FREMM multipurpose frigate


The European multi-purpose frigate or FREMM is a Franco-Italian family of warships designed by Naval Group and Fincantieri. This surface combatant is known in France as the Aquitaine class and in Italy as the Bergamini class. The lead ship of the class,, was commissioned in November 2012 by the French Navy. Italy has ordered six general purpose and four anti-submarine variants. France, on the other hand, has ordered six anti-submarine variants and two air-defense ones.
The FREMM has also been exported to various countries. Prior to the cancellation of the project, the United States Navy had intended to use a FREMM variant for the of 20 frigates.

Background

Three original variants of the FREMM were proposed; an anti-submarine variant and a general-purpose variant and a land-attack variant to replace the existing classes of frigates within the French and Italian navies. A total of 27 FREMM were to be constructed with additional aims to seek exports. However, budget cuts and changing requirements saw this number drop significantly for France, while the order for Italy remained unchanged. The land-attack variant was subsequently cancelled.
A third anti-air warfare variant of FREMM was proposed by DCNS in response to French requirements for a new air-defence frigate, the new variant became known as FREDA. This new French requirement was due to the third and fourth s being cancelled after the first two cost €1.35B each, but this decision left French Navy still in-need of replacements for its aging air-defence frigates.
As of 2009, the FREDA design features a more powerful version of the Héraklès passive electronically scanned array radar and 32 cells of SYLVER A50 vertical launch system in place of the 16 cells of A43 and 16 cells of A70. The SYLVER A50 would allow it to fire the -range Aster 30 missile. While at one point it was determined that the towed array sonar would not be fitted, this has subsequently been retained on the FREDA design.
At Euronaval 2012 DCNS showed a new concept called FREMM-ER for the FREDA requirement, again based on the FREMM, but specifically mentioning the ballistic missile defense mission as well as anti-air warfare. FREMM-ER has a modified superstructure replacing Héraklès with the new Thales Sea Fire 500 radar, whose four fixed plates resemble those of the US Navy's AN/SPY-1. However, unlike the Héraklès and the SPY-1, the Sea Fire 500 has active electronically scanned array antennas.

Italy

Initial planning assumptions for the Italian Navy are ten FREMM-IT at a cost of €5.9 billion. FREMM-IT will replace the and frigates in service with the Italian Navy.
In the 2013 Italian budget, the Italian government laid out the necessary financing for two more GP variants and the contract was awarded in September 2013. On 15 April 2015, the Italian Parliament confirmed the deal between OCCAR and Orizzonte Sistemi Navali Spa to begin building units 9 and 10, for 764 million Euros.
As of 16 April 2015, the Italian government has approved funding for all ten FREMM-IT to be delivered to the Italian Navy. FREMM-IT 9 & 10 will have undisclosed enhanced capabilities. All ten Italian FREMM-ITs have extended AAW capabilities, with SAAM-ESD CMS, Aster 30 and Aster 15 missiles for extended area defence. SAAM-ESD CMS use Leonardo MFRA, a 3D active radar, an evolved version of the Leonardo EMPAR PESA radar. Since the seventh FREMM-IT, there will be updates, such as new conformal IFF antenna and much more stealth response. Since the ninth FREMM-IT, SCLAR-H was replaced with Leonardo ODLS-20. In 2017 the Italian FREMM refit started with the installation on each of two SITEP MS-424 acoustic guns.
In 2020, Italy sold its last two FREMM-class frigates in the current production line to Egypt. Spartaco Schergat was in the final stage of her sea trials while Emilio Bianchi would follow within one year. The deal reportedly also involved other military equipment and was worth 1.2 billion USD. Italy then order two additional FREMM frigates to replace those transferred to Egypt with the anticipated delivery of the replacements by 2025, with a new GP&ASW enhanced configuration, named GP-e.
On 31 July 2024, Italy ordered at a cost of €1.5 billion another two FREMM from OCCAR, named FREMM-EVO, bringing the class fleet to twelve vessels. The FREMM-EVO will be based on the FREMM-ASW hull with several changes: PPA's dual-band integrated X- & C-band radar, ATBM capability with Aster 30B1NT missiles, CAPTAS-4 variable depth sonar, two Lionfish 30 mm autocannons to replace 25/80 mm, etc.

France

The original plan was for 17 FREMM to replace the nine avisos and nine anti-submarine frigates of the and es. In November 2005 France announced a contract of €3.5 billion for development and the first eight hulls, with options for nine more costing €2.95 billion split over two tranches.
Following the cancellation of the third and fourth of the Horizon-class frigates in 2005 on budget grounds, requirements for an air-defence derivative of the FREMM called FREDA were placed – with DCNS coming up with several proposals. Expectations were that the last two ships of the 17 FREMM planned would be built to FREDA specifications; however, by 2008 the plan was revised down to just 11 FREMM at a cost of €8.75 billion. The 11 ships would cost €670 million each in FY2014, or €860m including development costs.
The 2013 French [White Paper on Defence and National Security|2013 White Paper on Defence and National Security] committed France to 15 front-line frigates, which was initially interpreted as 2 Horizons, 5 s and a reduction in the FREMM fleet down to 8 ships. The 2014–2019 defence plan restated a target of 11 frigates; of which six ASW FREMM variants would be delivered to replace the Georges Leygues-class frigates by 2019, followed by two anti-air variants to replace the ageing Cassard-class frigates and a decision was to have been taken in 2016 on what version the remaining three would be. In 2014, the French Navy's Chief of Staff, Admiral Bernard Rogel, confirmed that 11 FREMM frigates had been ordered but in 2015 the order was cut to 8 in order to allow for the introduction of five FTI mid-Size frigates from 2024. The FTI will replace the La Fayette class in "first-rank" roles, with three of the La Fayettes also being fitted with active sonar and other improvements so as to extend their service life into the early 2030s.
On 16 April 2021 the French Navy received Alsace, the first of the two air defence FREMM frigates ordered. The primary role of the air defence frigates is conducting the anti-aircraft defense of critical units such as the and Mistral class landing helicopter docks. Besides being equipped with Aster 15 and Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles, the ship holds Exocet MM 40 anti-ship missiles and the MU 90 torpedo system.

Export

United States

On 10 July 2017, it was reported that the United States Congress was interested in foreign designs such as the Fincantieri FREMM for the US Navy's FFG(X) Program. According to Representative Rob Wittman, chairman of the United States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, the US Congress was comfortable with models such as Fincantieri's partnership with Lockheed Martin to build the version of the littoral combat ship. If the Italian FREMM design is selected, the Marinette Marine shipyard in Wisconsin, part of the Fincantieri group, would build the guided-missile frigates. Marinette Marine is best known for the US Navy Freedom-class LCS. On 16 February 2018, Fincantieri Marine was one of five companies awarded a $15 million contract for conceptual design of FFG, which the Navy would evaluate over 16 months ahead of a final request for proposal in 2019 and contract award in 2020.
On 30 June 2017, it was announced that Leonardo and BAE Systems will collaborate to provide the US military forces with a wide range of upgraded munitions for advanced, large-calibre weapon systems such as the Leonardo Vulcano and Strales/DART guided munitions.
From late May to early June 2018, the Italian Navy deployed Alpino on a good will visit to the United States along the Eastern seaboard, making port calls in Norfolk, Baltimore, New York City, and Boston. She was visited by several US Navy officials who toured her as a potential FFG candidate. Among the visitors was the Italian Ambassador to the United States, Armando Varricchio.
On 30 April 2020, the US Navy announced that Fincantieri had been awarded a $795 million contract for the first FFG, to be built at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. The contract includes options for an additional nine ships, which, if all options were exercised, would value the contract at $5.5 billion. On 7 October 2020, US Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite announced that first FFG frigate would be named.
On 25 November 2025, the Constellation class was cancelled, allegedly due to the amount of changes the USN made to the off-the-shelf FREMM design, reducing the time- and cost-savings.

Egypt

Egypt ordered two Italian FREMM frigates in 2020 and one French FREMM frigate in 2015.
On 16 February 2015, the Egyptian Navy ordered one FREMM vessel to enter service before the opening of the New Suez Canal, as part of a larger deal worth US$5.9 billion. In order to keep to Egypt's deadlines, France offered to send Normandie, originally intended for the French Navy. The SYLVER A70 VLS and NETTUNO-4100 jamming equipment were removed due to export limitations for such sensitive equipment. The crew will be around 126 sailors compared to 108 in the French Navy. The SATCOM antenna for the French Syracuse satellites was also taken down; however, Egypt will use its own military telecommunications satellite, supplied by Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space, in conjunction with its naval vessels. From March 2015, DCNS trained the Egyptian crew in the technology of the ship and DCNS and its partners accompanied the crew for a period of 15 months. On 23 June 2015, French naval shipbuilder DCNS transferred the FREMM frigate Tahya Misr to the Egyptian Navy. A ceremony took place to transfer Normandie, renamed Tahya Misr to Egypt, in the presence of General Sedki Sobhy, the Egyptian Minister of Defense, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Minister of Defense, Admiral Osama Rabie, Egyptian Navy Commander in Chief, Admiral Bernard Rogel, the French Chief of Navy and Hervé Guillou, Chairman & CEO of DCNS. The initial Italian sale might be followed by the subsequent acquisition of two additional FREMM frigates by Egypt. In April 2021, the second FREMM Bergamini-class frigate, ENS Bernees, joined the Egyptian Navy. The first one joined on 31 December 2020.

Morocco

On 24 October 2007, it was announced that the Royal Moroccan Navy had ordered one FREMM to replace its. The contract was signed on 18 April 2008 and construction of the Moroccan FREMM began in the summer 2008 with delivery expected in 2012 or 2013; Mohammed VI was launched in September 2011 and handed over on 30 January 2014. The Moroccan ship is similar to the French anti-submarine version, without SYLVER A70 tubes for MdCN cruise missile, and cost €470m.

Indonesia

On 10 June 2021, Indonesia signed a contract with Fincantieri for the order of six FREMM frigates and two Maestrale-class frigates and other logistical support. There may be collaboration between PT-PAL Shipyard on Java and Fincantieri.

Greece

Following the unsuccessful negotiations of 2009-2018, which fell through due to the Greek economic crisis, in April 2025 Greek Minister for National Defence Nikos Dendias announced to the Delphi Economic Forum. Greece would again seek to purchase two used FREMM frigates from Italy, as part of the country's €25 billion multi-year defence plan. In September 2025, the intent was formalised by signing a naval cooperation agreement for 2+2 frigates, between Greece and Fincantieri who will upgrade and modernise the first two Bergamini class vessels and the follow-on option of two more. With the signing of the MoU, Greece will proceed with the specific requirements of the armament suite, to allow compatibility with systems on the FDI Kimon-class frigates. The Italian Teseo anti-ship missiles will probably be replaced with Exocet or Harpoon, while there is interest in the new ELSA missile system also to be integrated. The first ship is expected to be handed over before 2029, as Italy receives its first FREMM EVO replacement.

Unsuccessful bids

Canada

In April 2013, the French government showcased the FREMM class in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with the hope of selling to the Royal Canadian Navy for the Single Class Surface Combatant Project.
In September 2017, a variant of the FREMM was offered directly to the Ministry of Defence, in an attempt to protect intellectual property. This direct bid included delivery of the first ship in 2019 if accepted within the year and a fixed price of $30 billion for all 15 ships, versus the $62 billion estimated for the government's prime-contractor ship building plan. In December 2017 the offer was rejected by the Public Services and Procurement Canada, citing the unsolicited nature of the bid as undermining the fair and competitive nature of the procurement". In October 2018, the Type 26 design was chosen by Canada as the winner of the program. On 8 February 2019, a contract was signed by Canada to build Type 26 vessels.

Australia

In April 2016, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed that the Italian FREMM class was one of three frigates shortlisted for the Royal Australian Navy's replacement. In September 2016, Fincantieri signed a contract to participate in the Competitive Evaluation Process, conducted by the Department of Defence for nine Future Frigates for the Royal Australian Navy. In June 2018, the contract was awarded to BAE Systems to produce up to six s based on the British Type 26 frigate, of which three units were ordered in June 2024.

Brazil

In January 2019, the Italian government made an offer of two Bergamini-class frigates to the Brazilian Navy. The frigates Spartaco Schergat and Emilio Bianchi under construction for the Italian Navy, would be transferred to Brazil for €1.5 billion.

Greece

On 22 January 2009 the Hellenic Navy announced an order for six FREMM to replace an equal number of s. After the Greek government-debt crisis this was cut down to between two and four ships equipped with SCALP Naval, with France alleged to have offered them to Greece at no cost for the first five years. Germany objected to this deal in October 2011 and no deal has been signed. In February 2013 though and during the formal visit of the President of France, François Hollande, in Athens, according to press reports an agreement which includes the long-term leasing of two FREMM frigates to the Hellenic Navy has been reached. On 12 January 2018 the Greek daily newspaper Kathimerini reported that the Greek government was set to enter talks with France regarding the procurement of two FREMM frigates, with an option for an additional two. Contacts between Greece and France were to begin initially at a military level, starting in February 2018. In April 2018, Greek deputy Minister for National Defence Fotis Kouvelis stated that an agreement between France and Greece was reached for a five-year lease of two FREMM frigates, which could have been handed over as early as August 2018. After a few days, on 25 April 2018 the Greek minister of Defense Panos Kammenos denied any information regarding the purchase of two frigates from France. Eventually, Greece abandoned all plans for the purchase of FREMMs in 2019 and pursued with the smaller FDI Belharra multi-purpose frigates, offered by Naval Group.

Country-specific equipment

Common equipment

  • Leonardo OTO Melara /62 calibre gun
  • 2 × torpedo launchers Eurotorp/WASS B515/3 for MU 90 torpedoes with Calzoni AHS
  • 1 × Leonardo NA-25 DARDO-F fire control system for the 76 mm cannon
  • 2 × SLAT anti-torpedo system ASW DLS based on Thales ALERT sonar system, DCNS RATO command system and WASS CMAT weapon system
  • NH90 helicopter, with capability for AW101, Cougar and Caracal
  • Thales UMS 4110 CL hull sonar
  • Thales UMS 4249 CAPTAS-4 towed sonar
  • Thales TUUM-6 Underwater Telephone
  • 2 × Sigen MM/SMQ-765 EW system: with JASS ECM, Nettuno 4100, by ELT Elettronica and Thales ESM
  • 2 × SOFRESUD Quick Pointing Devices "QPD"

French-specific equipment

  • 16-cell MBDA SYLVER A43 VLS for MBDA Aster 15 missiles
  • * The last two ASW variants have been fitted with a 16-cell MBDA A50 VLS for MBDA Aster 30 to be used if deemed necessary.
  • * The two AAW variants fitted with 32-cell A50 VLS.
  • 16-cell MBDA SYLVER A70 VLS for MBDA MdCN cruise missile with a range up to or Aster 30 anti-air missile
  • MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3,
  • 2 × 2 Sadral Mistral Simbad-RC point-defence SAM
  • 2 × Nexter Narwhal remote weapon systems
  • NGDS decoy launcher
  • Héraklès radar
  • Terma Scanter 2001 radar
  • Thales Artemis IRST
  • SETIS combat system
  • Sagem Najir fire control system for the 76mm gun ; being replaced by Thales STIR 1.2 EO MK2 fire control radar on all French ASW variants as of 2025
  • Thales STIR EO MK 2 fire control radar for 76mm gun
  • 4 × torpedo launchers Eurotorp/WASS B515/3 for MU 90 torpedoes
  • Samahé helicopter handling system

Italian-specific equipment

  • 16-cell MBDA SYLVER A50 VLS for MBDA Aster 15 missiles and MBDA Aster 30 missiles
  • Leonardo IRST SASS
  • another one Leonardo NA-25 DARDO-F fire control system for the second cannon
  • Leonardo Kronos Grand Naval AESA, 3D, C band radar
  • Leonardo RASS surface radar
  • Leonardo SPS-732, 2D LPI Surveillance X band radar ; since the seventh FREMM-IT replaced by more powerful Leonardo SPS-732
  • Leonardo SPN-730 LPI navigation radar and two navigation radar GEM-Elettronica MM/SPN-753
  • Leonardo SPN-720 radar for helicopter precision approach
  • Leonardo IFF SIR M-E; since the 7th FREMM-IT replaced with Leonardo IFF SIR M5-PA with phased array antenna
  • Leonardo Athena combat system, with 21, three displays, MFC : 17 into COC, 2 in backup COC, 1 on bridge and 1 into Command Planning Room
  • Leonardo SAAM-ESD extended area AAW combat system
  • 2 × Leonardo SCLAR-H DLS Multipurpose Rocket Launcher; since the 7th vessel replaced with Leonardo ODLS-20
  • GP version: 8 × MBDA Teseo Mk-2/A, for naval and land attack missiles
  • ASW version: 4 × MBDA Teseo Mk-2/A missiles and 4 × MBDA MILAS anti-submarine missiles
  • 2 × OTO Melara - Oerlikon KBA /80 calibre remote weapon system, controlled by close CMS
  • Curtiss-Wright TC-ASIST helicopter handling system
  • Leonardo SNA-2000-I mine avoidance sonar
  • L-3 ELAC Nautik SeaBeam 3050, multi-beam echo sounder
  • 1 × rigid-hulled inflatable boat release and recovery lateral systems
  • 1 × rigid-hulled inflatable boat release and recovery lateral systems
  • 1 × 11m rigid-hulled inflatable boat fast, stern release and recovery system
  • ASW version: 2 × Leonardo OTO Melara 76 mm/62 calibre Davide/Strales CIWS guns, one on the hangar
  • GP version: 1 × Leonardo OTO Melara 127 mm/64 calibre gun with Vulcano guided ammunition, with a range up to, and AAHS with 350 rounds + 56 in turret and a second Leonardo 76 mm/62 calibre Davide/Strales CIWS gun on the hangar
  • 2 × acoustic guns / LRAD SITEP MASS CS-424: since year 2017, on update works

Ships of the class

French production

All the ships were made by the DCNS shipyard in Lorient.

Italian production

All the ships were made and are being produced by the Fincantieri shipyards in Muggiano and Riva Trigoso.

United States production