French Navy frigate gap closes as La Fayette-class upgrade programme nears completion
The La Fayette-class upgrade project was approved by the DGA in May 2017 to ensure that the French Navy continued to have enough operational frigates in its inventory for the next decade. (Photo: US Navy)
The modernisation programme for three of the French Navy’s five La Fayette-class frigates will ensure the service maintains a minimum force of 15 frigates and destroyers ahead of the introduction of the new new Admiral Ronarc’h-class (FDI) frigates.
The French Navy will have more surface combatants available to it ahead of the launch of new Admiral Ronarc’h-class (FDI) frigates enter service through to 2030 after extending and modernising the life of its three La Fayette-class frigates.
The third ship in the class, FS Aconit (F 713), started sea trials in October 2023 and the project has been scheduled for completion by the end of the year. The move will allow the French Navy to maintain a minimum force of 15 frigates and destroyers until the introduction of the FDI frigates will allow that number to increase slightly.
According to a spokesperson
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 2 free stories per week
- Daily news round-up email service
- Access to all Decisive Edge email newsletters
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Saab signs modernisation deal for Sweden’s coastal anti-ship missile capability]()
Saab signs modernisation deal for Sweden’s coastal anti-ship missile capability
Sweden’s Baltic coastal defence will be upgraded with new missile options.
-
![Hanwha Ocean to build FFX Batch-IV frigates for South Korea]()
Hanwha Ocean to build FFX Batch-IV frigates for South Korea
Hanwha Ocean aims for consistency between Batch-III and Batch-IV, despite radical technological overhaul.
-
![Navantia signs deal to supply new Avante 2200 corvettes to Saudi Arabia]()
Navantia signs deal to supply new Avante 2200 corvettes to Saudi Arabia
The vessels are the latest additions to an ongoing supply arrangement for Saudi Arabia’s defence force.
