French frigate Amiral Ronarc'h
 Amiral Ronarc'h during fitting out at Lorient shipyard on 4 December 2022 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Amiral Ronarc'h |
| Namesake | Pierre Alexis Ronarc'h |
| Builder | Naval Group, Lorient |
| Laid down | 17 December 2021 |
| Launched | 7 November 2022 |
| Commissioned | Projected 2024/25 |
| Homeport | Brest (Projected)[1] |
| Identification | Pennant number: D660 |
| Status | Sea trials |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Frégate de défense et d'intervention |
| Displacement | 4,500 t (4,400 long tons) |
| Length | 122 m (400 ft 3 in) |
| Beam | 17.7 m (58 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) |
| Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Endurance | 45 days |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 2 × RHIB |
| Complement | 110 (+15 helicopter detachment) |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried |
|
Amiral Ronarc'h (D660) is the lead ship of Frégate de défense et d'intervention of the French Navy.
Design and description
[edit]Amiral Ronarc'h has a length of 122 m (400 ft), a beam of 17.7 m (58 ft), and her displacement is 4,500 t (4,400 long tons). The ship is powered by combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion with total power output of 32,000 kW (43,000 shp). Her maximum speed is 27 knots (50 km/h), range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km) while cruising at 15 knots (28 km/h),[2] and endurance up to 45 days.[3] The frigate could accommodate 150 personnel, including the usual complement of 110 ship crew and 15 crew for the helicopter detachment.[2]
She is armed with one Oto Melara 76 mm Super Rapid gun and two 20 mm Nexter Narwhal remote controlled weapon station. For surface warfare, Amiral Ronarc'h are equipped with eight Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles, and two Sylver A50 8-cell vertical launch system for 16 MBDA Aster 15/30 anti-aircraft missiles. For anti-submarine warfare, she is equipped with two twin 324 mm torpedo tubes for MU90 Impact torpedoes. The ship also equipped with non-lethal weapon systems for asymmetrical warfare[4][2]
Her electronic system and sensors consisted of Thales Sea Fire 500 multi-function active electronically scanned array search and track radar, Aquilon integrated communication and identification friend or foe system, SETIS 3.0 combat management system, Kingklip Mark II hull-mounted sonar, CAPTAS-4 towed sonar, Thales SENTINEL electronic support measures suite and CANTO anti-torpedo decoys.[5][4][2]
Amiral Ronarc'h also has a hangar and flight deck at stern and could accommodate one SDAM UAV and one NH90 or Guépard Marine (H160M) helicopter equipped with MU90 torpedoes and dipping sonar, air-to-surface missiles, and/or heavy machine gun.[6][3][7] The frigate also carries two rigid-hull inflatable boats for patrolling or for Special Forces purpose.[4][2]
Construction and career
[edit]The construction of the ship was started with the first steel cutting ceremony at the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient on 24 October 2019.[8] Her keel was laid down on 17 December 2021.[9] Amiral Ronarc'h was ceremonially launched on 7 November 2022. The ship was partially launched by flooding her construction dock. The frigate was later towed by tugboats to the outfitting pier on the bank of Scorff River.[4] It had been planned to commission Amiral Ronarc'h in 2024. However, delays in her fitting out and the start of sea trials pushed back her likely commissioning and full entry into service into 2025.[10] She began her sea trials in October 2024.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Louédec, Mickaël (8 November 2022). "À Brest, trois frégates et des centaines de marins supplémentaires d'ici quelques mois". Ouest France (in French). Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Naval Group Floats First New FDI Frigate For The French Navy". navalnews.com. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Thales High-Tech Systems On Board French Navy's Future Medium-Size Frigates". thalesgroup.com. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (17 December 2021). "En présence des Grecs, la France met sur cale sa première FDI". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (9 June 2020). "France Speeds Up UAV Procurement For French Navy As Part Of Industry Recovery Plan". navalnews.com. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Naval Group starts construction on France's newest frigate". defensenews.com. 25 October 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
- ^ "French Naval Group holds keel-laying ceremony for first FDI frigate". navyrecognition.com. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ Tanguy, Jean-Marc (11 July 2024). "La frégate La Fayette fera une première mission en Atlantique cet été". le Marin (in French). Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (8 October 2024). "FDI : l'Amiral Ronarc'h prend la mer, Naval Group lance la construction de la 6ème frégate". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 8 October 2024.