French contractor Naval Group published on Thursday the first photos of the FDI (Defence and Intervention) frigate Belh@rra, which will be delivered to the French Navy, named “Admiral Ronard”.
⚓🇬🇧 News from the FDI Admiral Ronarc’h!
Floating ☑️
Leaving the construction dock ☑️ Embarking
of the integrated mast, the PSIM (Panoramic Sensor Intelligence Module), which includes most of the sensors, one of the 2 data centers and the Central Operations ☑️ #navgeek pic.twitter .com/BEvW3Je9LD
— Naval Group (@navalgroup) November 10, 2022
In the released photos, the frigate can be seen leaving the shipyard’s construction center in Lorient, while according to the Naval Group update, the ship will carry the mast with the powerful Sea Fire 500 radar, which can, according to specifications, engage multiple targets at a range greater than 160 km.
⚓🇫🇷 Des nouvelles de la FDI Amiral Ronarc’h !
Mise à flot ☑️
Sortie du hall de construction ☑️
Embarquement de la mature intégrée, le PSIM (Panoramic Sensor Intelligence Module), qui regroupe l’essentiel des capteurs, l’un des 2 data centers et le Central Opérations ☑️#navgeek pic.twitter.com/BEvW3Je9LD— Naval Group (@navalgroup) November 10, 2022
The next frigate scheduled to come out of the same shipyard in about a year will be delivered to the Greek Navy under the name “Kimon” towards the end of 2024.
Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos was present at the floating ceremony on Monday of the first FDI FR1 frigate, which is intended for the French Navy. As the Minister of Defence stated, the floating of the world’s first digital ‘Defense and Intervention’ frigate FDI FR1, which is intended for the naval forces of France, in combination with the acquisition of the new frigates for the Greek Navy, at the same time as the arrival of the of RAFALE aircraft, underlines the strong will of the two countries, “to further strengthen their cooperation for stability and prosperity in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean, based on the rules of International Law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea”.
