FREMM multipurpose frigate

The FREMM multipurpose frigate (French Frégate multi-mission or Italian Fregata multi-missione) is a class of frigate designed by DCNS/Armaris and Fincantieri for the navies of France and Italy. The lead ship of the class, Aquitaine, was commissioned in November 2012 by the French Navy. In France the class is known as the Aquitaine-class, while in Italy they are known as the Bergamini-class. Italy is buying two versions, a general purpose frigate and an anti-submarine variant; France hopes to buy an air-defence variant.

In 2007, Morocco ordered one anti-submarine variant of FREMM.

Background
Three original variants of the FREMM were proposed; an anti-submarine variant (ASW) and a general-purpose variant (GP) and a land-attack variant (AVT) to replace the existing classes of frigates within the French and Italian navies. A total of 27 FREMM were to be constructed - 17 for France and 10 for Italy - with additional aims to seek exports, however budget cuts and changing requirements has seen this number drop significantly. The land-attack variant (AVT) was subsequently cancelled.

A third anti-air warfare variant of FREMM was proposed by DCNS in repose to French requirements for a new air-defence frigate, the new variant became known as FREDA ("FREgates de Défense Aériennes", "Air defence frigate"). This new French requirement was due to the third and fourth Horizon-class frigates being cancelled after the first two cost €1,350m each, but this decision left French Navy still in-need of replacements for its ageing Cassard-class air-defence frigates.

As of 2009, the FREDA design features a more powerful version of the Héraklès radar and 32 cells of SYLVER A50 in place of the 16 cells of A43 and 16 cells of A70. The SYLVER A50 would allow it to fire the 120 km-range Aster 30 missile; the towed array sonar would not be fitted.

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 defence mission as well as anti-air. 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.

France
Original plans were for 17 FREMM to replace the nine D'Estienne d'Orves-class (A69) avisos and nine anti-submarine frigates of the Tourville class (F67) and Georges Leygues class (F70). In November 2005 France announced a contract of €3.5bn for development and the first eight hulls, with options for nine more costing €2.95bn split over two tranches (totaling 17).

Following the cancellation of the 3rd and 4th of the Horizon-class frigates in 2005 due to budgetary reasons, 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 2 ships of the 17 FREMM planned would built to FREDA specifications, however by 2008 the plan was revised down to just 11 FREMM (9 ASW variants and 2 FREDA variants) at a cost of €8.6bn (~US$11.5bn). The 11 ships would cost €592m (~US$800m) each, or €782m (~US$1,050m) including development costs.

The 2013 White Paper on Defence and National Security reduced the number of FREMM frigates to enter service with the French Navy from 11 down to 8. Current expectations are that there will be 6 ASW variants to replace the Georges Leygues-class frigates and 2 will be built to FREDA specifications to replace the ageing Cassard-class frigates.

A decision on whether or not to build the remaining 3 FREMM will be made in 2016.

Italy
Planning assumptions for the Italian Navy were 10 FREMM (4 ASW variants and 6 GP variants) at a cost of €5.8 billion. FREMM will replace the Maestrale and Lupo-class frigates in service with the Italian Navy. As of 2013, the Italian government has approved funding for the first six FREMM to be delivered to the Italian Navy (4 ASW varians and 2 GP variants). In the 2013 Italian budget, the Italian government has laid-out he necessary financing for two more GP variants (FREMM 7 & 8) and the contract was awarded in September 2013.

Export
On 24 October 2007 it was announced that the Royal Moroccan Navy had ordered one FREMM to replace its Descubierta-class corvette. The contract was signed on April 18, 2008 and construction of the Moroccan FREMM began in the summer 2008 with delivery expected in 2012 or 2013; the Mohammed VI was launched in September 2011 and will be delivered on 25 November 2013.

On 22 January 2009 the Hellenic Navy announced an order for six FREMM to replace an equal number of Elli-class frigates. 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 called foul on this deal in October 2011 and no deal has been signed. On 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 (the Normandie and Provence according to initial reports) to the Hellenic Navy has been reached.

In April 2013, the French government showcased the FREMM class in Halifax with the hope of selling to the Royal Canadian Navy.

Common equipment

 * Otobreda 76 mm Super Rapid gun (on Italian version with Davide/Strales guided-ammunition)
 * MU 90 torpedoes
 * SLAT anti-torpedo system
 * NH90 helicopter, with capability for AW101, Cougar and Caracal
 * Thales UMS 4410 CL hull sonar
 * Thales UMS 4249 CAPTAS4 towed sonar (anti-submarine versions only)
 * Two Sigen RECM jammer
 * Two SOFRESUD Quick Pointing Devices "QPD"

French-specific equipment

 * 16 cells of SYLVER A43 VLS for Aster 15
 * 16 cells of Sylver A70 VLS for SCALP Naval cruise missile with a range up to 1000 km
 * MM-40 Exocet block 3, for naval and land attack
 * Three Nexter 20mm 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
 * Samahé helicopter handling system

Italian-specific equipment

 * 144 m stretched hull
 * 16 cells of SYLVER A50 VLS for Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles
 * Space reserved for Sylver A70 launchers for 16 SCALP Naval or similar cruise missile, but not fitted
 * Selex ES IRST SASS
 * Two Selex ES NA-25 DARDO-F fire control system for the 76mm cannon
 * Selex ES EMPAR active radar (MFRA).
 * Selex ES RASS (RAN-30X-I) surface radar (OTH)
 * LPI navigation radar Selex ES SPN-730 and two navigation radar GEM-Elettronica MM/SPN-753
 * Selex ES Athena combat system (CMS)
 * Selex ES SAAM-ESD extended area AAW combat system (for Aster 15 & Aster 30 missiles)
 * Two OTO Melara SCLAR-H DLS Multipurpose Rocket Launcher
 * 8 Teseo\Otomat Mk-2/A block 4, for naval and land attack
 * Two Oto Melara/Oerlikon 25/80 mm, remote weapon system, controlled by close CMS
 * Curtiss-Wright TC-ASIST helicopter handling system (for both helicopters)
 * WASS SNA-2000-I, Mine Avoidance Sonar
 * L-3 ELAC Nautik SeaBeam 3050, Multi-beam echo sounder
 * 11 m rigid-hulled inflatable boat fast release and recovery system
 * ASW version : MILAS ASW missile
 * ASW variant: Otobreda 76 mm Super Rapid gun and a second Otobreda 76 mm Super Rapid gun on the hangar (both with Strales guided-ammunitions)
 * GP version : Otobreda 127/64 LW with Vulcano guided ammunition with a range up to 120 km, and AAHS (Automated Ammunition Handling System) with 350 rounds + 56 in turret and a second Otobreda 76 mm Super Rapid gun on the hangar (with Strales guided-ammunitions)