French frigate Normandie

Last updated
HDMS Absalon and 210523-N-D0455-0045.jpg
HDMS Absalon (fore) and Normandie (rear) on 22 May 2021
History
Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svgFrance
NameNormandie
Namesake Normandie
Builder DCNS, Lorient
Laid down2014
Launched1 February 2018
Completed16 July 2019
Commissioned3 June 2020
Homeport Brest
Identification
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and type Aquitaine-class frigate
Displacement6,000 tons
Length466 ft (142.0 m)
Beam65 ft (19.8 m)
Draught16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion
Speed27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph); max cruise speed 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph)
Range6,000  nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement145
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
Aircraft carried1 × NH90 helicopter
Aviation facilitiesSingle hangar

Normandie (D651) is an Aquitaine-class frigate of the French Navy. The Aquitaine class were developed from the FREMM multipurpose frigate program. [2]

Contents

Development and design

Original plans were for 17 FREMM hulls to replace the nine D'Estienne d'Orves-class avisos and nine anti-submarine (ASW) frigates of the Tourville and Georges Leyguesclasses. In November 2005 France announced a contract of €3.5 billion for development and the first eight hulls, with options for nine more costing €2.95 billion split over two tranches (totaling 17).

Following the cancellation of the third and fourth of the Horizon-classfrigates in 2005 on budget grounds, requirements for an air-defence derivative of the FREMM called FREDA were placed – with DCNS coming up with several proposals. [3] Expectations were that the last two ships of the 17 FREMM planned would be built to FREDA specifications; however, by 2008 the plan was revised down to just 11 FREMM (9 ASW variants and 2 FREDA variants) The 11 ships would cost €670 million (~US$760m) each in FY2014, or €860m (~US$980m) including development costs. In 2015, the total number of ASW variants was further reduced to just six units, including Normandie.

Construction and career

Normandie was developed as part of a joint Italian-French program known as FREMM, which was implemented to develop a new class of frigates for use by various European navies. Constructed from 2014. On 1 February 2018, the frigate Normandie was launched. Originally, the name Normandie was to be allocated to an earlier ship of the class that had been launched in 2012. However, she was sold to Egyptian Navy in 2015 and renamed Tahya Misr.

Armed with a partial crew of 75 sailors, the ship carried out its first sea trials in March 2019 under the responsibility of the Directorate General for Armament. Unlike previous ASW variants of the FREMM class, Normandie and its sister ship Bretagne are fitted with SYLVER A50 launch cells (instead of SYLVER A43) able to accommodate larger Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles. This provides both ships with a potentially enhanced area air defence capability, though both vessels still lacked both the boosted variant of the Herakles multi-function radar (which was necessary to accommodate the full range of Aster 30) as well as a complementary fire control radar. [4]

Normandie conducted her first ever sea trial off the coast of Lorient on 15 March 2019. [5]

On 6 February 2021, Normandie successfully fired her Aster 30 missile. [6]

Normandie was part of Clemenceau 22 led by the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aster (missile family)</span> Franco-Italian surface-to-air missile family

The Aster 15 and Aster 30 are a Franco-Italian family of all-weather, vertical launch surface-to-air missiles. The name "Aster" stands for "Aérospatiale Terminale". It also takes inspiration from the word "aster", meaning "star" in Ancient Greek. The missiles as well as the related weapon systems are manufactured by Eurosam, a consortium consisting of MBDA France, MBDA Italy and Thales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PAAMS</span> Joint programme for an integrated anti-air warfare system

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FREMM multipurpose frigate Class of multi-purpose frigates

The FREMM, which stands for "European multi-purpose frigate", is a Franco-Italian family of multi-purpose frigates designed by Naval Group and Fincantieri. In France, this surface combatant is known as the "Aquitaine class", while in Italy it is known as the "Bergamini class". The lead ship of the class, Aquitaine, was commissioned in November 2012 by the French Navy. Italy has ordered six general purpose and four anti-submarine variants. France, on the other hand, has ordered six anti-submarine variants and two air-defense ones.

Frégate de défense et dintervention Planned class of frigates

The Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention or FDI, also known as the Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire or FTI, is a planned class of French frigates. As of February 2022, five ships have been ordered for the French Navy, with the lead ship being named Amiral Ronarc'h, and an additional three, more heavily armed vessels, for the Hellenic Navy, with the lead ship named Kimon.

French frigate <i>Provence</i> FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the French Navy

Provence (D652) is an Aquitaine-class frigate of the French Navy. The Aquitaine class were developed as part of the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.

French frigate <i>Languedoc</i> FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the French Navy

Languedoc(D653) is an Aquitaine-class frigate of the French Navy. The Aquitaine class were developed from the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.

French frigate <i>Auvergne</i> FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the French Navy

Auvergne (D654) is an Aquitaine-class frigate of the French Navy. The Aquitaine class were developed from the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.

French frigate <i>Bretagne</i> FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the French Navy

Bretagne (D655) is an Aquitaine-class frigate of the French Navy. The Aquitaine class were developed from the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.

French frigate <i>Alsace</i> FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the French Navy

Alsace (D656) is an Aquitaine-class frigate of the French Navy developed through the FREMM multipurpose frigate program. She is the first of two air-defence variants of the class known as FREMM DA in the program.

French frigate <i>Lorraine</i> FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the French Navy

Lorraine (D657) is an Aquitaine-class frigate of the French Navy which were developed through the FREMM multipurpose frigate program. She is the second of two air-defence variants of the class known as FREMM DA in the program.

ENS <i>Tahya Misr</i> FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the Egytian Navy

ENS Tahya Misr (FFG-1001) is a FREMM multipurpose frigate of the Egyptian Navy. Tahya Misr was originally constructed as the Aquitaine-class Normandie before being acquired by Egypt and being renamed.

Italian frigate <i>Carlo Bergamini</i> (F 590) FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the Italian Navy

Carlo Bergamini(F 590) is a Carlo Bergamini-class frigate of the Italian Navy. Which in turn were developed by the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.

Italian frigate <i>Virginio Fasan</i> (F 591) FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the Italian Navy

Virginio Fasan(F 591) is a Carlo Bergamini-class frigate of the Italian Navy. Which in turn were developed by the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.

Italian frigate <i>Carlo Margottini</i> (F 592) FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the Italian Navy

Carlo Margottini(F 592) is a Carlo Bergamini-class frigate of the Italian Navy. Which in turn were developed by the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.

Italian frigate <i>Carabiniere</i> (F 593) FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the Italian Navy

Carabiniere is a Carlo Bergamini-class frigate of the Italian Navy, which in turn were developed by the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.

Italian frigate <i>Alpino</i> (F 594) FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the Italian Navy

Alpino(F 594) is a Carlo Bergamini-class frigate of the Italian Navy. Which in turn were developed by the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.

Italian frigate <i>Luigi Rizzo</i> (F 595) FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the Italian Navy

Luigi Rizzo(F 595) is a Carlo Bergamini-class frigate of the Italian Navy which were developed from the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.

Italian frigate <i>Federico Martinengo</i> (F 596) FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the Italian Navy

Federico Martinengo(F 596) is a Carlo Bergamini-class frigate of the Italian Navy. The Carlo Bergamini class were developed from the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.

Italian frigate <i>Antonio Marceglia</i> Italian Navy frigate

Antonio Marceglia(F 597) is a Carlo Bergamini-class frigate of the Italian Navy. Which in turn were developed by the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.

ENS <i>Bernees</i> FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the Egyptian Navy

ENS Bernees(FFG-1003) is a FREMM multipurpose frigate of the Egyptian Navy. Bernees was originally constructed as the Carlo Bergamini-class Emilio Bianchi before being acquired by Egypt and being renamed.

References

  1. ↑ Vavasseur, Xavier (17 October 2022). "First Exocet MM40 Block 3c Missiles Set For December Delivery". Naval News. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "Aquitaine class FREMM Frigate French Navy Marine Nationale". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  3. ↑ "FREMM : Supprimer des frégates, un non sens économique et stratégique?". Mer et Marine (in French). 19 September 2007. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "French Navy Fitting Aster 30 Long Range SAM on its Last Two ASW FREMM Frigates". navyrecognition.com. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "France's Normandie frigate in first sea trials". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  6. ↑ "French Navy Normandie Aquitaine-class frigate successfully test-fired Aster 30 surface-to-air missile".
  7. ↑ Manaranche, Martin (1 February 2022). "French Carrier Strike Group Begins 'Clemenceau 22' Deployment". Naval News. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
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