The FREMM-class is a surface combatant that combines all French and Italian naval architecture
experiences.
Four nations are operating these frigates, and two others will join the club soon.
As the Weapons Detective, we are investigating the FREMM, currently one of the best available
frigate classes.
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The FREMM-class takes its name from the initials of French "Frégate Européenne Multi-Mission"
or Italian "Fregata Europea Multi-Missione", which means European multi-purpose frigate.
It has general-purpose, anti-submarine warfare, shortly ASW, and air defence variants.
The story of the FREMM-class goes back to the early 2000s when The French were looking
for a new surface combat ship to replace the Tourville and Georges Leygues class destroyers
and D'Estienne d'Orves-class avisos, and the Italians to replace the Maestrale and Lupo
class frigates.
Initially, France and Italy began to study a next-generation frigate, separately.
Yet, due to the success of the joint Horizon-class air defence destroyer programme, the two countries
decided to join forces and signed a cooperation agreement in 2002.
Under the project, called FREMM, France and Italy would be equal shares and responsibilities.
Under the management of Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'ARmement, or
OCCAR, a European intergovernmental agency that facilitates and manages collaborative
armament programmes through their lifecycle, the French DCNS, today Naval Group, and Italian
Fincantieri shipyards began design work.
As usual, this multi-nation programme had to deal with many changes on the way.
Initially, France planned to acquire 17 and Italy ten frigates in three configurations;
ASW, general-purpose and land-attack variants.
However, due to budget cuts and changing requirements, Paris reduced the number of ships to eleven
first and eight later, and the land-attack variant was subsequently cancelled.
Additionally, the partners, who had decided to reduce the number of over-prised Horizon-class
destroyers to be built, demanded to increase the air defence capabilities of the FREMM-class.
Also, the French Navy required the design of a specialized air defence variant of the
FREMM called FREgates de Défense Aériennes, or FREDA, which means air defence frigate.
In the end, France ordered eight frigates, six ASW and two air defence variants, and
Italy ordered ten frigates, six general-purpose and four ASW variants.
With the uncertainty cleared, the programme was on track, and the FS Aquitaine, the first
FREMM-class frigate of the French Navy, was laid down on March 16, 2007, launched on April
29, 2010, and commissioned on November 23, 2012.
France has already taken delivery of seven ships, defined as Aquitaine-class, in 2021.
The last frigate, FS Lorraine, will be commissioned at the end of this year.
ITS Carlo Bergamini, the first FREEM-class frigate to build for Italy, defined as Bergamini-class
by the Italian Navy, was laid down on February 4, 2008, launched on July 16, 2011, and commissioned
on May 29, 2013.
So far, the Italian Navy has taken delivery of eight ships.
The last two general-purpose variant frigates will be commissioned in 2025.
They will have some improved features.
As a counterbalance to the Algerian Navy's Kilo-class submarines, Morocco ordered a French-type
ASW variant FREMM-class frigate in 2007.
RMNS Mohammed VI was laid down in 2008, launched on July 16, 2011, and commissioned on May
29, 2013.
In 2015, the Egyptian Navy ordered one French-type ASW variant FREMM to enter service before
the opening of the New Suez Canal.
To keep to Egypt's deadlines, France gave FS Normandie, initially built for the French
Navy.
But, her SYLVER A70 vertical launching system and NETTUNO-4100 jamming equipment were removed
before the delivery.
The frigate was renamed ENS Tahya Misr.
She is fitted with a different SATCOM antenna.
Later, Egypt also commissioned two additional Italian-type general-purpose variant FREMM-class
frigates initially built for the Italian Navy in 2020 and 2021.
These are significant export successes.
Yet, the big news came from the other side of the Atlantic.
On April 30, 2020, the U.S. Navy, the biggest in the world, announced selecting the FREMM.
Currently, Washington ordered three Italian-type ASW variant-based frigates, defined as Constellation-class.
It is expected that the U.S. Navy will have 20 FREMM-class vessels.
Since we plan to make a special video for the Constellation-class frigate, we will not
further mention this programme and the ship's features in this video.
Also, Indonesia ordered six FREMM-class frigates on June 10, 2021.
The FREMM is a highly stealthy ship.
To reduce the radar cross-section, the 10 degrees angled hull is of composite material
as much as possible.
Also, the exhaust pipes of diesel generators are located close to the water level and can
be cooled by seawater injection to reduce the ship's infrared signature.
The electric propulsion produces nearly no noise.
Also, the designer of the FREMM worked on improving the hull contours and the shape
of the propellers, and they extensively used noise absorbers and shock-absorbing platforms
to reduce acoustic signatures.
The frigate has a specially designed bow, which cushions the impact of riding a wave.
The widened walkways provide easier access to equipment during maintenance and repairs
and improve access routes for removing and installing equipment when replacing.
The FREMM-class frigates require a major six-month refit every ten years and a routine two-month
maintenance every three years.
These features give the vessel a high combat readiness level.
The hull consists of eleven compartments by ten watertight bulkheads.
The ship can stay afloat even if three of them are flooded.
Naturally, there are many visual differences between French and Italian frigates due to
variant-based weaponry changes.
But, the radars are the most obvious difference.
The Aquitaine-class has the S-band Héraklès pyramid-shaped rotating multifunction radar.
Its air detection range is 80 kilometres, and its surface detection range is 250 to
300 kilometres.
The Héraklès can simultaneously track 400 targets.
The Bergamini-class vessel's C-band MM/SPY-790 multifunction radar is also rotating, but
it is installed in a dome.
Its air detection range is 480 kilometres.
The radar can track 300 targets and engage 12 of them simultaneously.
The Aquitaine-class frigate's crew is 123 people.
Its fully-loaded displacement is over 6,000 tons.
The ship has a length of 142 metres, a beam of 20 metres, and a draught of 7.6 metres.
The combined diesel-electric or gas propulsion system consists of two 21,760 horsepower GE
LM 2500 gas turbines, two 1,500 horsepower MEP Jeumont electric motors, and four 750
horsepower MTU 16 V 4000 M 408 B diesels.
Its top speed is 27 knots.
The Aquitaine-class frigate's range is over 11,110 kilometres, in other words, 6,000 nautical
miles.
The crew of the general-purpose variant of the Bergamini-class frigate is 131 people.
The ASW variant has two additional crew members.
Its fully-loaded displacement is over 6,700 tons.
The ship has a length of 144.6 metres, a beam of 19.7 metres, and a draught of 8.7 metres.
The combined diesel-electric and gas propulsion system consists of the first two frigates
one 41,910 horsepower GE/Avio LM2500+G4 gas turbine, two 3,350 horsepower MEP Jeumont
electric motors, and four 2,880 horsepower T2ME diesel engines.
The later eight Italian FREMMs have four 3,750 horsepower HPCR diesels instead of the T2MEs.
Its top speed is 30 knots.
The Bergamini-class frigate's range is near 12,600 kilometres, in other words, 6,800 nautical
miles.
The Weapon systems of the FREMM-class frigates differ depending on variants and user countries.
Besides ENS Tahya Misr of the Egyptian Navy, all French and Moroccan vessels have eight
MM40 Exocet Block 3 anti-ship missiles with a maximum range is 180-200 kilometres.
It has a 165-kilogram penetration warhead and Mach 0.9 speed.
Two Egyptian and ten Italian frigates have four to eight Teseo Mk-2/A anti-ship missiles
with 180 kilometres range.
It has a speed of Mach 0.91 and a 210-kilogram warhead.
Besides ENS Tahya Misr of the Egyptian Navy and RMNS Mohammed VI, four French vessels
have the 16-cell SYLVER A43 vertical launching system, which can launch the Aster 15 air
defence missiles with a 13-kilometre effective range.
It has a speed of Mach 3 and a 15-kilogram warhead.
Two Egyptian, two French, and all Italian ships have the 16-cell SYLVER A50 vertical
launching system, which can launch both Aster 15 and Aster 30 air defence missiles.
The anti-ballistic missile defence capable Aster 30 with a 20-kilometre effective range
has a speed of Mach 4.5.
The first six French frigates also have the 16-cell SYLVER A70 vertical launching system.
So, they can launch MdCN cruise missiles with 1,000 kilometres range and Mach 0.65 speed.
The Italian general-purpose variant has one 127mm LW127 and one 76mm Strales gun, while
the Italian ASW frigates have two Strales guns.
The LW127, with a rate of fire of 32 rounds per minute, can fire the Vulcano guided ammunition
with 120 kilometres range.
The Strales can fire Dart guided projectiles against aircraft and sea-skimming missiles.
It is currently the highest-range barrelled close-in weapon system.
The French variants have one good old 76mm Super Rapido.
The French variants are also fitted with two 20mm Narwhals and the Italian variants with
two 25mm KBAs.
The Italian ASW FREEMs have four MILAS anti-submarine missiles, which carry an active or passive
acoustic homing MU90 torpedo.
The missile has a range of 35 kilometres and the torpedo 10-23 kilometres.
All frigates have two triple torpedo tubes.
The Italian vessels are also fitted with two SITEP MASS CS-424 acoustic guns.
ITS Carlo Margottini, ITS Carabiniere, ITS Antonio Marceglia, FS Provence, and ENS Tahya
Misr fought against piracy in the Gulf of Aden.
But, FS Aquitaine, FS Auvergne and FS Languedoc participated in a real combat.
On April 14, 2018, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States jointly conducted a
missile attack on Syria.
During this operation, FS Aquitaine and FS Auvergne failed to launch their MdCNs.
Yet, FS Languedoc sent three cruise missiles to the targets in Barzeh and Him Shinshar.
It was also the first operational use of the MdCN.
Besides the programme partners, four nations have chosen the FREMM class.
But, being selected by the US Navy is a real commercial achievement.
The orders of the FREMM have reached to near 50 ships.
Yet, the frigate lost many significant tenders.
First, the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Canadian Navy preferred the Type 26-class.
Those two countries have ordered or planned to order 26 vessels in total.
Even Greece, considered one of the most likely potential customers of the FREMM, chose the
FDI-class frigates, a.k.a the Belharra-class.
Actually, it is not a big surprise.
Even France had reduced the number of FREMMs and had decided to procure the FDI-class vessels.
The FREMM-class is not just a new frigate but represents a significant level-up.
Its capabilities are highly similar to modern destroyers, which make it big and expensive.
But, a smaller-size surface combatant, like FDI-class, offers the same combat capability
in close waters with lower acquisition and life-cycle costs.
Also, please remember that reducing the displacement of a ship lowers its draught, which is more
favourable for littoral operations.
The FREMM class is a true warrior.
Using it for low-intensity patrol and escort missions to merchant ships is a waste.
The Royal Australian Navy, which already had the Hobart-class destroyers, was seeking a
replacement for the ANZAC-class frigates.
The priority of the Royal Canadian Navy is to keep open sealines in the North Atlantic
rather than engage in a naval battle against an enemy fleet.
So, for these two navies, which prioritise patrol and escort missions in the oceans,
the Type 26-class is a more suitable choice.
For the United States and Indonesia, which are preparing a possible naval confrontation
with China, the FREMM-class is the more sensible preference.
Before 2014, Cairo and Ankara were honeymooning.
Even Egypt was considering acquiring the MilGem-class ships from Turkey.
But, after the military coup, the relationship between the two countries quickly deteriorated.
So, Egypt began to seek new allies, and France was ready.
Thanks to the big arms dealing, including the FREMM-class frigates, Cairo and Paris
hit multiple birds with one stone.
Egypt acquired superior surface combatants against the larger Turkish Navy without losing
time.
It also gained the support of France.
Paris gained a vital ally in the Eastern Mediterranean against the Turkish revisionist policy.
Also, Egypt has become a lucrative market.
Only losing part of the FREMM agreement, politically, commercially and militarily, was Turkey.
The FREMM-class is among the most capable frigates.
But it is also a good indicator for understanding current global political and military situations.
It is possible to see what the world navies are preparing for by looking at the tenders
that this ship has won and lost.
Thanks for watching our video.
And please don't forget to subscribe to our channel and click the bell button to be notified
of our new videos.
Also, you can now click the join button to support our channel.
And as always, we would greatly appreciate all of your likes, comments, and shares.