French frigate Amiral Ronarc'h
{{short description|First Frégate de défense et d'intervention of French Navy}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=FDI en construction.jpg |Ship caption=Amiral Ronarc'h during fitting out at Lorient shipyard on 4 December 2022 }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=France |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|France|naval}} |Ship name=Amiral Ronarc'h |Ship namesake=Pierre Alexis Ronarc'h |Ship yard number= |Ship ordered= |Ship builder=Naval Group, Lorient |Ship laid down= 17 December 2021 |Ship launched= 7 November 2022 |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned= Projected 2025 |Ship homeport= Brest (Projected){{cite web |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/bretagne/brest-29200/a-brest-trois-fregates-et-des-centaines-de-marins-supplementaires-d-ici-quelques-mois-2a70d93a-5f62-11ed-a35d-20354ea697f9 |title=À Brest, trois frégates et des centaines de marins supplémentaires d'ici quelques mois |work=Ouest France |last=Louédec |first=Mickaël |language=fr |date=8 November 2022 |access-date=8 November 2022}} |Ship decommissioned= |Ship identification= Pennant number: D660 |Ship status=Sea trials |Ship fate= |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class=Frégate de défense et d'intervention | Ship displacement = {{convert|4500|t|LT|lk=on|abbr=on}} | Ship length = {{convert|122|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|17.7|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = *Combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) arrangement
| Ship speed = {{convert|27|kn|lk=in}} | Ship range = {{convert|5000|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn}} | Ship endurance = 45 days | Ship boats = 2 × RHIB | Ship capacity = | Ship complement = 110 (+15 helicopter detachment) | Ship sensors = * Thales Sea Fire 500 multi-function AESA search/track radar | Ship EW = *Thales SENTINEL ESM
| Ship armament = *1 × Oto Melara 76 mm Super Rapid gun (mounted in stealth turret)
| Ship aircraft = *1 × SDAM UAV
}} |
Amiral Ronarc'h (D660) is the lead ship of Frégate de défense et d'intervention of the French Navy.
Design and description
Amiral Ronarc'h has a length of {{convert|122|m|ft|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|17.7|m|ft|abbr=on}}, and her displacement is {{convert|4500|t|LT|lk=on|abbr=on}}. The ship is powered by combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion with total power output of {{convert|32000|kW|shp|abbr=on|lk=on}}. Her maximum speed is {{convert|27|kn|km/h}}, range of {{convert|5000|NM|km}} while cruising at {{convert|15|kn|km/h}},{{cite web |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/fti-medium-size-frigates/ |title=FTI Medium-Size Frigates |website=naval-technology.com |date=18 June 2020 |access-date=17 January 2023}} and endurance up to 45 days.{{cite web |url=https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2021/march/9901-france-accelerates-the-fdi-frigates-program.html |title=France accelerates the FDI frigates program |work=navyrecognition.com |access-date=17 January 2023}} The frigate could accommodate 150 personnel, including the usual complement of 110 ship crew and 15 crew for the helicopter detachment.
She is armed with one Oto Melara 76 mm Super Rapid gun and two 20 mm Nexter Narwhal remote controlled weapon station. For surface warfare, Amiral Ronarc'h are equipped with eight Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles, and two Sylver A50 8-cell vertical launch system for 16 MBDA Aster 15/30 anti-aircraft missiles. For anti-submarine warfare, she is equipped with two twin 324 mm torpedo tubes for MU90 Impact torpedoes. The ship also equipped with non-lethal weapon systems for asymmetrical warfare{{cite web |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/11/naval-group-floats-first-new-fdi-frigate-for-the-french-navy/ |title=Naval Group Floats First New FDI Frigate For The French Navy |website=navalnews.com |date=7 November 2022 |access-date=17 January 2022 }}
Her electronic system and sensors consisted of Thales Sea Fire 500 multi-function active electronically scanned array search and track radar, Aquilon integrated communication and identification friend or foe system, SETIS 3.0 combat management system, Kingklip Mark II hull-mounted sonar, CAPTAS-4 towed sonar, Thales SENTINEL electronic support measures suite and CANTO anti-torpedo decoys.{{cite web |url=https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/press-release/thales-high-tech-systems-board-french-navys-future-medium-size-frigates |title=Thales High-Tech Systems On Board French Navy's Future Medium-Size Frigates |website=thalesgroup.com |date=18 October 2016 |access-date=18 January 2023 }}
Amiral Ronarc'h also has a hangar and flight deck at stern and could accommodate one SDAM UAV and one NH90 or Guépard Marine (H160M) helicopter equipped with MU90 torpedoes and dipping sonar, air-to-surface missiles, and/or heavy machine gun.{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/en-presence-des-grecs-la-france-met-sur-cale-sa-premiere-fdi |title=En présence des Grecs, la France met sur cale sa première FDI |language=FR |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |work=Mer et Marine |date=17 December 2021 |access-date=18 January 2023 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/06/france-speeds-up-uav-procurement-for-french-navy-as-part-of-industry-recovery-plan/ |title=France Speeds Up UAV Procurement For French Navy As Part Of Industry Recovery Plan |work=navalnews.com |last=Vavasseur |first=Xavier |date=9 June 2020 |access-date=18 January 2023}} The frigate also carries two rigid-hull inflatable boats for patrolling or for Special Forces purpose.
Construction and career
The construction of the ship was started with the first steel cutting ceremony at the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient on 24 October 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/10/25/naval-group-starts-construction-on-frances-newest-frigate/ |title=Naval Group starts construction on France’s newest frigate |website=defensenews.com |date=25 October 2019 |access-date=17 January 2023 }} Her keel was laid down on 17 December 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2021/december/11129-french-naval-group-holds-keel-laying-ceremony-for-first-fdi-frigate.html |title=French Naval Group holds keel-laying ceremony for first FDI frigate |website=navyrecognition.com |date=17 December 2021 |access-date=17 January 2022}} Amiral Ronarc'h was ceremonially launched on 7 November 2022. The ship was partially launched by flooding her construction dock. The frigate was later towed by tugboats to the outfitting pier on the bank of Scorff River. It had been planned to commission Amiral Ronarc'h in 2024. However, delays in her fitting out and the start of sea trials pushed back her likely commissioning and full entry into service into 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://lemarin.ouest-france.fr/defense/marine-nationale/entretien-dissuasion-la-fregate-la-fayette-fera-une-premiere-mission-en-atlantique-cet-ete-c9c638fe-3f8f-11ef-af6f-cc8c20a9107a |title=La frégate La Fayette fera une première mission en Atlantique cet été |language=fr |last=Tanguy |first=Jean-Marc |work=le Marin |date=11 July 2024 |access-date=20 July 2024}} She began her sea trials in October 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/fdi-l-amiral-ronarc-h-prend-la-mer-naval-group-lance-la-construction-de-la-6eme-fregate |title=FDI : l’Amiral Ronarc’h prend la mer, Naval Group lance la construction de la 6ème frégate |work=Mer et Marine |language=fr |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |date=8 October 2024 |access-date=8 October 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3WQhrpV_UU Mise à flot de la première frégate de défense et d’intervention - FDI by Naval News on YouTube]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amiral Ronarc'h (D660)}}