[WIP] Marine Nationale - Aquitaine Class FREMM Frigate (Shell and Basic Systems ONLY)
Aquitaine-Class FREMM Frigates – Detailed Overview
Introduction
The Aquitaine-class, officially known as the FREMM (Frégate Européenne Multi-Mission), represents the new generation of multi-mission frigates developed jointly by France and Italy under a cooperative European program led by Naval Group (France) and Fincantieri (Italy).
For France, the FREMM project aimed to replace the aging Georges Leygues-class anti-submarine frigates and Cassard-class air-defense frigates, introducing a highly flexible, stealthy, and powerful combat platform capable of addressing modern maritime threats across the full spectrum of naval warfare.
Design Philosophy
At the heart of the FREMM concept lies multi-mission adaptability. Each ship can be configured for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-air warfare (AAW), or land-attack (AVT – Action Vers la Terre) missions, depending on operational requirements.
The Aquitaine-class integrates stealth technology, automation, and modular architecture to create a highly survivable, low-manned, and versatile platform that can seamlessly shift between deep-ocean combat and littoral operations.
General Characteristics
Displacement: ~6,000 tonnes (full load)
Length: 142 meters
Beam: 20 meters
Draft: 5 meters
Crew: 108 (plus accommodation for 27 additional personnel or mission specialists)
Endurance: 45 days at sea
Range: ~6,000 nautical miles at 15 knots
Speed: 27+ knots
The design emphasizes reduced radar, infrared, and acoustic signatures, with extensive use of composite materials and flush-mounted sensors and antennas.
Propulsion System
The FREMM frigates use a CODLOG (Combined Diesel-Electric or Gas) propulsion arrangement, offering both stealth and performance:
1 × General Electric/Avio LM2500+G4 gas turbine for high-speed operations
2 × electric motors powered by diesel generators for quiet, low-speed cruising (essential for ASW)
This configuration allows the ship to operate silently during submarine-hunting missions and quickly sprint when needed.
Sensors and Combat Systems
The combat management system is the SETIS (Ship Enhanced Tactical Information System), developed by Naval Group. It integrates a suite of advanced sensors and weapons for real-time tactical awareness and engagement.
Primary sensors include:
Thales Herakles multifunction radar (3D air/surface surveillance and target tracking)
CAPTAS-4 variable depth sonar (for ASW)
Kingklip hull-mounted sonar
Artemis infrared search and track system (IRST)
Sagem electro-optical fire control systems
Comprehensive ESM/ECM and decoy systems (Vigile and CANTO)
Armament
The Aquitaine-class is heavily armed for its size and mission scope:
Offensive and Defensive Systems
16 × SYLVER A43/A70 vertical launch cells for:
MBDA Aster 15/30 surface-to-air missiles
MdCN (Missile de Croisière Naval) land-attack cruise missiles (in the A70 cells)
8 × Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles
1 × 76 mm OTO Melara Super Rapid gun
2 × 20 mm remote-controlled Narwhal cannons
2 × twin MU90 lightweight torpedo launchers
Aviation Facilities
Hangar and flight deck for one NH90 Caïman Marine helicopter or AS565 Panther, equipped for anti-submarine or anti-surface warfare.
Variants in French Service
France’s FREMM program comprises several variants tailored to specific roles:
ASW Variant (Aquitaine type) – Optimized for anti-submarine warfare, featuring CAPTAS-4 sonar and MdCN cruise missiles.
Examples: Aquitaine (D650), Provence (D652), Languedoc (D653), Auvergne (D654), Bretagne (D655), Normandie (D651)
Air-Defense FREMM (FREMM DA) – Equipped with enhanced radar (Herakles with extended range) and Aster 30 missiles for fleet air defense.
Examples: Alsace (D656) and Lorraine (D657)
Export Variants – Adapted for customers such as:
Morocco (Mohammed VI)
Egypt (Tahya Misr)
Each with customized systems and weapons to meet national requirements.
Operational Role and Performance
The Aquitaine-class serves as the mainstay of the French surface fleet, capable of independent operations or integration into NATO and EU task forces. Missions include:
Anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare
Land-attack and strategic strike
Air defense escort
Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)
Humanitarian and maritime security operations
The ships have been deployed globally — from the Mediterranean and Red Sea to the Indo-Pacific — demonstrating their versatility, endurance, and interoperability with allied navies.
Significance
The Aquitaine-class FREMM embodies the technological sophistication and operational flexibility of 21st-century naval warfare. Its design philosophy — emphasizing multi-mission capability, stealth, automation, and modularity — positions it as one of the most capable and balanced frigates in the world.
With the addition of FREMM DA variants and future integration alongside the FDI (Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention) class, the FREMM fleet will continue to anchor France’s blue-water naval power well into the 2040s.
