French FREMM frigate Lorraine conducts drills near Malacca Strait.

According to a tweet published by the French MoD on July 12, 2023, the destroyer Lorraine and the hydrographic vessel Beautemps-Beaupré performed a set of collaborative tactical maneuvers in the Andaman Sea.
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Hydrographic vessel Beautemps-Beaupré and FREMM frigate Lorraine. (Picture source: French MoD)

In April, the frigate had an important mission to evacuate French and allied nationals from Sudan. For this mission, the ship carried a French Army Puma helicopter, embarked in Djibouti.

This extended deployment, a crucial stage of the FREMM DA program, tests the endurance and robustness of the Lorraine in warm waters and demanding operational environments.

These tests build on the experiences of its sister ship, Alsace, which underwent similar trials in cold waters two years ago. The Lorraine's capabilities in anti-air and anti-submarine warfare, its specialties, are under particular scrutiny.

In June, the Lorraine participated in a series of exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, involving notable Japanese assets such as the Yamagiri destroyer, Kumano frigate, and Taigei submarine.

The deployment also fosters advanced interactions with the naval forces of partner nations, including the United States, Egypt, Greece, and India. These exercises and deployments across various regions, including the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, and the Northwest Pacific, are designed to thoroughly assess Lorraine's capabilities under realistic conditions.

About the frigate

She has a displacement of over 6,000 tons, a length of 466 feet (142.0 m), a beam of 65 feet (19.8 m), and a draught of 16 feet (4.9 m). Powering this naval giant is the MTU Series 4000, providing 2.2 MW, and a CODLOG propulsion system.

Lorraine can hit a top speed of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph), with a maximum cruising speed of 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph). Her range extends to 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

The ship's complement includes more than 145 personnel. Her sensor and processing systems are advanced, featuring Héraklès multi-purpose passive electronically scanned array radar, Thales STIR EO MK 2 fire control radar, CAPTAS-4 towed-array sonar, and UMS 4110 CL hull-mounted sonar.

The ship's armament is no less impressive. It comprises a 76 mm Super Rapid gun, three 20 mm Narwhal remote weapon systems, and a 32-cell SYLVER A50 VLS that accommodates Aster 15 and Aster 30 air defense missiles.

Lorraine also carries eight Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles (with the Block 3c variant entering service with the French Navy from December 2022), and two B-515 twin launchers for MU90 torpedoes.