The French National Assembly’s Defense Commission has confirmed that the final two Defence and Intervention Frigates (FDI) will be equipped with significantly enhanced air defense capabilities, featuring 32 Aster missile cells—double the capacity of the first three Amiral Ronarc’h-class vessels.
During parliamentary budget discussions for the 2026 Finance Bill, French defense officials announced that FDI frigates 4 and 5 will be built with an expanded vertical launch system (VLS) configuration. The decision marks a substantial upgrade to the class’s anti-air warfare capabilities. The first three FDI frigates—Amiral Ronarc’h, Amiral Louzeau, and Amiral Castex—will subsequently undergo retrofits to match this enhanced configuration.
The FDI program represents a cornerstone of France’s naval modernization strategy. Developed by Naval Group, these 4,500-ton frigates were designed as multi-mission warships capable of operating across all warfare domains. The lead ship, Amiral Ronarc’h, was delivered to the Marine Nationale in October 2025 after extensive sea trials that validated the frigate’s advanced digital architecture and combat systems.
In their baseline configuration, French FDI frigates feature two Sylver A50 vertical launch systems with a total of 16 cells for MBDA Aster 15 and Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles. This arrangement provides robust self-defense and limited area air defense capabilities. The decision to double this capacity to 32 cells aligns the French Navy’s configuration with enhanced export variants already under construction, most notably the Hellenic Navy’s Kimon-class frigates, which feature the expanded VLS arrangement.
The Aster missile family forms the backbone of European naval air defense. The Aster 15, with a range exceeding 30 kilometers, specializes in intercepting sea-skimming anti-ship missiles and aircraft, while the Aster 30 extends protection beyond 120 kilometers and includes anti-ballistic missile capabilities in advanced variants. Both missiles employ the innovative “PIF-PAF” control system, combining aerodynamic steering with direct thrust vectoring to achieve exceptional maneuverability exceeding 50g, ensuring high kill probabilities against modern threats.
This capacity enhancement reflects evolving threat assessments and operational lessons from recent conflicts. The proliferation of advanced cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and saturation attack tactics has underscored the importance of deep magazines for sustained air defense operations. With 32 Aster missiles, FDI frigates will possess significantly improved capability to defend themselves and nearby assets during extended deployments or high-intensity operations.
The announcement also addresses a capability gap that emerged during the FDI program’s development. When Naval Group initially designed the frigate, budget constraints led to a relatively modest VLS configuration despite the platform’s capacity to accommodate additional cells. Export customers, notably Greece, requested and received the expanded 32-cell arrangement, prompting questions about whether the French Navy would ultimately adopt similar enhancements.
The French Navy plans to operate five FDI frigates, with deliveries continuing through the early 2030s. These vessels will complement the larger Aquitaine-class FREMM frigates and Forbin-class destroyers, providing the Marine Nationale with a layered air defense capability suitable for both independent operations and integrated task force missions.
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