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Frigate FS Amiral Ronarc'h (D 660)

Frigate FS Amiral Ronarc'h (D 660) 0Frigate FS Amiral Ronarc'h (D 660) 1Frigate FS Amiral Ronarc'h (D 660) 2

Classification

Ship class:
Amiral Ronarc’h-class frigate (FDI design)
Type:
Frigate

Basic information

Namesake:
Amiral Ronarc'h
Operator:
French Navy (Marine Nationale)French Navy (Marine Nationale)
Country of build:
Builder:
Naval Group (formerly DCNS)Naval Group (formerly DCNS)
Laid down:
Launched:
Status:
Launched

Ship measurements

Displacement:
4,500 t
Length:
122 m
Beam:
17.7 m

Machine

Propulsion system:
CODAD
Propulsion:
  • Combined diesel and diesel arrangement
  • Total output: 32,000 kW (43,000 shp)
  • 2 shafts / 2 propellers
Speed:
27 knots
Range:
5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Personnel

Complement:
110

Combat assets

Boats & landing craft:
  • 2 * RHIB
Electronics:
  • Thales Sea Fire 500 multi-function Active electronically scanned array radar, S-band
  • Kingklip Mark 1115 hull sonar, CAPTAS-4 towed sonar, CANTO anti torpedo decoys
Armament:
  • 1 * Oto Melara 76 mm Super Rapid gun (mounted in stealth cupola)
  • 2 * Nexter Narwhal 20 mm RWS
  • 8 * Exocet MM-40 Block 3
  • 2 * Sylver A50 8-cell VLS for 16 MBDA Aster 15/30 surface-to-air missiles
  • 2 * dual torpedo tubes with EuroTorp MU90 Impact torpedoes
Aircraft:
  • 1 * NH90 or Guépard Marine (H160M) helicopter equipped with torpedoes, air-to-surface missiles, and/or heavy machine gun; and SDAM UAV;

The French Defence Ministry announced the attribution to DCNS of a contract for the development and construction of five intermediate-size frigates (FTIs) intended for the French Navy on 21 April 2017.

The lead ship being named Admiral Ronarc'h. First steel was cut in October 2019 beginning construction on the lead unit. The lead ship was laid down on 17 December 2021.

The new frigate, will be equipped with electronic systems and sensors developed by Thales and will be equipped with Aster 30 missiles from MBDA Aster 15/30.

The SEA FIRE all-digital multi-function radar with four fixed antennas, which will meet the requirements of a broad range of missions, from ship self-defence to extended air defence, and can deploy MBDA Aster 15/30; first SEA FIRE radar delivered for integration in first FDI unit in April 2021.

The compact version of the CAPTAS-4 towed-array sonar, delivers the same ultra-long-range detection performance as the original version of CAPTAS-4 with 20% lower weight and a footprint almost 50% smaller, claimed to be the best in its class by Thales.

The Aquilon integrated digital communications system, and an IFF (Identification Friend of Foe) associated with the SEA FIRE radar

The SENTINEL system, an advanced digital electronic warfare system built around a modular architecture.

The construction of the ship was started with the first steel cutting ceremony at the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient on 24 October 2019. Her keel was laid down on 17 December 2021. 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 delivery into 2025. She began her sea trials in October 2024. In September 2025, the frigate departed the Lorient shipyard for delivery at her home port at Brest. She was expected to undertake a long-term deployment as part of her workup period in early 2026 and then be commissioned toward the middle of the year.

In October 2025, Amiral Ronarc'h received her first at-sea replenishment from the support ship Somme.

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