The FREMM Multipurpose Frigate (French Frégate multi-mission or Italian Fregata Europea Multi-Missione) is a ship designed by DCNS and Fincantieri to operate in anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, and be capable of carrying out deep strikes against land targets.

The French Navy plans to operate eleven FREMM frigates, and the Marina Militare ten. The first commissionings are expected in 2012 when the first of the French vessels is due in service (France has placed orders for 11 FREMM frigates, Italy 6 with the last 4 funded at the end of 2007). The ships will be built in France by Armaris (owned by DCNS), and in Italy by Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (a joint venture between shipbuilder Fincantieri and aerospace firm Finmeccanica). This arrangement extends the partnerships forged for development of the Horizon CNGFs (Common New Generation Frigates). Morocco has bought one frigate to be operated by the Royal Moroccan Navy , while Greece announced the order of six vessels equipped with the SCALP Naval cruise missile.

France will use 9 frigates to replace the anti-submarine Tourville class frigates (F67 type), the anti-submarine Georges Leygues class frigates (F70 type) and 2 FREDA frigates to replace the two units of the anti-aircraft Cassard class.

Italy will build 4 ASW and 6 general-purpose (GP) frigates to replace the (8) Maestrale and (4) Lupo class frigates.

Greece will build 6 general-purpose (GP) frigates to replace equal number of Elli class frigates.

The first eight French ships have been named Aquitaine, Normandie, Provence, Bretagne, Auvergne, Languedoc, Alsace and Lorraine. The first two Italian ships have been named Carlo Bergamini and Carlo Margottini.

Versions

Three versions of the frigates are planned: one anti-submarine version, one anti-aircraft version (FR) FREDA and a general-purpose (IT) version. French and Italians will use these with some equipment which will differ between the two countries. The French are considering an anti-aircraft version called FREDA, which will replace the two units of the Cassard class.

In spite of the existence of three different versions of the FREMM, their design as well as most of their armament will be similar.

Common armament

• MU 90 torpedoes

• MM-40 Exocet block 3 (France version)

• Teseo\Otomat Mk-2/A block 4, for naval and land attack (Italian version)

• MBDA Aster SAAM in SYLVER launchers

• Otobreda 76 mm Super Rapid gun with Davide ammunition

• two light guns (20mm in French version and 25mm in Italian version)

• NH90 helicopter, capability for EH101 (Italian version)

Anti-Submarine version

• Towed sonar : Captas UMS 4249

• Other torpedoes

• MILAS ASW missile (Italian ASW FF only)

• Multi-beam echo sounder (Italian ASW FF only)

Land attack version

The Land attack version is dubbed GP ("General Purpose")

• Otobreda 127/64 LW with Vulcano guided ammunition with a range up to 120 km (Italian LA only)

• SCALP Naval cruise missile with a range up to 1500 km (French and Hellenic Navy configuration.Italy has yet to decide about it.)

Anti-air version

The anti-air version is dubbed FREDA ("Frégates de défense aériennes", "Air defence frigate"). Following the cancellation of the third and fourth Horizon class frigates, the French Navy has started studies for an anti-air version of the FREMM, called FREDA.

The FREDA could carry 24 MICA VL missiles and up to 32 Aster 30. Alternatively, they could carry 16 Aster 30 and 16 SCALP Naval for a more multirole configuration instead. They would also have the standard dotation of one 76 mm gun, two 20 mm guns and 8 Exocet missiles and torpedoes.

Service history

The first eight French frigates are to be named Aquitaine, Normandie, Provence, Bretagne, Auvergne, Languedoc, Alsace and Lorraine. The construction of the first two French vessels has begun.

The construction of the first two Italian vessels also has begun. The first two ships will be named Carlo Bergamini and Carlo Margottini.

Export

On 10/24/2007 it was announced the Moroccan navy ordered one (1) FREMM through French marketing. The ship will be built in Lorient by DCNS. It will replace the Descubierta class corvette currently used.. The contract was reported signed on April 18, 2008 and construction of the Moroccan FREMM began the summer 2008 and is expected to be delivered by 2012 or 2013.

On 01/22/2009 it was announced by the Hellenic Navy the order of six (4+2) FREMM. The exact configuration of those vessels has not yet been finalised, though it has been made clear by the Greek Minister of Defence that the ships will be equipped with the naval edition of the SCALP cruise missile.