FREMM frigate Provence ready for outfitting
The fourth Aquitaine-class FREMM frigate to be built by DCNS for the French Navy has been floated out of its building dock at the Lorient shipyard on 18 September.
The vessel, called FREMM frigate Provence, will now be outfitted with systems including the masts and sensors, radars, antennas, cameras and jammers by DCNS specialists and subcontractor teams.
Five FREMM multimission frigates are currently in different stages of assembly, with a total of 11 on order for the French Navy. A 12th vessel is being built for the Royal Moroccan Navy.
The FREMM multimission frigates are designed to perform missions including anti-air warfare (AAW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW). They will carry advanced weapons and systems including the Herakles multifunction radar, Aster anti-air missiles, Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles and MU90 torpedoes.
The highly automated surface combatants require a complement of 108, less than half the number required to man earlier generation vessels with similar capabilities.
The first-of-class FREMM frigate Aquitaine for the French Navy was delivered in November 2012.
The construction of fifth-of-type FREMM frigate Languedoc will begin shortly in the building dock just vacated by the Provence.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Navantia pitches 64-cell F110 frigate and sets out plans for 75m autonomous vessel]()
Navantia pitches 64-cell F110 frigate and sets out plans for 75m autonomous vessel
With its second F110 frigate launched four months early, the Spanish shipbuilder is courting allied navies with a missile-defence upgrade and a 75m uncrewed vessel.
-
![‘Now Europe is a market’: Fincantieri sees new opportunities closer to home]()
‘Now Europe is a market’: Fincantieri sees new opportunities closer to home
Fincantieri naval vessels chief Eugenio Santagata spoke to Shephard about opportunities and how they sit within a portfolio backed by a “strong backlog”, as Euronaval 2026 unfolded.
-
![Kongsberg Maritime and Thales UK team on Arctic Hunter Type 92 proposal]()
Kongsberg Maritime and Thales UK team on Arctic Hunter Type 92 proposal
The Norwegian company says a commercial hull, proven sonar and a British yard could deliver uncrewed submarine hunters by the end of the decade, but the Royal Navy has not yet set a requirement or timeline.
-
![US Navy weighs “Super Intelligence” role in designing a quieter SSN(X) attack submarine]()
US Navy weighs “Super Intelligence” role in designing a quieter SSN(X) attack submarine
NAVSEA is exploring AI-assisted design for a larger, stealthier submarine with increased weapons capacity and uncrewed-system integration, with lead-boat procurement envisaged from 2040.
-
![ST Engineering makes Euronaval debut with MRV European export campaign]()
ST Engineering makes Euronaval debut with MRV European export campaign
A six-ship home order, agreements with Saab, Naval Group and Babcock and spare yard capacity underpin the group’s first Euronaval bid for smaller European navies.
