Third FREMM Frigate Floated Out To Fulfill French Navy's Order

DCNS yesterday floated out the third FREMM frigate Provence from the Lorient Shipyard with two other frigates at different stages of assembly and construction.

The French FREMM programme calls for 12 ships – 11 for the French Navy and one for the Royal Moroccan Navy.

Over the coming months, DCNS specialists and subcontractor teams will install the ship’s systems. The next major milestone will be the installation of the Provence’s masts and sensors, including her radars, antennas, cameras and jammers.

DCNS began building the Provence, the third Aquitaine-class FREMM frigate for the French Navy, in December 2010. These highly automated surface combatants require a complement of just 108, or less than half the number required to man earlier generation vessels with similar capabilities.

The FREMM multimission design concept can combine missions including anti-air warfare (AAW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW). On 23 November 2012, following the delivery of first-of-class FREMM frigate Aquitaine for the French Navy in compliance with the relevant contractual requirements, European Joint Armament Cooperation Organisation OCCAR1 her acceptance on behalf of French defence procurement agency DGA.