France’s First FDI Frigate Amiral Ronarc’h Heads to Brest for Final Preparations

Brest, France – The Amiral Ronarc’h, France’s first Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI), has officially departed the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient, bound for its homeport in Brest. This milestone marks the culmination of extensive sea trials and the start of the acceptance phase by the French Navy, according to the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), France’s defense procurement agency.

Designed as the next generation of first-rank surface combatants, the FDI-class frigate embodies France’s strategic push toward maritime innovation and operational superiority. The Amiral Ronarc’h integrates 4,500 tons of advanced technology, tailored for air defense, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine operations, cyber resilience, and special operations deployment.

The DGA highlighted the ship’s modular architecture, allowing it to adapt to evolving threat environments. This adaptability ensures compatibility with both French and allied naval forces, reinforcing France’s global strategic presence. The frigate’s systems are optimized for multi-domain warfare, including cyber defense and future digital warfare capabilities.

The combat system of the Amiral Ronarc’h is built on Thales’ latest technologies, featuring the cutting-edge Sea Fire radar and a fully digital fire control system. These advancements provide superior target detection, tracking, and engagement capacities, critical in modern naval warfare scenarios.

The vessel is the lead ship in a series of FDI frigates aimed at replacing aging La Fayette-class frigates. France’s Navy anticipates the delivery of additional ships over the next few years, as part of its broader fleet modernization strategy. The FDI-class ships are expected to play a key role in high-intensity combat operations while supporting strategic force projection across global theatres.

The FDI program is a collaborative effort involving the DGA, Naval Group, and numerous defense subcontractors. Naval Group spearheads the industrial effort, ensuring that France remains at the forefront of naval engineering and defense technology.

After its arrival in Brest, the Amiral Ronarc’h will undergo final outfitting and formal handover procedures before being commissioned into active service. The French Navy envisions the vessel as a cornerstone of its modern fleet, designed to face future challenges with agility and resilience.

With this deployment, France takes a significant step in securing its maritime interests while ensuring interoperability with international partners, setting a new benchmark in defense readiness and technological excellence.