On January 14, 2026, the defense and intervention frigate (FDI) Amiral Ronarc’h set sail from Brest for a long-duration deployment. A major step towards her commissioning into active service with the French Navy, this deployment is designed to assess the ship’s military capabilities.
The FDI will be deployed in the North Sea, the North Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea
Admiral Ronarc’h‘s long-term deployment will last several months. An integral part of the IDF’s commissioning process, this deployment corresponds to the second stage of the “military capability verification” phase. It follows the operational readiness period for Admiral Ronarc’h’s crew, which ended in early December 2025.
Admiral Ronarc’h will head towards the High North and then the western Atlantic Ocean to assess its capabilities in diverse maritime environments, and to develop the interoperability of this new type of vessel with our partners and allies in the areas traversed. This period at sea, conducted far away, for an extended period, and with a crew, allows us to assess the FDI and its systems, and for the sailors to become more familiar with its equipment.
Focus on the IDF
Launched in 2017 under the initial name of FTI (intermediate-size frigates), built by Naval Group, the FDI aims to develop compact and scalable platforms natively designed to integrate advances related to the digitization of systems, new computer architectures and cybersecurity, while offering improved operational performance compared to heavier units such as multi-mission frigates (FREMM).
The FDI frigates, the first three of which are part of the 2024-2030 Military Programming Law, contribute to strengthening the French surface fleet. The FDIs will be adapted for intervention missions or for controlling the maritime and air space, notably through the ability to carry special forces and an embarked aerial drone and will be able to engage in high-intensity combat missions.
As such, their underwater operational capabilities are essential for protecting naval forces in operations and ensuring the security of the Strategic Oceanic Force. FDI frigates, like FREMM frigates, are first-rate vessels capable of operating in all areas of warfare and in all conflict scenarios.