DCNS is to supply FREMM multi-mission frigate
French shipbuilding, systems and
services group DCNS is to supply
a FREMM multi-mission frigate to
Egypt under a contract signed on
16 February.
The vessel, originally
built as Normandie, is to be taken up
from the French Navy production line
to expedite early delivery. Handover
to the Egyptian Navy is scheduled for
the middle of this year, following the
completion of final outfitting.
Displacing 6,000 tonnes, the
FREMM frigate is equipped with an
OTO Melara 76/62 Super Rapid gun,
Aster 15 point defence missiles and
MM40 Block 3 Exocet surface-to-
sur face missiles (both manu-
factured by MBDA), plus Nexter
Narwhal 20mm remote guns and
Eurotorp MU90 Impact lightweight
torpedoes.
Sensors include the
Thales Herakles E/F-band multi
function radar and the same
company’s ARTEMIS staring array
infrared search and track system. A
hangar and flight deck aft provide
for the operation of a 10-tonne class
helicopter.
Normandie was originally
intended to be the second FREMM
delivered to the French Navy. To
ensure that the operational cap
ability of the French Navy will not
be affected, DCNS will now acceler-
ate the production of subsequent
FREMM ships at its Lorient yard in
Brittany.
According to DCNS, this sales
agreementstrengthens the
company’s relationship with Egypt.
Last July, the company signed a
separate contract with Egypt for
the supply of four Gowind 250corvettes, three of which are to be
assembled in-country under a trans-
fer of technology arrangement.
SA Artillery