An F70 type anti-submarine frigate of the French Navy, the Dupleix, will enter the Black Sea this weekend, according to Russian news agency ITAR-TASS.
The frigate will replace the US Navy’s destroyer USS Donald Cook, which is currently positioned in the western part of the Black Sea.
Arrival of the French ship will keep NATO’s presence in the region at three ships, those being US Navy frigate USS Taylor, guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook and the French ship Dupuy de Lôme (A759).
USS Donald Cook arrived in the Black Sea on 10 April and she is due for departure from the area today, on April 24th.
French frigate Dupleix is a Georges Leygues-class frigate and she features 129 meters in length.
She has a displacement of 4,500 tons when fully loaded and can reach a speed of 35 knots.
[mappress] Press Release, April 24, 2014; Image: Wikimedia