Article Posted on : - May 11, 2011

FREMM Aquitaine. A DCNS photo

LORIENT (BNS): French Navy’s first multi-mission frigate FREMM Aquitaine has completed the first leg of sea trials and returned to the dock, according to the ship’s builder DCNS.

The test, involving French naval personnel and DCNS officials, began in mid-April.

During the three-week sea trial, the naval vessel's propulsion, manoeuvrability, and navigation system were tested in “natural environment.”

The ship cruised at a maximum speed of 27 knots (50.004 Km/ hr). Over hundred tests were conducted successfully, DCNS said.

The trials were a first opportunity to demonstrate the frigate’s impressive seakeeping qualities, the French shipbuilder added.

“These initial sea trials with the first-of-class Aquitaine went very well indeed,” FREMM programme manager, Vincent Martinot-Lagarde said.

“The objectives of this first period of sea trials were reached, with more than hundred tests successful. The propulsion and manoeuvrability tests performed exactly as we predicted and in line with the customer’s expectations,” the official added.

FREMM Aquitaine was officially unveiled at DCNS’s Lorient facility on May 4, 2010. The multi-mission Aquitaine is the first of 11 new FREMM frigates being built for the French Navy by DCNS.

The FREMM family of frigates with technically advanced features is being designed to counter all threats emanating from air, sea or land. Each vessel will be equipped with naval cruise missiles and MU90 torpedoes having a range of several tens of nautical miles.

DCNS targets to complete the delivery of the new-generation frigates between 2012 and 2022.