French Navy to get Belharra frigates
DCNS has been selected for the development and construction of five intermediate-size frigates for the French Navy, the company announced on 21 April. Known as the Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire (FTI) programme, the first of the five frigates will be delivered in 2023 with an entry into active service in 2025.
DCNS has proposed a version of its new Belharra frigate for the design, equipped with a new-generation Thales radar.
With a displacement of 4,000 tonnes, the vessel will have self-defence and special forces projection capacities, with a primary anti-submarine warfare mission.
The frigates will also feature a latest-generation combat system to enable greater rapidity speed for tactical analysis, decision taking and weapons deployment. It will be equipped with the and Aster 30 missiles from MBDA, and Thales Sea Fire four flat antenna radar.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear]()
Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear
The US Navy does not have a precise date for the award of the procurement contract for the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer despite having the funds to advance with the programme in FY2025.
-
![US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes]()
US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes
The US Navy (USN) is currently reassessing its acquisition efforts and seeking ways to reduce the multiple delays across the shipbuilding initiatives.
-
![Australia commissions HMAS Arafura three-and-a-half years behind schedule]()
Australia commissions HMAS Arafura three-and-a-half years behind schedule
The Royal Australian Navy has finally commissioned the first Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel – more than three years behind schedule – highlighting the programme’s delays, design compromises and ongoing industrial restructuring.
-
![Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates]()
Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates
The Italian Navy is being refreshed with two new ships ordered, while in the past six months steel was cut for a new frigate, an enhanced frigate was delivered and Horizon-class frigates passed a design review.
