Ronarc'h FDI Fregate de Defense et Intervention
[Belharra FTI Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire]
The FDI program participates in the renewal and strengthening of the surface fleet of the French Navy, which will thus have fifteen first-rate frigates in 2030: 8 multi-mission frigates (FREMM), 2 air defense frigates (FDA Horizon) and 5 defense and intervention frigates (FDI).
With a crew of 125 sailors, the FDI are 4,500-ton class ships, versatile and enduring. Able to last on the high seas and to use a combat helicopter, they are designed to operate in an environment contested by the adversary, in all areas of combat and in the face of high-level threats. Finally, they benefit from the ability to overcome combat damage and from the interoperability required by combat vessels.
From their conception, the FDI integrate a concentrate of innovations. They can intervene in all areas of warfare on the high seas: anti-ship, anti-aircraft, anti-submarine. Able to control vast air and sea spaces, they are also capable of defending themselves against asymmetric threats and of projecting a detachment of special forces. To evolve in an increasingly digital world, the FDI have the capacity to fight against the cyber threat and two digital data centers which combine the computing capacities of all the sensors and weapons on board.
Among the new generation equipment installed on board is a radar with four fixed panels integrated on a single mast allowing permanent 360-degree watch, and launchers capable of firing several types of anti-aircraft missiles depending on the threat to be treated. They are also the first frigates to have sufficient space to be able to simultaneously carry a helicopter and a drone of the 700 kg class.
Innovative frigates, the FDI are equipped with systems integrating cutting-edge technologies and are designed according to an incremental development logic, with successive standards making it possible to incorporate any new capacity needs or technological developments during their period of operational service.
Never has a French frigate of this tonnage been so powerfully equipped or equipped with so many technological innovations. Bringing together the best of French naval technologies on a compact platform, the FDI is a powerful and innovative frigate, designed to cope with evolving threats. FDI units are seagoing high-tech ships capable of independent operation, with cannons, torpedoes, anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles. These will be the first French frigates to provide an exceptionally strong level of protection in cyberspace, with an innovative center to combat asymmetrical threats, independent of the ship's operational combat center.
The FDI are ocean-going vessels with a displacement of 4,000 to 4,500 tonnes, versatile, enduring and capable of operating, alone or within a naval force, in all areas of combat: anti-ship, anti-aircraft, anti-submarine and projection of special forces. Heavily armed (Exocet MM40 B3C anti-surface missiles, Aster 15/30 anti-aircraft missiles, MU 90 anti-submarine torpedoes, remotely operated guns), the FDI can embark a helicopter and a drone simultaneously, and receive a special forces detachment with their two commando boats.
On the sensor side, they have some of the most efficient sonars and their air and surface defenses are ensured by means of the most modern sensors, including a multifunction radar with active antenna and fixed panels. For the first time, a French frigate will be equipped with a single mast bringing together all of the aerial sensors, allowing permanent 360 ° surveillance. The FDI will also be the first French frigates natively protected against the cyber threat, with a Data Center hosting a large part of the ship's applications and enabling e-maintenance.
Finally, in terms of operational innovation, the FDI inaugurates the concept of a center dedicated to combating the asymmetric threat, distinct from the operations center (CO). Located behind the bridge, this center will lead the fight against air and surface terrorist threats, in particular mini-drones and booby-trapped boats.
FDI units are seagoing ships displacing 4,500 tons, capable of acting independently or as part of task groups and performing tasks related to the fight against surface and submarine ships, airborne means and special forces operations. Their length is to be 122 m and width - 18 m. The units are to develop a speed of 27 knots and stay at sea without calling at the port for 45 days. The crew will consist of 125 officers and sailors with the possibility of additional embarkation of 28 people. The frigate has a full range of weapons: cannons, torpedoes, anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles. They will be equipped with anti-ship guided missiles Exocet MM40 B3C and anti-aircraft missiles Aster 15 and Aster 30, as well as ZOP MU90 torpedoes and barrel artillery.
The FDI program, led by the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) in close collaboration with the French Navy and the industrialists Naval Group, Thales and MBDA, is helping to renew and strengthen the surface fleet, in accordance with the law of military programming 2019-2025. The five FDIs will constitute by 2030 one third of the leading French frigates, the first two being delivered by 2025.
In April 2017 the Directorate-General for Armaments of the French Armed Forces signed a contract with DCNS (currently the Naval Group) to develop a project and build five FTI medium frigates (Fregate de Taille Intermediaire, now Fregate de Defense et Intervention) for delivery to the French Navy. As part of the project, DCNS proposed the French Ministry of Defense version of the Belharra frigate. The first of the five frigates should be transferred in 2023 and enter the combat strength of the French fleet in 2025.
It was assumed that steel cutting for the first ship will begin on October 25, 2019. At the end of October 2019, the construction of the first of a series of digital frigates under the FDI program (Fregate de Defense et Intervention) began at the French shipyard in Lorient. The first unit is to be handed over to the navy in 2023, i.e. in four years. The first ship will be named Admiral Ronarc'h, in honor of Pierre Alexis Ronarc'h, the hero of the First World War, commander of the rushed marines and infantry troops, who in the years 1919-1920 was also the commander of the French Navy.
The cutting of the first sheet of the defense and intervention frigate (FDI) took place October 24, 2019 at the Naval Group site in Lorient. The ceremony took place in the presence of the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, the Delegate General for Armaments, Joël Barre, the Chief of Staff of the French Navy, Admiral Prazuck, his Greek counterpart, Vice-Admiral Nikolaos Tsounis, numerous foreign delegations and the Chairman and CEO of Naval Group, Hervé Guillou. This contract is strategic because these deliveries will allow the French Navy to increase the number of its first rank frigates to 15. An objective enshrined in the military planning law. Ordered in April 2017 by the Directorate General of Armament (DGA), the five defense and intervention frigates (FDI) will be delivered between 2023 and 2029. The FDI will thus gradually be added to the current FREMM type frigates. (multi-mission frigate).
The Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) notified Naval Group and Thales 29 March 2021 of the order for two defense and intervention frigates (FDI), Admiral Louzeau and Admiral Castex , which will be delivered in 2025. Complementing the FREMMs, the FDI are able to intervene in all areas of wrestling on the high seas. They incorporate many innovations, including the world's first fully digital fixed panel radar. These two new frigates are added to Admiral Ronarc'h , the first FDI ordered in April 2017 by the DGA from Naval Group and Thales, the first sheet of which was cut in October 2019, and which will be delivered to the French Navy in 2024. MBDA, in charge of the on-board missile firing facilities, is associated with these orders.
The one-year advancement of Admiral Castex's order makes it possible to respond more quickly to the Navy's operational need for modern, first-rate frigates. This order also contributes to supporting the know-how and skills of the Lorient shipyard at the highest level of technicality, qualities which today enable it to produce buildings at the best world level for the French Navy as well as for its export customers. Five FDIs will be in service by 2030, allowing the French Navy to achieve the format of fifteen first-rank frigates, in line with the objective of the 2019-2025 military programming law.
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