Naval Group today handed over the FREMM DA Alsace to the French Navy (Marine Nationale) during a ceremony at Toulon naval base. The French Minister of the Armed forces Florence Parly, Naval Group delivered the frigate, in accordance with its schedule commitments and expected performances. Intended for the French Navy, Alsace is the first of the two air defence frigates with enhanced air defence capability and the seventh FREMM multimissions frigate ordered by OCCAr for the French defence procurement agency (Direction générale de l’armement – DGA) for the the French Navy. Despite the health crisis, the FREMM DA Alsace is being delivered on schedule by shifts from Naval Group and its industrial partners.
Heavily armed like all FREMM frigates, Alsace was designed to answer the operational requirements of the French Navy. She benefits from the continuous evolution intrinsic to the FREMM program to incorporate the latest technological developments and integrates the latest developments ordered by OCCAR, according to an unchanged delivery schedule. FREMM DA Alsace is the first frigate with enhanced air defence capability. Her role will be the anti-aircraft defence of major units such as the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, or that of PHA-type landing helicopter docks, within the framework of a naval air and amphibious group.
The FREMM DA uses the most advanced weapons systems and equipment, such as the Herakles multifunction radar, the Aster 15 and 30 and Exocet MM 40 missiles and the MU 90 torpedoes. Like the other units of the FREMM series, she carries the NH90 helicopter (Caïman Marine), whose use is supported by the SAMAHE® system supplied by Naval Group. The architecture of the first units of the FREMM series designed by Naval Group has been retained. The performance of her combat system are strengthened with increased radar and communication capabilities, a new radar and electro-optical fire control system as well as Naval Group SETIS® Combat Management System equipped with specific air defense functions.
All units of the FREMM series with enhanced air defence capability can deploy:
- 8 anti-ships missiles Excocet MM40 Block 3
- 32 missiles Aster in vertical launch system Sylver®
- 1 main naval-gun 76 mm
- 4 machine guns 12.7 mm
- 19 MU90 torpedo
- 1 Caïman naval warfare helicopter
- 2 Narwhal 20-mm remotely-operated naval weapon
