Naval Group has launched the French Navy’s second Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention frigate, the Amiral Louzeau (D661), at its shipyard in Lorient, Brittany.
Naval Group has launched the French Navy’s second Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI) frigate, the Amiral Louzeau (D661), at its shipyard in Lorient, Brittany.
The milestone is part of a five-ship fleet program announced in 2015 to modernize the force’s maritime defense capabilities.
Following the ceremony, the ship will undergo integration of its Panoramic Sensors and Intelligence Module, a multifunction mast that combines sensors, communications systems, and command solutions.
Activities for the work will be conducted in parallel with the final phase of the hull’s assembly, optimizing assessments and production timeline to just five months.
Initial sea trials for the platform are scheduled for 2027 before entering service later that year.
Meanwhile, construction of the remaining three ships in the FDI initiative will continue, with deliveries expected through 2032.
The French Navy received the first vessel of the series, the Amiral Ronarc’h (D660), in October 2025.
A French Navy Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI) frigate. Photo: Naval GroupAbout the Defence and Intervention Frigate
The FDI, short for Defense and Intervention Frigate, is a 122-meter (400-foot) long warship designed to address threats across surface, air, and underwater domains.
Its function is backed by a 76-millimeter Oto Melara naval autocannon, Narwhal remote artillery turrets, Exocet anti-ship missiles, Aster and Mistral surface-to-air missiles, and MU90 lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes.
The platform can carry over 125 personnel, a medium utility helicopter, and a medium unmanned aerial system.
The FDI is fitted with a 43,000-horsepower engine system for a top speed of 24 knots (44 kilometers/28 miles per hour), a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 kilometers/5,753 miles), and endurance of up to 45 days.
