First French air defence FREMM ready for operations
The FREMM frigate Alsace at sea. (Photo: Naval Group)
Alsace is one of two air defence versions of the FREMM frigate for France.
French Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly announced on 22 November that the French Navy's first air defence FREMM frigate, Alsace, is ready for operations.
Parly wrote on Twitter: 'The multi-mission frigate Alsace is ready for operations. It belongs to a class of frigates recognized worldwide for its combat capabilities.
'The renewal of the Marine Nationale equipment is essential in the current strategic environment.'
The head of the French Navy ADM Pierre Vandier said the firing of an Aster 30 missile marked the ships' transition to active service.
Alsace was delivered to the French Navy base in Toulon in April 2021.
Work on Alsace began in 2016, with the ship launched in April 2019. The second air defence FREMM, Lorraine, is scheduled to be delivered in the latter half of 2022.
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