Thales to Support French Navy’s FREMM Frigates

Naval Group awarded Thales a seven-year contract to provide through-life support for the French Navy's FREMM multi-mission frigates.

It will guarantee the at-sea availability of the Navy's eight multi-mission frigates based in Brest and Toulon.

The FREMM programme was launched in 2005 and is one of the major components of France's anti-submarine warfare capability. The ships are equipped with Thales sonars, radars, optronics and communication systems.

The intensive deployment of warships and their systems puts added pressure on every component of a naval force. The operational availability of France's multi-mission frigates is a key factor in maintaining the country's naval capabilities and ensuring the freedom of action of the French armed forces.

To optimise the use of the French Navy's resources over the long term, Naval Group and Thales are setting up an integrated centre of expertise drawing on the specialised know-how and capabilities of both companies. To troubleshoot and resolve technical subjects quickly and efficiently, the centre's dedicated multi-disciplinary team will constantly monitor the technical performance of the Thales equipment and provide a rapid response capability.