French Navy’s First FDI Frigate Completes Sea Trials Ahead of Navy Acceptance

The Amiral Ronarc'h, the lead of the five Defense and Intervention Frigates (FDI), has completed sea trials and will start French Navy acceptance process in October 2025, as announced by the French defense procurement agency (DGA) on September 15.

The frigate departed the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient to make its way to its home port in Brest, indicating the beginning of the next stage of operational integration. A departure ceremony took place in Lorient.

The FDI class, commissioned in 2017, is aimed at modernizing and reinforcing France's surface fleet with five multi-mission combat ships. The displacement of each frigate is 4,500 tons and is armed to fight against air, surface, and submarine threats, and to deploy Special Forces. They are meant for the conduct of operations in contested waters, ranging from asymmetric warfare to high-intensity warfare.

The frigates are designed to deploy for extended periods in crisis areas and are equipped with digital technologies, improved cyber protection, and flexibility for future upgrades.

The Amiral Ronarc'h will be followed by the Amiral Louzeau, Amiral Castex, Amiral Nomy, and Amiral Cabanier. The first three are part of the implementation of the 2024-2030 military programming law.