French frigate Amiral Ronarc'h

Amiral Ronarc'h (D660) is the lead ship of Frégate de défense et d'intervention of the French Navy.

Amiral Ronarc'h during fitting out at Lorient shipyard on 4 December 2022
History
France
Name	Amiral Ronarc'h
Namesake	Pierre Alexis Ronarc'h
Builder	Naval Group, Lorient
Laid down	17 December 2021
Launched	7 November 2022
Commissioned	Projected 2025
Homeport	Brest (Projected)[1]
Identification	Pennant number: D660
Status	Sea trials
General characteristics
Class and type	Frégate de défense et d'intervention
Displacement	4,500 t (4,400 long tons)
Length	122 m (400 ft 3 in)
Beam	17.7 m (58 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	Combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) arrangement Total output: 32,000 kW (43,000 shp)
Speed	27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range	5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Endurance	45 days
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × RHIB
Complement	110 (+15 helicopter detachment)
Sensors and processing systems	Thales Sea Fire 500 multi-function AESA search/track radar Aquilon communication & IFF system SETIS 3.0 CMS Kingklip Mark II hull sonar CAPTAS-4 towed sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys	Thales SENTINEL ESM CANTO anti-torpedo decoys
Armament	1 × Oto Melara 76 mm Super Rapid gun (mounted in stealth turret) 2 × Nexter Narwhal 20 mm RWS 8 × Exocet MM40 Block 3 SSM 2 × Sylver A50 8-cell VLS for 16 MBDA Aster 15/30 SAM[2] 2 × twin torpedo tubes for EuroTorp MU90 Impact torpedoes
Aircraft carried	1 × SDAM UAV 1 × NH90 or Guépard Marine (H160M) helicopter

Design and description

Amiral Ronarc'h has a length of 122 m (400 ft), a beam of 17.7 m (58 ft), and her displacement is 4,500 t (4,400 long tons). The ship is powered by combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion with total power output of 32,000 kW (43,000 shp). Her maximum speed is 27 knots (50 km/h), range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km) while cruising at 15 knots (28 km/h),^[2] and endurance up to 45 days.^[3] The frigate could accommodate 150 personnel, including the usual complement of 110 ship crew and 15 crew for the helicopter detachment.^[2]

She is armed with one Oto Melara 76 mm Super Rapid gun and two 20 mm Nexter Narwhal remote controlled weapon station. For surface warfare, Amiral Ronarc'h are equipped with eight Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles, and two Sylver A50 8-cell vertical launch system for 16 MBDA Aster 15/30 anti-aircraft missiles. For anti-submarine warfare, she is equipped with two twin 324 mm torpedo tubes for MU90 Impact torpedoes. The ship also equipped with non-lethal weapon systems for asymmetrical warfare^[4][2]

Her electronic system and sensors consisted of Thales Sea Fire 500 multi-function active electronically scanned array search and track radar, Aquilon integrated communication and identification friend or foe system, SETIS 3.0 combat management system, Kingklip Mark II hull-mounted sonar, CAPTAS-4 towed sonar, Thales SENTINEL electronic support measures suite and CANTO anti-torpedo decoys.^[5][4][2]

Amiral Ronarc'h also has a hangar and flight deck at stern and could accommodate one SDAM UAV and one NH90 or Guépard Marine (H160M) helicopter equipped with MU90 torpedoes and dipping sonar, air-to-surface missiles, and/or heavy machine gun.^[6][3][7] The frigate also carries two rigid-hull inflatable boats for patrolling or for Special Forces purpose.^[4][2]

Construction and career

The construction of the ship was started with the first steel cutting ceremony at the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient on 24 October 2019.^[8] Her keel was laid down on 17 December 2021.^[9] Amiral Ronarc'h was ceremonially launched on 7 November 2022. The ship was partially launched by flooding her construction dock. The frigate was later towed by tugboats to the outfitting pier on the bank of Scorff River.^[4] It had been planned to commission Amiral Ronarc'h in 2024. However, delays in her fitting out and the start of sea trials pushed back her likely commissioning and full entry into service into 2025.^[10] She began her sea trials in October 2024.^[11]