France is set to enhance the firepower of its newest Defense and Intervention Frigates (FDI) by doubling their Aster missile capacity, a major boost to the fleet’s air defense capability.
During deliberations on the 2026 finance bill, defense officials said the final two FDI frigates will be built with 32 vertical launch cells instead of the standard 16, according to a report by Naval News.
Earlier ships in the Amiral Ronarc’h class will also be upgraded to the same configuration. This move is to ensure consistency across the series and matching export versions such as Greece’s Kimon class.
Naval Group’s FDI frigates, each weighing around 4,500 tons, are designed for multi-domain warfare from anti-submarine operations to aerial defense.
The first of the class, Amiral Ronarc’h, joined the French Navy in October 2025 following sea trials that validated its integrated combat systems and digital command architecture.
Once upgraded, the frigates will be armed with both Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles which will give them the ability to counter a wide range of airborne threats, including cruise missiles and high-speed aircraft.
The Aster system’s PIF-PAF control mechanism combines aerodynamic fins and direct thrust vectoring that enable exceptional agility and precision during interceptions.
Strengthening France’s Air Defense Capabilities
Paris has accelerated its efforts to modernize air and missile defenses over the past two years.
In 2024, the French Army ordered several units of the SAMP/T New Generation system, an advanced version of its long-range ground-based interceptor built by Eurosam. The upgrade improved radar coverage and interoperability with NATO’s air defense network.
Meanwhile, the French Navy has been upgrading its Forbin-class Horizon destroyers with the new Aster Block 1NT missiles, extending their ballistic missile defense capability.
The FREMM multi-mission frigates are also receiving enhanced radar and combat management software to improve coordination and response times against complex aerial threats.
