On 17 October 2025, Naval Group delivered the first defence and intervention frigate (FDI), Amiral Ronarc’h, to Brest, ordered by the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) on behalf of the French Navy. This first-rank frigate is the first unit in this major programme of five frigates, designed to strengthen the French Navy’s capabilities and symbolise the renewal and reinforcement of the fleet's capabilities.
Pierre Éric Pommellet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Naval Group, said: “The delivery of the Amiral Ronarc’h, the very first frigate in the FDI series, is a major milestone for Naval Group. This new generation of top-of-the-range multi-purpose frigates will soon enter operational service and will help to strengthen the capabilities of our French Navy thanks to its exceptional capabilities, already demonstrated during sea trials. We are fully committed to this major programme, which we are proud to be carrying out for the French Navy.”
The successor to the French FREMM, the FDI is a first-rank multi-purpose frigate with proven capabilities in all areas of combat (anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, anti-surface and asymmetric).
The FDI is an evolving and multi-purpose frigate, which uncompromisingly combines all the functions enabling it to manage, both independently and as part of a fleet, current and emerging threats such as latest-generation submarines, supersonic missiles, cyber-attacks and multifaceted asymmetric threats. To this end, it is equipped with advanced digital and data processing technologies. A versatile combat vessel capable of operating in all theatres of action and responding to the evolving constraints of naval warfare, the FDI is a major asset for leading navies.
Its compact and unique design makes it perfectly suited to different environments and rough seas around the world (cold and warm waters, and archipelagic environments in particular). This ability to sail on the high seas and in heavy seas was demonstrated during the first sea trials (14 weeks to date) of the Amiral Ronarc'h, whose crew was able to observe the ship's performance in sea state 6 in the Atlantic Ocean.
In addition, the design and automated systems integrated on board the FDI allow the ship to be operated with a small crew. It offers a high level of maintainability, reducing maintenance times and optimising operational availability. Its capacity is comparable to that of the French Navy's multi-mission frigates (FREMM), which have achieved an 80% availability rate over the past decade. Furthermore, like all our ships and systems, the FDI is designed and built to NATO standards, ensuring interoperability and connectivity between allied navies.
Naval Group has developed a modern, high-performance construction process that optimises construction times and enables two ships to be produced per year.
Five other FDI ships, intended for the French Navy and the Greek Navy, are currently under construction at Naval Group's Lorient site, at various stages of completion. The second FDI under construction, the HS Kimon, intended for the Hellenic Navy, is currently undergoing sea trials and will be delivered at the end of 2025, followed by two other units in 2026. The next one, intended for the French Navy, will be delivered in 2027.
The production of an FDI represents 1 million hours of work, as well as 1 million hours of design and development. It involves 1,200 Naval Group employees and 400 subcontractors.
Technical Specifications:
- Displacement: 4,500 tonnes
- Length: 122 metres
- Width: 18 metres
- Speed: 27 knots
- Range: 45 days
- Accommodation capacity: crew of 125 + 28 passengers
As an international naval defence player, Naval Group is a partner for countries seeking to maintain control of their maritime sovereignty. Naval Group develops innovative solutions to meet its customers’ requirements. The group is present throughout the entire life cycle of vessels. It designs, produces, equips, integrates, supports and upgrades submarines and surface ships, as well as their systems and equipment, right up to the final phases of deconstruction and dismantling. Naval Group’s unique know-how in autonomous systems, underwater weapons and drones place it in pole position to become European leader in the sector.
As a high-tech company, Naval Group draws on its outstanding expertise, unique design and production resources and ability to establish strategic partnerships, in particular within the framework of transfers of technology. It also provides shipyard and naval base services.
Ever mindful of the issues concerning corporate social responsibility (CSR), Naval Group is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact. Located on five continents, the group generates revenue of 4.355 billion euros and has 16,722 employees (Full-Time Equivalent average annual workforce figures as on 31 December 2024).
