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French Navy Aquitaine-class FREMM Frigate Languedoc Started her Long Cruise in the Arctic

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Naval Forces News - France
 
 
 
French Navy Aquitaine-class FREMM Frigate Languedoc Started her Long Cruise in the Arctic
 
On 12 August 2016, the FREMM frigate Languedoc, the latest addition to the French Navy (Marine Nationale) fleet departed Toulon naval base for her long cruise. The long cruise is the last long deployment period of the vessel before it achieves "active duty" status. For her long cruise, Languedoc is sailing to the North Atlantic and eventually in the Arctic region. Languedoc is the third frigate of the Aquitaine-class for the French Navy.
     
On 12 August 2016, the FREMM frigate Languedoc, the latest addition to the French Navy (Marine Nationale) fleet departed Toulon naval base for her long cruise. The long cruise is the last long deployment period of the vessel before it achieves "active duty" status. For her long cruise, Languedoc is sailing to the North Atlantic and eventually in the Arctic region. Languedoc is the third frigate of the Aquitaine-class for the French Navy.
FREMM Languedoc setting sail for her long cruise. Picture: French Navy / A. Pugnet
     
According to the French Navy, the long cruise allows the crew to test their brand new ship and her systems and to ensure the highest level of readiness with this new class of frigate: It is used to verify and validate the vessel's capabilities at sea before admission to active duty. Its radar, its sonar, sensors, propulsion or its combat system are all technologies that will be tested. The duo FREMM-Caiman (NH90 NFH helicopter) will also be tested, particularly in the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) domain.

During this deployment, the frigate and her crew will have the opportunity to work and train with allied navies. This deployment is the culmination of a training period launched in September 2015 on the occasion of the first tiral of the frigate then completed by the first operational preparation course in May 2016.

The long cruise is a decisive step in the verification of military capabilities of the vessel, before admission to active duty. This is a period at sea carried far away, for a long period and with the entire crew to test the ship and its systems and allows the sailors to be fully operational.
     
Our video coverage of the FREMM Languedoc delivery
     
Navy Recognition learned that during her deployment with USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, FREMM Provence was tasked as "sector air defense commander" while crossing the Hormuz strait. This shows the very high level of integration and interoperability of the French Navy and its latest surface combatant, the FREMM, with US forces and allies. It also illustrate that while air defence is not their primary mission, FREMMs are very capable air warfare platforms non the less, and truly multi role vessels.

Talking to Navy Recognition during the Languedoc delivery ceremony, Vice Admiral Jean Louis Lozier (in charge of naval programmes at the French Navy) explained that the induction of the Aquitaine-class frigates is a game changer for the French Navy bringing in new capabilities. FREMMs have the capability to cope with and offset emerging Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) strategies emerging in some countries like Russia and China.

The French Navy is set to officially declare "ready for active duty" FREMM Languedoc at the end of the year following the long cruise.

The FREMM programme represents today the construction of ten vessels, of which eight for the French Navy. Six FREMMs will have been delivered to the French Navy before mid-2019, in accordance with the 2015-2019 military programming law. DCNS is currently completing the FREMM Auvergne, which was floated on 2 September 2015, and is pursuing the assembly of the FREMM Bretagne. Work has started on the eighth FREMM in the series, the Normandie. Last but not least, DCNS is finalising the design of two FREMMs with strengthened anti-aircraft capacities, the delivery of which is slated for 2022.

Overview of the FREMM series
Aquitaine, first in the series, delivered in 2012
Mohammed VI, delivered to the Royal Moroccan Navy in 2014
Provence delivered in June 2015
Tahya Misr, delivered to the Egyptian Navy in June 2015
Languedoc delivered on 16 March 2016
Auvergne, Bretagne and Normandie to be delivered in 2017, 2018 and 2019
Two FREMMs with strengthened anti-aircraft capacities to be delivered in 2021 and 2022

To learn more: Link to FREMM Frigate (Aquitaine class) technical datasheet