French Navy welcomes first FDI frigate

October 20, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

French shipbuilder Naval Group has delivered the first defense and intervention frigate (FDI) Amiral Ronarc’h ordered by the French Armaments Agency (DGA) on behalf of the French Navy.

As disclosed, the vessel was delivered on October 17, 2025, in Brest. The frigate is the first unit in a series of five FDIs designed to strengthen naval capabilities and symbolize the renewal and strengthening of the fleet’s capabilities.

“The delivery of the Admiral Ronarc’h, the very first frigate in the FDI series, is a major milestone for Naval Group; this new generation of first-rate multi-role frigates will soon enter the operational cycle and will thus contribute to strengthening the resources of our French Navy thanks to its exceptional capabilities, already demonstrated during its sea trials,” Pierre Éric Pommellet, Chairman and CEO of Naval Group, stated.

French Navy’s first defense and intervention frigate kicks off sea trials

Vessels

The FDI frigate is a scalable and versatile frigate, which will carry out missions in all areas of warfare (anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, anti-surface, and asymmetric).

Belonging to the 4,500-ton class, the ship measures 122 meters in length and 18 meters in width, achieving speeds of up to 27 knots. It offers an impressive operational autonomy of 45 days and provides accommodation for a crew of 125 personnel, along with space for 28 additional passengers.

The new technologies will enable the units to manage current and emerging threats (both autonomously and within a fleet), such as latest-generation submarines, supersonic missiles, cyberattacks, and multifaceted asymmetric threats.

In addition, the design and automation integrated on board the FDI allow the ship to be operated with a small crew.

This capability is comparable to that of the French Navy’s multi-mission frigates (FREMM), which have achieved an availability rate of 80% for the past decade.

Five other FDIs, intended for the French Navy and the Greek Navy, are currently under construction at the Naval Group site in Lorient, at various stages of completion. The second FDI under construction, the HS Kimon, intended for the Greek Navy, is currently undergoing sea trials and will be delivered at the end of 2025, followed by two more units in 2026. The next one, intended for the French Navy, will be delivered as early as 2027.