October 7, 2024 represents a crucial milestone for the French Navy with the first sea voyage of the defense and intervention frigate (FDI) Amiral Ronarc’h . The first in a series of five French FDIs, it was launched in November 2022 and is now beginning a cycle of sea voyages for qualification trials conducted by the ship’s crew under the guidance of the French Armament Directorate (DGA).
Built in the Lorient shipyards by Naval Group , this first-rate frigate is the culmination of several years of intense work by engineers, workers and state and industrial teams. With its 4,500 tonnes of displacement and its 122 metres in length , the FDI is an innovative and scalable frigate that embodies the future of French naval operations . Equipped with cutting-edge systems that take advantage of digital technology and natively protected against cyber threats , it is designed to adapt to technological developments by installing new systems during its life. It will be able to operate whatever the level of threat, from the risk of asymmetric attack to high-intensity naval combat and project special forces. Its versatility makes it suitable for a wide variety of missions in the context of long-term and distant deployments in crisis zones. The FDI Amiral Ronarc’h thus embodies the French Navy’s desire to adapt to current military challenges.
During its first navigation, the technical performance of the vessel will be subjected to rigorous tests to validate its operation in real conditions with its crew.
The armament crew plays a crucial role before the ship is admitted to active service. The activity of the armament crew is structured around the following triptych: physical and mental preparation, organic preparation and technical preparation (training, tests). From the first sheet metal cutting to the tests, then in the phases of admission to active service, its role is to follow the progress of the construction site as closely as possible, as a representative of the Naval Action Force, the final owner who will operate the ship and use it in operations.