French frigate Normandie

Normandie (D651) is an Aquitaine-class frigate of the French Navy. The Aquitaine class were developed from the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.[1]

FREMM multipurpose frigate
History
France
Name:	Normandie
Namesake:	Normandie
Builder:	DCNS, Lorient
Laid down:	2014
Launched:	1 February 2018
Completed:	16 July 2019
Commissioned:	3 June 2020
Homeport:	Brest
Identification:	MMSI number: 227999200 Pennant number: D651
Status:	Active
General characteristics
Class and type:	Aquitaine-class frigate
Displacement:	6,000 tons
Length:	466 ft (142.0 m)
Beam:	65 ft (19.8 m)
Draught:	16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion:	MTU Series 4000 (2,2 MW everyone) CODLOG
Speed:	27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph); max cruise speed 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph)
Range:	6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	145
Sensors and processing systems:	Héraklès multi-purpose passive electronically scanned array radar CAPTAS-4 towed-array sonar UMS 4110 CL hull-mounted sonar
Armament:	2 x Sylver A50 vertical launch systems for a total of 16 x MBDA Aster 15 or 30 surface-to-air missiles 1 × Leonardo OTO Melara 76 mm SR gun 3 × Nexter 20 mm Narwhal remote weapon systems 8 × MBDA MM-40 Exocet block 3 anti-ship missiles 16-cell MBDA SYLVER A70 VLS for 16 MBDA MdCN naval land-attack cruise missiles 2 x double Leonardo (WASS) B-515 launcher for MU 90 torpedoes
Aircraft carried:	1 × NH90 helicopter
Aviation facilities:	Single hangar

Development and design

Original plans were for 17 FREMM hulls to replace the nine D'Estienne d'Orves-class avisos and nine anti-submarine (ASW) frigates of the Tourville and Georges Leygues classes. In November 2005 France announced a contract of €3.5 billion for development and the first eight hulls, with options for nine more costing €2.95 billion split over two tranches (totaling 17).

Following the cancellation of the third and fourth of the Horizon-class frigates in 2005 on budget grounds, requirements for an air-defence derivative of the FREMM called FREDA were placed – with DCNS coming up with several proposals.[2] Expectations were that the last two ships of the 17 FREMM planned would be built to FREDA specifications; however, by 2008 the plan was revised down to just 11 FREMM (9 ASW variants and 2 FREDA variants) The 11 ships would cost €670 million (~US$760m) each in FY2014, or €860m (~US$980m) including development costs.

Construction and career

Normandie was developed as part of a joint Italian-French program known as FREMM, which was implemented to develop a new class of frigates for use by various European navies. Constructed from 2014. On 1 February 2018, the frigate Normandie was launched. Originally, the name of Normandie was to be worn by the frigate launched in 2012, but it was sold to Egyptian Navy in 2015 and renamed Tahya Misr.

Armed with a partial crew of 75 sailors, the ship carried out its first sea trials in March 2019 under the responsibility of the Directorate General for Armament. Unlike previous ASW variants of the FREMM class, Normandie and its sister ship Bretagne are fitted with SYLVER A50 launch cells (instead of SYLVER A43) able to accommodate larger Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles. This provides both ships with a potentially enhanced area air defence capability.[3]

References

1. "Aquitaine class FREMM Frigate French Navy Marine Nationale". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
2. "FREMM : Supprimer des frégates, un non sens économique et stratégique?". Mer et Marine (in French). 19 September 2007. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
3. "French Navy Fitting Aster 30 Long Range SAM on its Last Two ASW FREMM Frigates". navyrecognition.com. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2020.