France has ordered a fifth Defence and Intervention Frigate (FDI) from Naval Group for the French Navy, expanding the programme to renew its combat fleet.
According to information from the website UK Defence Journal, the order was formalised by the French defence procurement agency on 31 March 2026, just a few months after the order for the fourth vessel of the class. The two ships will be built at Naval Group’s facilities in Lorient, France.
The new vessel is part of the Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI) class, designed for anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare and operations against asymmetric threats. The frigate also features a digital architecture designed for continuous upgrades and integrated cyber protection.
The first frigate of the class, the Amiral Ronarc’h, has already begun operational trials after completing weeks of sea trials in the Atlantic Ocean. According to Naval Group, the ships were designed to operate both independently and as part of NATO naval forces in different maritime environments.
Pierre Éric Pommellet, chairman and CEO of Naval Group, said the orders for the fourth and fifth frigates “renew their confidence in us to complete the series of defence and intervention frigates,” adding that the company is “fully mobilised to provide the French Navy with the means to achieve naval superiority, in the service of France’s sovereignty.”
Source and images: Naval Group. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
