According to a PR published by Thales on August 31, 2023, in a contract that extends over seven years, Thales has been chosen by Naval Group to provide comprehensive through-life support for the French Navy's multi-mission frigates (FREMM).
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FREMM DA frigate Lorraine. (Picture source: Naval Group)
This agreement, which took effect in January 2023, signifies one of the most significant support contracts given to Thales by Naval Group since the inception of the French Navy's Fleet Support Service (SSF).
This pivotal contract will ensure the uninterrupted operational readiness of Thales' equipment aboard the FREMM frigates, enabling the French Navy to undertake its missions efficiently.
The FREMM initiative, launched in 2005, stands as a cornerstone of France's anti-submarine warfare strategy. The frigates, outfitted with Thales sonars, radars, optronics, and communication systems, have been lauded for their exceptional performance, earning accolades like the esteemed Hook’em Awards for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, presented by the US Navy.
Ensuring the continued deployment of these warships and their intricate systems is a mammoth task, given the significant strain every facet of a naval force undergoes.
The enduring operational availability of France's FREMM is vital for upholding the nation's naval prowess and safeguarding the operational liberty of its armed forces.
To this end, Naval Group and Thales are inaugurating an integrated expertise center. This center, a synthesis of both companies' specialized proficiencies, will be dedicated to swift and adept resolution of technical challenges.
It is intended to be a hub that consistently oversees the technical performance of Thales' equipment, ready to react promptly in every situation. Moreover, to boost the nimbleness of the FREMM's technical support squads, Thales will adopt a forward-looking stance on component obsolescence, routinely analyzing system conditions to pinpoint potential logistical hiccups, thereby hastening issue resolution with expert intervention.
Technical data about the French Navy's FREMM
They are a class of frigates with a displacement of 6,000 tons, a length of 466 feet (142.0 meters), a beam of 65 feet (19.8 meters), and a draught of 16 feet (4.9 meters).
The frigates are equipped with advanced sensor systems including the Héraklès multi-purpose passive electronically scanned array radar, CAPTAS-4 towed-array sonar, and UMS 4110 CL hull-mounted sonar.
They feature a 76 mm Super Rapid gun, three 20 mm Narwhal remote weapon systems, a 16-cell SYLVER A43 VLS for Aster 15 air defense missiles, a 16-cell SYLVER A70 VLS for MdCN cruise missiles, eight Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles, and two B-515 twin launchers for MU90 torpedoes.
