The French Navy’s FrégateEuropéen multi-mission (FREMM)-class frigate, Normandie, has successfully completed its first three series of sea trials and returned to port on the DCNS site in Lorient, France.
Conducted off the Brittany coast, the trials evaluated the vessel’s performance and the capabilities of its combat-system sensors and Syracuse communication station.
The trials specifically focused on the combined diesel electric or gas (CODLOG ) hybrid system, which is designed to enable the frigate to reach speeds in excess of 27k.
Additionally, it was necessary to validated the frigate’s propulsion system, navigation systems (speed calculations, position, bearing) as well as the inertial units, which allow for precise positioning of the vessel at any location in the ocean.
Normandie is the second FREMM of the series ordered by the French General Directorate for Armament (DGA) from DCNS for the French Navy, and it successfully completed two initial testing phases in November 2012 and January 2013.
DCNS is under contract to build total of 12 FREMM ships, 11 for the French Navy and one for the Royal Moroccan Navy.
The French FREMM frigates will be built in two mission versions, where nine ships will feature ASW and shore bombardment enhanced capabilities, and two will have torpedoes, vertical-launch self-defence missiles and an active towed array sonar.
Five other multi-mission frigates are currently being constructed at Lorient. The FREMM Normandie is scheduled to be delivered to the French Navy this year, following successful completion of further trials.
The 142m-long Normandie frigate is capable of accommodating a crew of 145 with a complement crew of 108, it has a displacement capacity of 6,000t, can cruise at 27k and has a range of 15k.
Image: French Navy’s Normandie frigate at sea. Photo: courtesy of DCNS.
