Final French FREMM frigate’s first sea trials begin
Lorraine is the eighth and final FREMM frigate for the French Navy. (Photo: Naval Group)
Lorraine will be the French Navy’s eighth FREMM frigate and second with enhanced air defence capabilities.
On 22 February, Naval Group began sea trials of France’s final FREMM frigate Lorraine.
Over several days, the air defence FREMM frigate will undergo trials off the coast of Brittany, France, ahead of its planned delivery before the end of 2022.
Lorraine is the second of two FREMM frigates for the French Navy equipped with enhanced air defence capabilities. The other, Alsace, was declared ready for operations in November 2021.
The air defence FREMM ships can carry 8 Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles and 32 Aster missiles in Sylver vertical launch systems.
Naval Group said that due to operational feedback on the FREMM class, Lorraine would benefit from enhanced cyber capabilities, Link 22 secure digital data link communications and a reduced-width mast, among other alterations.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Frégate Européen multi-missions (FREMM) - Aquitaine Class
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Swedish navy moves to final phase of Blekinge-class sub production with new Saab order]()
Swedish navy moves to final phase of Blekinge-class sub production with new Saab order
Saab Kockums was initially awarded the contract to build two A26 submarines for the Royal Swedish Navy in 2015, but the programme has faced delays and escalating costs.
-
![Germany goes for more US equipment for F127 frigates with SPY-6 radar choice]()
Germany goes for more US equipment for F127 frigates with SPY-6 radar choice
If the foreign military sale request is approved, Germany would be the first country outside the US to acquire the technology, which is currently used extensively by the US Navy.
-
![US continues to review AUKUS submarine deal as HII ticks off new Virginia-class sea trials]()
US continues to review AUKUS submarine deal as HII ticks off new Virginia-class sea trials
The initial sea trials for Virginia-class SSN 798 conducted by Newport News Shipbuilding division and the US Navy marked an “important step”, but the ongoing AUKUS review casts a shadow over what the progress means for the partner nations.
-
![US Navy seeks AI software suppliers to bolster air and missile defence]()
US Navy seeks AI software suppliers to bolster air and missile defence
The US Navy is conducting market research to find AI software products for the Collaborative Integrated Air and Missile Defence Planning Programme.
-
![Turkey’s Goksur naval missile completes first live-fire intercept]()
Turkey’s Goksur naval missile completes first live-fire intercept
The Goksur will be available in a range of configurations and could be integrated into Turkey’s nascent Steel Dome which is designed to provide multi-layered protection against a range of aerial targets from mortars to aircraft.
