Naval Group to Conduct Sea Trials for Multi Mission frigate FREMM DA Lorraine

The eighth and final multi mission frigate built by Naval Group for the French Navy, the FREMM DA Lorraine, will be undergoing the first of its sea trials.

Ordered by the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), on behalf of the French Procurement Agency (DGA) and the French Navy, the FREMM DA Lorraine is the last multi-mission frigate to be built for the  Navy. It is also the second FREMM with enhanced air defense capabilities (FREMM DA). The ship is 142 meters long and can achieve a maximum speed of 27 knots with a range of 6,000 nautical miles at 15 knots.

According to Naval Group, this session will enable the performance of the ship's propulsion and navigation systems to be tested. Several campaigns will then be carried out to test all the systems. FREMM DA Lorraine will then be delivered by the end of the year.After being launched in November 2020, the first sea trial of the FREMM DA Lorraine is taking place on schedule and in accordance with the company's contractual commitment to deliver the ship in 2022.

The FREMM DA is equipped with the Herakles multifunction radar supplied by Thales, the Aster 15 and 30 and Exocet MM 40 missiles, the MU 90 torpedoes and three additional Combat Management System Setis consoles in the "central operations". Like the other FREMMs, the Lorraine will carry the NH90 helicopter (Caiman Marine), whose use is supported by the SAMAHE system supplied by Naval Group.

The frigate will be based in Toulon alongside the FREMM DA Alsace to provide air defence for major units such as the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier or the amphibious helicopter carrier (PHA), as part of a naval or amphibious strike group. The FREMMs with enhanced air capabilities, Alsace and Lorraine, are thus able to carry out the same anti-submarine warfare missions as the other FREMMs in the series, in addition to their enhanced air capabilities.

Seven FREMMs have already been delivered to the French Navy between 2012 and 2021. Aquitaine in 2012, Provence in 2015, Languedoc in 2016, Auvergne in April 2017, Bretagne in July 2018, Normandie in July 2019 and Alsace in April 2021. Internationally, the Mohammed VI was delivered to Morocco in 2014 and the Tahya Misr delivered to Egypt in 2015.