Defence Industry

FREMM: A Multi-Mission Frigate by DCNS
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Issue Vol. 29.4 Oct-Dec 2014 | Date : 11 Dec , 2014

Exocet MM40 Block-III

FREMM Frigates: The Future

Design

The FREMM Frigate design offers a perfect balance between stealth and hitting power. Hard-kill and soft-kill weapons, associated with a discretion profile, are selected to offer the best cost – efficiency ratio. Each component is integrated bearing in mind that a warship is no longer an accumulation of sensors and weapons but a complex system to be designed as an optimised ensemble. Thus, the performance of this system is greater than the sum of its components.

The FREMM Frigate design offers a perfect balance between stealth and hitting power…

The proven solutions of the La Fayette Class Stealth Frigates have been applied and extended to the acoustic, magnetic and IR domains.

  • Electric propulsion guarantees a reduced acoustic signature for anti-submarine operations
  • Exhaust gases of the diesel generators are cooled
  • Openings are masked and decks are covered over
  • The degaussing system is adapted to the threat of new mines
  • A mixed propulsive system offers great flexibility: it combines silent electric motors (cruising) with gas turbines (high-speed and rapid acceleration).

Missions

The FREMM Frigate is a front-line warship designed to form the operational backbone of major navies. The FREMM Class can respond to all kinds of threats whether from land, sea or air. Acting alone, a FREMM Frigate can assume a multitude of missions from escort duties to naval gunfire support. As part of a joint task force, a FREMM Frigate can accommodate a fleet operations staff and with an excellent C4ISR capability, can direct warfare in one or several spheres.

Weapons and Systems

Anti-air missiles

  • 16x MBDA ASTER 15 (in VLS A50 cells)

MdCN

Anti-ship missiles

  • 8x MBDA Exocet MM40 Block III

Land attack cruise missiles

  • 16x MBDA Naval Scalp (MdCN) (in VLS A70 cells)

Guns

  • 1x Oto Melara 76/62 Super Rapid main gun
  • 2x Nexter Narwhal 20mm remote weapon stations
  • 2x 12.7 mm M2-HB Browning machine guns

ASW

  • 2x fixed torpedo launchers (19x MU-90 torpedoes)
  • Sensors, Electronics and Decoys

Combat Management and Information Systems

  • DCNS SENIT Combat Management System (CMS)
  • Thales SIC 21 Command and Control Information System (C2IS)

VL-MICA

Optronics

  • Sagem VIGY MM Multi-mission naval electro-optical fire control system
  • Thales ARTEMIS naval Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system

Radars and ESM

  • Thales HERAKLES Phased Array 3D Multi Function Radar
  • Thales VIGILE ESM/ELINT system
  • Thales TSB 3520 ATC & IFF Combined Interrogator Transponder
  • Thales ALTESSE-C wideband Communication ESM (C-ESM)

Sonars

  • Thales UMS 4110 CL Low Frequency Active and Passive Bow Mounted Sonar (BMS)
  • Thales CAPTAS 4 / UMS 4249 Low Frequency Active and Passive Variable Depth Sonar (VDS)

A FREMM Frigate of Provence class has the ability to strike and destroy or neutralise targets with metric precision…

Decoys/Counter measures/Jammers

  • SAGEM NGDS (New Generation Dagaie System) multiple decoy launchers
  • SIGEN R ECM Electronic Warfare systems combining Thales ESM sensors and Electronic jammers

Communications

  • Satellite links: Inmarsat, SYRACUSE, Athreis
  • Thales TUUM-6 Digital Underwater Communication System
  • Thales TRN 4000 Fixed Frequency UHF Transceiver
  • Thales PARTNER Communication Management System

Navigation

  • Sagem SIGMA 40 Inertial Navigation System

Engines/Propulsion

  • Combined Diesel Electric Or Gas (CODLOG) type: GE LM2500 gas turbines

SIMBAD-RC

MBDA Naval Scalp Gives That Decisive Capability

The selected club of the Blue Water Navies’ would envy the power punch of the FREMM Frigate. A FREMM Frigate of Provence Class has the ability to strike and destroy or neutralise targets such as military and economic infrastructures with metric precision from extended stand-off ranges up to 1,000 kilometres from its deadly Missile de Croisière Naval (MdCN – Naval Cruise Missile) launched from its sixteen vertical tubes.

The French Navy’s FREMM Frigate with a long-range MdCN cruise missile is capable of communicating messages to a potential foe clearly during a phase of force build up or as a warning/preventative measure in the face of threatened aggression and this has great strategic implications. Operations could also include protection against threat proliferation as well as force projection.

A deep strike by FREMM’s MdCN cruise missiles will provide the ability to strike rapidly and strike first…

Thus, a deep strike by FREMM’s MdCN cruise missiles will provide the ability to strike rapidly and strike first while minimising collateral damage. Deep strike capability that can be delivered from the FREMM, unlike that from an aircraft, can be pre-positioned in theatre remaining there for extended periods if necessary and can impose their presence on several theatres of operations simultaneously.

Conclusion

The FREMM Frigate has already entered the world market. Morocco has also ordered one Aquitaine class FREMM Frigate. The vessel, to be named Mohammed VI, is set to become the flagship of the Royal Moroccan Navy. France plans to operate eleven FREMM frigates which will be the backbone of the French Navy (Marine Nationale). Designed for AAW, ASW and ASUW missions, these true multi-role vessels capable of carrying out deep strikes against land targets are definitely the futuristic solution to the challenges faced by the modern navies.

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The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the Indian Defence Review.

About the Author

Danvir Singh

Associate Editor, Indian Defence Review, former Commanding Officer, 9 Sikh LI and author of  book "Kashmir's Death Trap: Tales of Perfidy and Valour".

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