France has formalized the order for a fifth Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI) frigate from Naval Group.
To be named FS Amiral Cabanier (D664), the 4,500-ton multi-role warship will feature a digital architecture enabling continuous upgrades without major physical retrofitting, along with built-in cyber protection.
The procurement falls under France’s military programming law (LPM), which allocates defense spending incrementally. The fifth order was finalized in March 2026, following the acquisition of the fourth vessel in December 2025.
“With these orders for FDI frigates 4 and 5 for France, planned under the LPM, the Ministry of the Armed Forces renews its confidence in us to complete the series of defence and intervention frigates,” said Pierre Éric Pommellet, Naval Group Chairman and CEO.
The French Navy’s FDI frigates are being built at Naval Group’s Lorient shipyard, which is also constructing four FDI vessels for Greece, the program’s first export customer.
Naval Modernization
Launched in 2017, the FDI program is a key pillar of French naval modernization.
The lead ship, Amiral Ronarc’h, was handed over in October 2025, following its launch in 2022 and completion of sea trials from 2024.
Each frigate measures 122 meters (400 feet) in length, with a beam of 18 meters (59 feet), housing 125 crew members and accommodating medium helicopters and drones.
Built for all types of warfare, the ships are armed with Exocet MM40 Block 3C anti‑ship missiles and remote 20 mm weapons, Aster anti-air missiles, MU90 anti-submarine torpedoes, and a 76mm main gun for surface targets.
It features a top speed of 27 knots (31 miles/49.5 kilometers per hour) and an endurance of 45 days at sea, longer than the usual 30-day autonomy of conventional frigates.
