France’s Normandie frigate in first sea trials
The French Navy’s newest anti-submarine warfare (ASW) FREMM frigate, Normandie, has successfully conducted its first sea trials off the coast of Lorient.
The trials were conducted by an industrial team including Naval Group, the OCCAR FREMM Programme Division, the French Navy crew and the French Procurement Agency to evaluate the vessel’s propulsion and navigation performance.
Further tests and trials of various systems, including the combat management system, will continue in the coming weeks. The frigate is scheduled to be delivered in summer of 2019.
The ASW FREMM frigates are equipped with advanced weapon systems including Heracles multifunction radars, MdCN naval cruise missiles, Aster and Exocet MM40 missiles and MU 90 torpedoes.
To date, five FREMM frigates have been delivered to the French Navy and three ships, including Normandie, are at various stages of assembly and construction at Naval Group Lorient's shipyard. The last two French FREMM Frigates, Alsace and Lorraine, will be delivered in 2021 and 2022, with reinforced air defence capabilities.
More from Naval Warfare
-
RTX Raytheon advances with the development of new Barracuda mine neutraliser
The new Barracuda version has been engineered to perform enhanced subsea and seabed warfare missions.
-
US Coast Guard to receive the largest single acquisition funding in its history
The nearly $25 billion investment will cover USCG procurement of cutters, aircraft, helicopters, training simulators and Polar capabilities over the next four years.
-
US Coast Guard enhances Arctic protection with a new Fast Response Cutter
After commissioning, FRC Frederick Mann will operate in Alaska and perform multiple missions.
-
US Coast Guard announces measures to further implement Force Design 2028 strategy
The US Coast Guard (USCG) created new units, including five Programme Executive Offices (PEOs), to facilitate and speed up the procurement of new capabilities.
-
Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear
The US Navy does not have a precise date for the award of the procurement contract for the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer despite having the funds to advance with the programme in FY2025.
-
US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes
The US Navy (USN) is currently reassessing its acquisition efforts and seeking ways to reduce the multiple delays across the shipbuilding initiatives.