DCNS has floated the newest French Frégate européenne multi-mission (FREMM) frigate constructed for the French Navy from its facility in Lorient.
The new vessel, FREMM Auvergne, represents the sixth frigate in the programme and also fourth of the series ordered by OCCAR on behalf of the French defence procurement agency (DGA) for the French Navy.
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FREMM is a joint programme between France and Italy, which aims to build 21 frigates for their navies.
DCNS FREMM programme director Anne Bianchi said: "The floating of the FREMM Auvergne, after the delivery of the FREMM Tahya Misr to the Egyptian Navy and the delivery of the FREMM Provence in June, demonstrate DCNS’s ability to successfully achieve a serial production.
"DCNS is doing everything in its power to satisfy its clients, the OCCAr, the DGA and the French Navy by delivering these last six frigates before mid-2019."
by delivering these last six frigates before mid-2019.
Started construction in August 2012, the 142m-long and 20m-wide FREMM Auvergne will be featuring effective weapon systems and hardware, such as the Héraclès multifunctional radar, the naval cruise missile, the Aster and Exocet MM 40 missiles and the MU 90 torpedoes.
In addition, these vessels will have capacity to accommodate a Caiman marine helicopter, as well as Special Forces and their equipment.
The new vessel will be operated by a crew of 108, which is half that required for the frigates of the previous generation, DCNS stated.
The Tahya Misr FREMM frigate vessel was originally built for the French Navy, but was transferred to Egypt after consideration of the country’s urgent order for the vessel.
Image: French Navy’s FREMM multi-mission frigate Auvergne floats out from DCNS facility. Photo: courtesy of DCNS.
