Naval Group floats first French FDI frigate
The Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention (FDI) ships, including Amiral Ronarc'h pictured, feature an inverted bow for better seakeeping. (Photo: Naval Group)
French shipbuilder Naval Group is building eight, plus a possible extra one, FDI frigates for the French and Greek navies.
On 7 November, Naval Group floated out the first Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention (FDI) ship, Amiral Ronarc'h, at its Lorient shipyard.
Amiral Ronarc'h will be delivered to the French Navy in 2024 after sea trials are held next year.
The remaining seven ships of the programme will be produced in series until 2030.
The ship has been floated in the dry dock where it was assembled and will be moved to a pier at the shipyard for outfitting later this week.
The float-out comes less than a year after the keel of Amiral Ronarc'h was laid last December.
From ship four of the programme, the second frigate for France, blocks for the vessels will be built in Greece by Salamis Shipyards.
These blocks will then be transported to Lorient for outfitting and integration.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Japan commissions its second Taigei-class submarine]()
Japan commissions its second Taigei-class submarine
Japan has inducted its second Taigei-class submarine, amidst plans to boost counterstrike capabilities with new, longer-range missiles.
-
![Second Brazilian Riachuelo-class submarine conducts pre-service testing]()
Second Brazilian Riachuelo-class submarine conducts pre-service testing
The second of four PROSUB conventional attack submarines has completed diving trials ahead of service entry with the Brazilian Navy later this year.
-
![The US Navy's 2024 budget request in five charts]()
The US Navy's 2024 budget request in five charts
In early March, the Biden administration submitted a proposal to Congress that would see the US DoD funded to the tune of $842 billion, around a quarter of which will go to the US Navy.
