At Euronaval, Naval Group unveiled a family of Defence and Intervention Frigates (FDI), providing first details of a lengthened and more powerful variant of the platforms in service with French and Greek navies and under construction for the Swedish Navy. Taking advantage of the FDI design flexibility, the French Armaments General Directorate (DGA) announced the contract award to Naval Group and MBDA for doubling the air defence capabilities of the Marine Nationale Amiral Ronarc’h-class FDIs, increasing the number of vertical launching system (VLS) cells to 32
Exploiting the inherent flexibility of FDI platform architecture and the provisions incorporated into the original design to evolve in line with customer requirements and operational needs, as highlighted by the recent conflict and crisis around the world, at Euronaval Naval Group unveiled a more powerful and capable version of its successful combatant surface platform, which is already in service with two Naval Forces and in construction for a third one while attracting the interest of additional potential customers and responding to their bidding requests.
The key difference, compared to current version, is the stretched hull thank to the addition of an almost 9-metre-long section amidships between the forward integrated mast or PSIM and the ship funnel. The new ship section increases the FDI’s displacement by nearly 800 tonnes to approximately 5,400 tonnes, while the frigate’s overall length is extended to nearly 131 metres.
The addition of a new ship section and the overall increase in displacement, according to Naval Group, do not affect the vessel’s speed and other performances, while providing significant advantages in terms of additional space and internal volume for extra combat power capabilities.
The stretched-hull version was first reported in 2021 and initially presented as an inherent platform potential development to cope with high-intensity and long-endurance operations. Renderings of the ship with the insertion of the additional modular section were shown in the past, but during Euronaval 2026 Naval Group presented for the first time the more powerful version of the FDI based on the demand for additional fire power coming from the recent and on-going naval operations. According to the Naval Group video presenting the evolution of the platform, the additional section is used to accommodate more weapon systems on the higher superstructure area while the lower compartments are expected to host spaces for a range of systems and accommodations, including electronics, additional personnel and embarked staff, platform systems, and fuel storage, significantly increasing the frigate’s operational range and endurance.
The released video images and the few details released by Naval Group representatives present a more powerful weapon package. In addition to the bow-positioned Naval Group family of Sylver VLSs which can accommodate a different mix of missiles, which will be later discussed, including up to 32 Aster surface-to-air missiles (SAM), the stretched amidships section features an enhanced weapon fit including three six-cells VLSs for a total of 18 MBDA VL MICA Next Generation (NG) or CAMM ER SAMs, in addition to up to four quadruple-missile inclined launchers for MBDA MM40 Block 3/3c Exocet anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs). Two of these launchers, according to the released video, could be replaced by two containerized launching systems for up to 336 loitering ammunitions. Alternatively, the two additional Exocet quadruple launchers and the VLS for VL MICA NG or CAMM-ER could be replaced by two eight-cell A50 Sylver launchers, EDR On-Line understood. The installation of new weapon systems such as the VL MICA NG or the CAMM ER require the addition of reconfigurable firing units and data link antennas for the missile mid-course update according to the selected weapon systems configuration. Compared to the new platform version, the current FDI smaller amidships modular area is capable to accommodate only up to two quadruple-missile inclined launchers for MM40 Block 3/3c ASCMs.
In addition to the amidships larger section, as previously anticipated, the FDI bow area can accommodate up to four Naval Group Sylver VLS in a single or a mixed configuration including respectively only Sylver A50s for Aster 15, 30 and 30 Block 1NT SAMs or a mix between A50s and more capable A70s for larger and longer deep strike weapon systems or a new so-called cold launcher of the Sylver VLS family for missiles like the CAMM/CAMM ER. While the Aster family of missiles or other weapon systems uses the booster, which ignites inside the launcher, in the case of missile with the cold launching system, the munition is ejected outside the cell and after several meters in the air the missile rocket engine starts. The first two Amiral Ronarc’h-class FDIs built and in service with the Marine Nationale are fitted with only two 8-cell Sylver A50 VLS, while the Kimon-class FDIs for the Greek Navy are equipped since the first-of-class with four 8-cell Sylver A50 for Aster missiles. Several configurations are however possible on the FDI, including two Sylver 50 with a total of 16 Aster missiles and two Sylver A70 launchers for up to 16 Naval Cruise Missiles (NCMs), or three A50 systems with 24 Aster and one A70 with eight NCMs. Although a contract to equip the FDIs being built for the Swedish Navy with VLS and air defence missiles hasn’t been signed yet, it has been declared that the Swedish MoD and Navy has opted for adopting both Aster and CAMM ER missiles. Although no information was released about the selected configuration, it is reported that 24 CAMM ER munitions can be accommodated within the volume occupied by a single Sylver launcher module. In the mixed configuration, an FDI could carry 16 Aster and 48 CAMM ER missiles with a mix of A50 and cold launchers, or a higher number of Aster missiles, as it is reported for the Swedish Navy with three 8-cell Sylver A50s and one cold launching system accommodating 24 CAMM ERs.
At Euronaval 2026, the French DGA has announced the formalization of the contact with Naval Group and MBDA to double the air defence capabilities of the French Navy’s FDIs, increasing their capacity from 16 to 32 Aster missiles. No further details were released about which new FDI will receive the additional Sylver A50 VLS before delivery, but EDR On-Line understood this should be from the third vessel, which is planned to be handed over to Marine Nationale in 2029, although the two additional VLSs will be added only during the fitting out as the ship was built without them. The fourth FDI will be the first platform to be so equipped since its construction phase. The in-service platforms with the French Navy will be upgraded in the future.
According to the French Ministry of Armed Forces, the upgrade aims to bolster the lethality and resilience of the FDI frigates in an increasingly demanding operational environment. The Ministry noted that this effort reflects France’s commitment to continuously adapt its naval capabilities to evolving strategic threats, ensuring the frigates are fully equipped for high-intensity maritime conflicts and saturation attacks.
Graphics courtesy Naval Group
