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
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment]()
Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment
Australian businesses can now bid to support Virginia-class submarine sustainment in Western Australia, as momentum around the Henderson Defence Precinct also builds.
-
![South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest]()
South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest
Washington’s search for a foreign-built frigate could hand South Korea, Japan and Turkey a larger prize than a double-hull order: a foothold inside the US shipbuilding industrial base.
-
![Japan’s FY2027 budget bets on stand-off systems to offset demographic decline]()
Japan’s FY2027 budget bets on stand-off systems to offset demographic decline
Japan’s FY2027 defence budget backs stand-off strike, a 17-aircraft MQ-9B buy and a declared bid to lead the world in uncrewed maritime assets, alongside new frigates, submarines and support ships.
-
![Russia’s uncrewed boat portfolio hints at future naval demand]()
Russia’s uncrewed boat portfolio hints at future naval demand
Ukrainian intelligence has catalogued more than 20 Russian uncrewed surface vessels, revealing a portfolio weighted towards mine warfare and logistics, with implications for Western naval investment.
-
![Ukraine’s new long-range 12m autonomous vessel can deploy other drones]()
Ukraine’s new long-range 12m autonomous vessel can deploy other drones
Ukraine’s UForce unveiled the MV11 uncrewed surface vessel, designed to launch and support other naval drones at sea, fuelling debate over the future of autonomous maritime task groups.
