Article Posted on : - Jun 15, 2015

A DCNS image.

PARIS (BNS): French shipbuilder DCNS has delivered the second FREMM multi-mission frigate to the French Navy on June 12.

The new frigate, named Provence, was launched in September 2013 and began sea trials a year later.

The delivery of the second series (of FREMM frigate) to the French Navy took place just a few weeks after the first successful firing in Europe of a naval cruise missile from the first-of-class, the FREMM Aquitaine, the shipbuilder said.

Aquitaine was deliverd in November 2012.

"The delivery of the FREMM Provence represents an opportunity to applaud the industrial and technological prowess of DCNS and its subcontractors.. Today, we are proud to deliver this second ship to the French Navy." Anne Bianchi, Director of FREMM programmes, said.

The delivery of FREMM Provence marks the culmination in the ramping up of SETIS -- the latest-generation combat system developed by DCNS.

The warship is now equipped with a cutting-edge solution that is perfectly integrated on board.

Indeed, the successful firing of the naval cruise missile on May 19th 2015 from FREMM Aquitaine is a demonstration of the anti-land warfare capabilities directed at targets located deep in enemy territory. Added to the anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare capabilities, the FREMM has now reached its full technological capabilities, DCNS said.

The FREMM family of frigates with technically advanced features is being designed to counter all threats emanating from air, sea or land. With a displacement of 6000 tons and a length of 142 m, the vessel can cruise at a speed of 27 knots.

Each warship will carry state-of-the-art weapons and systems including the MdCN cruise missiles, Aster anti-air missiles, Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles and MU90 torpedoes. The sensor suite of the frigate is designed around the Herakles multifunction radar with a range of more than 250 kilometres.

The FREMM programme currently involves the construction of ten frigates, eight of them for the French Navy. Six of these are to be delivered by 2019 and the remaining two, equipped with extended anti-aircraft capabilities, will be delivered before 2022.

Two others have been sold to export customers -- the Royal Moroccan Navy and the Egyptian Navy.