Overview  |  Description  |  Technical card  |  Industrial card  |  Equipment and ammunition  |  Countries equipped  |  Cooperation

France and Italy have decided to cooperate on a programme involving future frigates, the basic mission for each navy being control of the air/sea environment and active, joint participation in supporting amphibian and naval air group activities.

The aim of the programme is to produce:

  17 multi-mission frigates for France in two versions: nine frigates designed for land action, and eight antisubmarine frigates;

  ten Fregata Nuova Generazione (FNG) for Italy in two versions: four antisubmarine frigates and six general-purpose frigates.

As of 2011, the multi-mission frigates (FREMM) are expected to form the backbone of the French Navy in terms of surface ships. They will feature a combat system optimised to operate with a reduced crew and will be truly open-ended with respect to future multi-platform action capability.

A comprehensive contract covering the development, industrialisation, logistics studies and production of twenty-seven vessels was awarded by OCCAR, on 16 November 2005 to the industrial group Armaris-Orrizonte, until then responsible for design studies. This contract demonstrates the overall commitment of the European nations and, for France, includes a firm phase for the construction of the first eight ships in series production. These frigates are to be delivered between 2011 and 2021.