FREMM multipurpose frigate

The FREMM Multipurpose Frigate (French "Frégate multi-mission" or Italian "Fregata Europea Multi-Missione") is a ship designed by DCN and Fincantieri to operate in anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, and be capable of carrying out deep strikes against land targets.

The French Navy plans to operate seventeen FREMM frigates, and the Marina Militare ten. The first commissionings are expected in 2011 when the first of the French vessels is due in service (France has so far placed orders for 11 FREMM frigates, Italy 6 [http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2641278&C=navwar] with the last 4 has been funded at the end of 2007). The ships will be built in France by Armaris (owned by DCNS, and in Italy by Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (a joint venture between shipbuilder Fincantieri and aerospace firm Finmeccanica). This arrangement extends the partnerships forged for development of the Horizon CNGFs (Common New Generation Frigates). Morocco has bought one frigate to be operated by the Royal Moroccan Navy [http://fr.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20071022/tbs-france-maroc-sarkozy-defense-7318940_1.html] .

France will use 9 frigates to replace the anti-submarine "Tourville" class frigates (F67 type), the anti-submarine "Georges Leygues" class frigates (F70 type) and 2 FREDA frigates to replace the two units of the anti-aircraft "Cassard" class.

Italy will build 4 ASW and 6 general-purpose (GP) frigates to replace the (8) "Maestrale" and (4) "Lupo" class frigates.

The first eight French ships have been named "Aquitaine", "Normandie", "Provence", "Bretagne", "Auvergne", "Languedoc", "Alsace" and "Lorraine". The first two Italian ships have been named "Carlo Bergamini" and "Carlo Margottini".

Versions

Three versions of the frigates are planned: one anti-submarine version, one anti-aircraft version (FR) [FREDA] and a general-purpose (IT) version. French and Italians will use these with some equipment which will differ between the two countries. The French is considering an anti-aircraft version called FREDA, which will replace the two units of the "Cassard" class.

In spite of the existence of three different versions of the FREMM, their design as well as most of their armament will be similar.

Common armament

* MU 90 torpedoes
* MM-40 Exocet block 3 (France version)
* TeseoOtomat Mk-2/A block 4, for naval and land attack (Italian version)
* MBDA Aster SAAM in SYLVER launchers
* Otobreda 76 mm Super Rapid gun with Davide ammunition
* two light guns (20mm in French version and 25mm in Italian version)
* NH90 helicopter, capability for EH101 (Italian version)

Anti-Submarine version

* Towed sonar : Captas UMS 4249
* Other torpedoes
* MILAS ASW missile (Italian ASW FF only)
* Multi-beam echo sounder (Italian ASW FF only)

Land attack version

The Land attack version is dubbed GP ("General Purpose")
* Otobreda 127/64 LW with Vulcano guided ammution with a range up to 120km (Italian LA only)
* SCALP EG Naval cruise missile in Sylver-70 launchers (French LA only)

Anti-air version

The anti-air version is dubbed FREDA ("Frégates de défense aériennes", "Air defence frigate"). Following the cancellation of the third and fourth Horizon class frigates, the French Navy has started studies for an anti-air version of the FREMM, called FREDA. The FREDA should carry 16 Aster 30 and 16 Aster 15. They would also have the standard dotation of one 76 mm gun, two 20 mm guns and 8 Exocet missiles. [http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=105325]

French service

The first eight French frigates are to be named
* "Aquitaine"
* "Normandie"
* "Provence"
* "Bretagne"
* "Auvergne"
* "Languedoc"
* "Alsace"
* "Lorraine"

Italian Service

The construction of the first two Italian vessels has begun. The first two ships will be named:
* "Carlo Bergamini"
* "Carlo Margottini"

Export

On 10/24/2007 it was announced the Moroccan navy ordered one FREMM through French marketing. The ship will be built in Lorient by DCNS. It will replace the Descubierta class frigate currently used. [http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=105848] . The contract was reported signed on April, 18 2008 and construction of the Moroccan FREMM began the summer 2008 and is expected to be delivered by 2012 or 2013. [http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=108228&u=3951] On September 7 2008 it was announced the Brazilian armed forces would acquire 6 FREMM for its navy. [http://defesabr.com/blog/index.php/04/09/2008/brasil-construira-6-fremms-e-4-scorpenes/]

External links

*fr French Navy Official Page [http://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/decouverte/equipements/renouvellement_des_moyens/fregates_europeennes_multi_missions_fremm]
*it Italian Navy Official Page [http://www.marina.difesa.it/programmi/rinascimento.asp]
*en Detail, story and image on Italian FREMM [http://digilander.libero.it/en_mezzi_militari/html/en_fremm.html]