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.
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