite to maintain capability until replacement ships arrive. At the lower end of the fleet, the country ordered six additional Viana do Castelo-class offshore patrol vessels under a €300 million contract, forming a third series that will replace the João Coutinho and Baptista de Andrade corvettes.

Fleet renewal also includes the 7,000-ton multi-purpose support ship D. João II, designed for amphibious operations, civil protection, unmanned system deployment, helicopter operations, and humanitarian missions. Two 11,000-ton replenishment and logistics ships, Luís de Camões and D. Dinis, will replace the Berrio-class tanker and support long-range operations. Long-term planning documents indicate a potential acquisition of two new submarines and a total force objective of six multi-purpose frigates. The future frigate contract, therefore, complements a broader, long-term restructuring of Portugal’s naval capabilities.

The FDI frigate, which Portugal reportedly selected, has a displacement of 4,460 tons, a length of around 122 meters, a beam of 17.7 meters, and a draught of 6.4 meters, with an inverted bow and a compact superstructure that houses a fully integrated sensor mast. Propulsion uses a combined diesel and diesel CODAD configuration delivering roughly 32,000 kW, enabling speeds up to 27 knots and a range of about 5,000 nautical miles at 15 knots, with an endurance of approximately 45 days and a core crew of around 125 personnel. The integrated mast contains the Sea Fire four-panel digital AESA radar that provides air and surface detection, supported by the KingKlip Mk2 hull sonar and the compact CAPTAS 4 towed array sonar for anti-submarine operations. The ship’s main armament in the French configuration includes a 76 mm gun, two 20 mm Narwhal stations, eight Exocet MM40 Block 3C missiles, and sixteen Sylver A50 cells hosting Aster 15 or Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles. Close-in systems include MU90 torpedoes, CANTO anti-torpedo decoys, and optional short-range air defence systems such as Sadral. Aviation facilities support an NH90 or H160M helicopter and rotary wing unmanned aircraft such as Camcopter S 100, along with a medical space equipped for imaging and basic treatment.

Construction of the lead ship, the Amiral Ronarc’h, began in Lorient in 2019 using digital three-dimensional modelling and a takt time method that allowed simultaneous construction of the hull and mast. Amiral Ronarc’h started sea trials in October 2024, reached Brest in September 2025, and is expected to enter service soon. Four additional frigates named Amiral Louzeau, Amiral Castex, Amiral Nomy, and Amiral Cabanier will follow through the early 2030s. France plans to field five ships in total, with the last two units built from the outset with thirty-two vertical launch cells. Earlier frigates will be upgraded to the same standard, and the class will progressively receive additional short-range defence systems to address evolving threats from drones and precision-guided weapons. The construction approach requires roughly one million work hours per ship and relies on fully digital production techniques.

The export trajectory of the FDI class provides additional context for Portugal’s potential decision because Greece ordered three ships in 2021 and later added a fourth, creating the Kimon-class within a package valued at nearly €3 billion. Greek ships are fitted with thirty-two Aster 30 missiles, Exocet MM40 Block 3C, MU90 torpedoes, CANTO decoys, and a RAM launcher, with the possibility of integrating Sylver A70 cells for MdCN cruise missiles. Greek industry contributes to production by supplying pre-outfitted hull modules from the Salamis shipyard. Naval Group has proposed the FDI for Indonesia, including options for construction at PT PAL with an indicative thirty-six-month timeline for the first ship. The design was also evaluated in Sweden’s Luleå-class competition, while Norway ultimately chose the British Type 26 for its own frigate replacement. However, the final official decision between Naval Group and Fincantieri will depend on weapons fit, local industrial participation, shipyard involvement, financial constraints, and alignment with other ongoing Portuguese naval programmes involving patrol ships, submarines, and logistics platforms.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.