Final French FREMM enters active service

Lorraine, the French Navy's eighth and final FREMM frigate overall, and the second of two modified for an enhanced air-defence role, has entered operational service. (Marine Nacionale)

The eighth French Aquitaine-class FREMM (frégate européenne multi-mission) frigate has officially entered operational service, the French Navy confirmed on 15 November.

Lorraine is the final unit in the eight-ship class built by Naval Group for the French Navy, and the second of two built to a modified FREMM DA (air defence) standard.

Laid down at Naval Group's shipyard in Lorient in 2018 and launched in November 2020, Lorraine was handed over to the French Navy in November 2022. Its entry into active service follows that of sister ship Alsace , the first FREMM DA and seventh in class overall, in November 2021.

The two FREMM DA frigates replace the French Navy's two F70 AA frigates Cassard and Jean Bart, which were decommissioned in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Their primary role will be to provide air defence for major French Navy ships such as the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier or the three Mistral-class landing helicopter docks within a carrier strike or amphibious group.

The first six ships in the programme were built as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variants and delivered from 2012 to 2019.

All eight frigates in the class are fitted with the same core ASW sensor fit, which includes the UMS 4110 CL hull-mounted sonar and Combined Active Passive Towed Array Sonar (CAPTAS)-4 low-frequency active and passive variable depth sonar.