France’s final FREMM frigate delivered
The FREMM-DA frigate Lorraine features improved air defence capabilities. (Photo: DGA)
The delivery of the frigate Lorraine marks the close of a decade of French FREMM deliveries.
France’s defence procurement agency DGA took delivery of the country’s final FREMM frigate, Lorraine, on 16 November.
Lorraine is the second of two FREMMs, after Alsace, built with advanced air defence capabilities, known as the FREMM-DA.
The delivery of Lorraine comes a decade after the delivery of the first French FREMM Aquitaine. Naval Group has also exported two FREMMs, one to Egypt and one to Morocco.
The FREMM-DA ships can carry eight Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles and 32 Aster missiles in Sylver vertical launch systems.
Lorraine will also benefit from improved cyber capabilities, Link 22 secure digital data link communications and a reduced-width mast.
Naval Group, the builder of France’s FREMMs, began sea trials of Lorraine earlier this year.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that the French frigates measure 142m in length, with a beam of 20m and a draft of 5m. The ships are fitted with one LM2500 gas turbine, two Jeumont electric motors and four N43B diesel generators producing a top speed of 27kt and a range of 6,000nm.
Lorraine will likely be the last FREMM built in France, as Naval Group has shifted its operations to producing the Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention (FDI) programme ships. FREMM production continues with Fincantieri in Italy.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Frégate Européen multi-missions (FREMM) - Aquitaine Class
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![BAE Systems to collaborate with Umoe Mandal on Type 26 frigate and Littoral Strike Craft]()
BAE Systems to collaborate with Umoe Mandal on Type 26 frigate and Littoral Strike Craft
The agreement is intended to boost opportunities for both UK and Norwegian naval shipbuilding.
-
![How the Force Design 2028 will impact US Coast Guard acquisitions]()
How the Force Design 2028 will impact US Coast Guard acquisitions
The FD 2028 strategy intends to reduce the bureaucracy in procurement processes while speeding up the field of assets.
-
![Thin-line towed arrays on uncrewed vessels deliver more cost-effective sonar, says SEA]()
Thin-line towed arrays on uncrewed vessels deliver more cost-effective sonar, says SEA
Miniaturisation of technology opens up radical sensing technologies to smaller navies under submarine threat, according to SEA sonar expert.
-
![£30 million UK-New Zealand deal sends new uncrewed vehicles to Ukraine]()
£30 million UK-New Zealand deal sends new uncrewed vehicles to Ukraine
Sam Vye, the CEO of SYOS Aerospace, which supplied the vehicles, explained the rapid development and deployment of assets in the uncrewed world.
