Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire (FTI)

sparky42 said:
there's an article suggesting the Swedish Navy is leaning FDI for their new Frigate as the French are offering one of the built ones as the first ship
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Interesting… that kind of information is never leaked by chance. It suggests an underlying motivation, possibly a disagreement between the Swedish Navy leadership and their political masters around whether to prioritize capability & timeline vs industrial questions (such as supporting Saab).

The fact that the decision appears to have been delayed also lends support to the idea that the Swedish Navy is having trouble getting political support for their FDI choice.
 
Reports are Sweden is to announce which design they will go with tomorrow, no contract though.
 
I quite like this unusual shot of the 6th FDI hull in the background (HN4 Themistocles for Greece). AFAIK it's waiting for its bow section built in Greece.

gr_f604_themistocles_2026-05-16_loarient_pl-10023rcrfnctzn.jpg
 
I have to say from the moment I saw the concept design of this Frigate, I thought if they can pull this off, it will be a success for them.

Lo and behold gut instinct proved correct.

So congratulations to NG. Because I think this has more sales to achieve.
 
The FDI Amiral Ronarc'h was back in Copenhagen to promote the class for the danish tender.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2065164177665122554


I keep thinking that the FDI XL, with a hull potentially assembled in DK, might be a very good option for Denmark if the standard FDI is deemed to small.
You could add 2x 24 CAMM/CAMM-ER in the 9m center plug and keep the 32 bow VLS cells for Aster/Aquila.
They could keep most of the specs (guns, rws, torpedos, AShM, helicopter, drones …) identical to the Swedish variant to promote interoperability

The 2 other contenders are a new AAW variant of the AH140 (maybe a AH160) or the F127
 
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nava...the-tropics-activity-7476215531591667712-N9El

The French Navy has completed the Long Duration Deployment (DLD) trials for the 1st in-class Amiral Ronarc'h.

123 days at sea / 24,850 nautical miles sailed / lowest temperature -35°C

Brazil, Dominican Republic, Martinique, Mexico, New York City, Sweden, Denmark...

The crew of Amiral Louzeau, the 2nd French FDI, also took part in the deployment.
 
Titus K said:
"I learned the SAM configuration for the "Swedish FDI" consists in 24x Aster 30 + 24x CAMM-ER (cold launched from a new launcher developed in-house by Naval Group)"
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Needs more Aster 30. At least another 12, if not 24.
 
Titus K said:
Not possible, the hull is smaller than a National Security Cutter.
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Do you think Naval Group could introduce a stretched "FDI Evo" down the line, or would this conflict with the FREMM within the Portfolio?

I personally feel like the FDI still offers a lot of growth potential. Or maybe it's already exactly what Naval Group and the Marine Nationale want out of it (something between an FFG and a OPV).
 
EmoBirb said:
Do you think Naval Group could introduce a stretched "FDI Evo" down the line, or would this conflict with the FREMM within the Portfolio?

I personally feel like the FDI still offers a lot of growth potential. Or maybe it's already exactly what Naval Group and the Marine Nationale want out of it (something between an FFG and a OPV).
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Based on other frigates of the size, I don't think the hull is big enough for anything beyond the 32-cell VLS and single hangar it will already have. They will have basically the same armament as the French FREMM. The Italians are still building their FREMMS, but no French FREMM has been laid down since 2019. I don't think Naval Group is really pushing anything that big for the French export market.

Right now, the FTI hull is able to handle the basic international expectations for a frigate (single gun, 32 VLS cells, helo hangar, towed array/VDS), and they can do it at a pretty good price point. The Lafayettes have lighter armament but more endurance, but the French are still replacing the Lafayettes with FTIs. Their fleet requirements are for 15 primary combatants, and once the fifth FTI is commissioned in 2032, they will have all fifteen with none older than 2008 (24 years). That gives them a 10+ year window to not worry about large surface combatants while they are building their aircraft carrier, and then maybe they can use a DDX variant to replace the Horizon class.
 
EmoBirb said:
Do you think Naval Group could introduce a stretched "FDI Evo" down the line, or would this conflict with the FREMM within the Portfolio?
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NG isn't really offering the FREMM anymore, at least not build in Lorient. The entire shipyard is now optimized for FDI production of up to 3 ships per year if other yards help build some of the hull blocks.

There is an option called jumboisation, essentially a 9 m hull plug inserted amidships to stretch the ship to 130 m.

NG brought it up again last year -> https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defe...-livrer-sa-premiere-fdi-a-la-marine-nationale
You could add some VL MICA or 2x24 CAMM Launchers and keep the front 32 VLS cells for Aster/Aquila/NCM… they also mention 2 Rapidfire 40mm on each side.

Someone would have to pay for its full development… But Sweden wanted a smaller ship, so the standard FDI turned out to be a perfect fit, while Greece wanted its frigates delivered as quickly as possible.

Also NG does have a design for a large surface combatant, it's just not publicly available.
According to X.Vavasseur from NavalNews, it was offered to Singapore for their MRCV program, but they ended up choosing a local design, still with Seafire and Aster.

Marine nationale Bâtiments Légers de Surveillance et de recueil de Renseignement, l'option 3G 1.jpg
 
First official render of the Swedish FDI, we can notice :
  • Bofors 57mm (not the stealth version)
  • Bofors 40mm (with optical sight above/behind it)
  • Trackfire RWS
  • RBS15
  • A strange cone above the bridge
image.jpeg

According to an FMV release, the Luela-class will be fitted with several Swedish systems, including RBS15, Torpedo 47, Giraffe 1X, 57mm and 40mm naval guns, as well as Trackfire. FMV added that air defense and anti-submarine warfare are two core capabilities for the new frigates.

Deliveries are planned to take place between 2030 and 2034:
  • HMS Luleå – 2030
  • HMS Norrköping – 2032
  • HMS Trelleborg – 2033
  • HMS Halmstad – 2034
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Beautiful ship, I feel among the new gen of frigates, the FDI, Type 31 and Mogami variants are the popular ones.
Roughly a similar size as the preceding LaFayette, but packs way more punch, speed and heft.

I think going forward, the winner of frigate competitions will likely be based more on availability and delivery dates rather than specific cpabilities.
 
TomS said:
I can't easily find photos, but Naval Group says she was able to sustain 20 knots in Sea State 7. That's pretty respectable.
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It is!

So, how do we convince the French Navy to join a US carrier group going through the Southern Ocean... :D
 
Scott Kenny said:
Has anyone seen a video of an FDI in heavy seas yet? I'm curious how that bow shape works.
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Post nº161 in this thread (on top of this page) is the first of class Amiral Ronarc'h sailing in the Norwegian Sea in February 2026.
She crossed the arctic circle during that deployement.
 
4 minutes 10 seconds into the video they start talking about CAMM-ER, & from 5:00 the Naval Group bloke, Guillaume Weisrock, confirms the fitting of a cold launch VLS module with 24 CAMM-ER.
 
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In this video at 0:18 you can see the 4th Greek FDI Themistokles (6th hull)

The first Swedish FDI is apparently already under construction, under the codename FD8, so hull nº8.

This means that the 3rd French FDI (7th hull) will remain French and be delivered as planned in 2029, while the 8th hull will be delivered to Sweden in 2030.

There are still slots available in 2030/31/33/34 for 1 more ship per year.

View: https://youtu.be/ysRaEBkxfrA?si=fe7wJQdk5P8H2XPX&t=18
 
We might see the first Greek and the first French FDI shoot their first Asters together
https://www.onalert.gr/eksoplismoi/...-tin-antiaeroporiki-aspida-tou-stolou/818639/

According to information from OnAlert, the test is expected to be conducted in cooperation with the French Navy and the relevant services of the French Directorate General of Armament (DGA), at the DGA Essais de missiles – Méditerranée test range, centered around Île du Levant, off Toulon.

...

Joint firing exercises by the Hellenic Navy and the French Navy

Of particular interest is the fact that the Hellenic Navy is expected to conduct an Aster 30 firing from the frigate “Kimon” in cooperation with the French Navy, which will in turn carry out the same type of test with the first French FDI, the Amiral Ronarc’h.

The first French frigate of the class was delivered to the French Navy on 17 October 2025 and is currently undergoing the process of full operational certification. However, it has not yet conducted its first live Aster firing.

The test was initially scheduled for December 2025 in the Île du Levant area, but it was postponed because the French decided to implement a more complex and demanding scenario.

A new window had been considered for April 2026, but the deployment of a large number of French assets due to the crisis in the Middle East led to another postponement. According to the latest information from French sources, a new window is now being sought in the coming months, which confirms OnAlert’s reporting regarding joint firings with the Hellenic Navy.
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Hull blocks delivered by Salamis (Greece), likely for the 3rd french FDI (ship nº7)
Also first steel of HSwMS Luleå -> FD8
The greek shipyard will most likely also deliver hull sections for the swedish ships.
One month after the signing of the contract for 4 FDI frigates with Sweden, the Naval Group site in Lorient is already cutting steel plates for the first ship, the Lulea. Delivery scheduled for the end of 2030.
...
A block of hull delivered by the Greek Salamis. Naval Group very satisfied with the quality of the elements delivered by the Greek shipyard
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https://twitter.com/x/status/2105236463075967481
View: https://x.com/VincentLamigeon/status/2105236463075967481
 
https://www.lefigaro.fr/economie/a-lorient-naval-group-poursuit-ses-investissements-pour-la-production-de-ses-fregates-20260930\
“We still have four delivery slots available between now and 2034,” assures Vincent Martinot-Lagarde. He firmly rejects the rumour — likely fuelled by competitors — that the Lorient shipyard is operating at full capacity and can no longer accommodate new contracts.

“We can deliver to new customers within the agreed timeframes, and even reduce lead times to less than three years,” the director insists.

This is made possible through advance planning: “Lorient applies the ‘white hull’ principle, with vessel customisation carried out as late as possible. It is an adaptation of the aerospace industry’s model: manufacturers produce ‘white tails’ (aircraft with their fuselage, wings and all other common components, ed.) before incorporating customer-specific requirements during the final assembly stage,” explains a source close to the group.
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https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/naval-group-lance-la-construction-de-la-premiere-fdi-suedoise
The first Swedish FDI will therefore follow in 2030 but, thanks to the early order of a fifth frigate by France this year, Naval Group is able to deliver another unit in 2030. The French shipyard is indeed competing in several other markets, especially in Denmark, where it will also be necessary, in case of victory, to start deliveries from 2030.
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Titus K said:
There is an option called jumboisation, essentially a 9 m hull plug inserted amidships to stretch the ship to 130 m.

NG brought it up again last year -> https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defe...-livrer-sa-premiere-fdi-a-la-marine-nationale
You could add some VL MICA or 2x24 CAMM Launchers and keep the front 32 VLS cells for Aster/Aquila/NCM… they also mention 2 Rapidfire 40mm on each side.

View attachment 817132
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Well we might get some info on the "Jumbo FDI" (for Denmark) in early november at Euronaval

https://www.challenges.fr/entrepris...n-gros-contrat-de-fregates-au-danemark_646121

Regarding size, Naval Group asserts that the FDI packs firepower and combat survivability equivalent to that of a larger ship into a 120-meter vessel. That hasn’t stopped the group from considering larger versions, with details on the subject expected at the Euronaval show in November.
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