Frégates Européennes Multi-Missions (FREMM)
European Multi-Mission Frigate
The European Multi-Mission Frigate (FREMM) program of the French and Italian Ministries of Defense was started in October 2004. Within this framework, ARMARIS and its Italian partner, ORIZZONTE SISTEMI NAVALI, jointly share prime-contracting responsibilities for the FREMM program.
This program underscores the close cooperation between the French and Italian naval industries. Together, these two countries are developing and building warships which are among the most sophisticated in their fleets. Moreover, a new profile of the European naval industry is emerging: strong industrial cooperation, ranged around the major players.
The Fremm programme has been drawn up with the same partners as the “Orizzonte” programme; this comprises the construction of twenty seven multi-mission vessels, ten of which for the Italian Navy, to be built at Fincantieri’s shipyards in Riva Trigoso and Muggiano. The Horizon Program experience made it possible to create common tools and to develop conditions favorable to the launch of the new European Multi-Mission Frigate (FREMM) program: i.e. its necessary completion (both on the contractual and industrial levels), a pragmatic approach to ensure its execution, and a reigning attitude of confidence between the two partners.
Thus, during the summer of 2002, inspired by the French and Italian Defense Ministries, a new cooperative effort concerning Multi-Mission Frigates was launched and finalized at the end of 2002 by a defining contract; then in October 2004 by the Program’s confirmation by both Ministries during Euronaval 2004.
At the Italian-French Summit on 07 November 2002, the French and Italian defense ministers signed a declaration that made official the cooperation between the two countries on multi-mission European frigates (FREMM). This joint declaration also concerned the definition, development, construction and support service on the common Franco-Italian frigate.
Their combined effort, known as the FREMM program, is concentrated on the construction of a fleet of 27 ships -- 17 frigates for the French Navy and 10 frigates for the Italian Navy. The grand total for the fleet of 27 could cost between 945 million to 1.22 billion euros. In 2008 the first batch of frigates will be delivered, with an expectation of all ships being completed by 2017. The FREMM program represents the longest production run in Europe since the Second World War. The FREMM programme represents the largest European naval program of all time. To be precise, within 15 years, 27 frigates will be built, 10 of which for the Italian Navy (6 General Purpose type and 4 for Anti Submarine Warfare), the construction of which has been assigned by OSN to Fincantieri for the platform and Finmeccanica for the combat system. The italian First of Class will be delivered to the Italian Navy in 2011.
The prime contractors are the French firm Armaris (joint subsidiary of DCN and Thales) and its Italian partner Orrizante Sistemi Navale. The prime contractors finalized their offers as of June 2004 and then left the field open for decisions on subcontractors. All contract signing were handled by the DGA (Délégation Générale pour l'Armement), the French procurement agency.
In May 2004, the French Ministry of Defense made public the decision to use gas turbine engines to power the 5,500-metric-ton platform multi-mission frigates in the FREMM program. The Italians preferred the gas turbine option to diesel engines despite the higher cost. According to Defense News, the contractors believed that the joint purchase would project a common effort and actually decrease the per-frigate price significantly while ensuring a swifter fleet.
British engine maker Rolls-Royce and its partner, French ship maker DCN (Direction des Constructions Navales), are offering a Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine engine, while Italy's Fiat Avio is offering General Electric's LM2500+ engine built under license from General Electric. A gas turbine contract is worth 35 million to 45 million euros ($41.8 to $53.7 million) per ship.
There remained other equipment decisions to be made for FREMM, such as the combat management system. The software for this system will tie together the key subsystems on the frigates, allowing for command and control. DGA, the French procurement agency, is looking for the "best value" for money in radar, electronic warfare, and communications suites for the 27 ships.
In addition, the creation of ARMARIS in 2002, as a joint venture of DCN and Thales, created the industrial and commercial conditions favorable to the realization of transnational industrial cooperation. At the same time, the setting up of ORIZZONTE SISTEMI NAVALI in Italy between FINCANTIERI and FINMECCANICA in 2003 permitted a complementary approach within the Italian industry.
ARMARIS and ORIZZONTE SISTEMI NAVALI have from the very beginning played the role of co-prime-contractors in this program. The needs of the national navies reached 17 frigates for France and 10 frigates for Italy. The 8 first French frigates were registered by the Military Expenditure Act of 2002. The last frigate was due for delivery before 2020. The financial value of this Program is 8 billion euros, and the first warships will be delivered by 2010, which makes the FREMM Program the most important European naval defense program to take place in Europe in the next two decades, and also the most important in terms of innovative technologies.
Other European countries are likely to associate themselves with the FREMM program since total European needs have been estimated at about 40 frigates. It is clear that programs like this will allow ARMARIS and ORIZZONTE to offer an especially innovative, modern and costefficient product for the export market. ARMARIS and ORIZZONTE are looking forward to perennial cooperative structures, like the OCCAR, the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (Organisation conjointe de coopération en matière d’armement) and the European Defense Agency to facilitate a shared commitment towards ambitious and long-term projects.
