French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian officially launched the construction of five Belharra-class intermediate frigates (FTI), the Ministry said Friday.
The frigate contract was originally awarded to the French industrial group DCNS by the government’s Directorate General of Armaments (DGA). The Defence Ministry said these frigates will allow the French Navy to operate 15 first-line frigates by 2030, in accordance with the military multiyear planning law, the Defence Ministry said.
The Belharra is intended primarily for anti-submarine warfare but will also feature self-defense and special forces projection capabilities, DCNS said. It is expected to be in the mid-tonnage segment of French Navy ships, displacing 4,000 tonnes.
The company has joint project management over the Belharra with Thales for the development of the ship’s Sea Fire next-generation radar. The frigates will also be equipped with MBDA’s Aster 30 missiles.
Besides the Belharra frigates, the future force includes eight multi-mission frigates and two Horizon air-defense frigates. The Belharra-class was first unveiled at the 2016 Euronaval show in Paris and forms that basis of the navy’s future FTI intermediate frigates.
The ministry said the ship will be modular, which allows it to be configured for various mission types depending on poartner needs.
The Defense Ministry highlighted this frigate program will allow DCNS to develop its technical and industrial capabilities in the heavily armed surface combatant field, specifically at is Lorient, France site.
“DCNS is proud to contribute, alongside Thales, to the renewal of the French naval forces thanks to a new vessel responding to the needs of a world-class navy. It is key component of our range of military vessels and the attribution of this contract also allows us to develop a frigate that addresses the expectations of a dynamic international market,” Hervé Guillou, chairman and CEO of DCNS, said in a statement.
The first frigate is expected to be delivered in 2023 and enter into service in 2025.