FREMM-ASM, Bretagne (D655)

Mathll · June 1, 2026, 3:55am

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Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion.

Continuing with my suggestions of modern French ships, I have the honor of presenting the French FREMM frigates (also known as the Aquitaine class). Here is the Bretagne (D655).

In the early 2000s, France began receiving its La Fayette-class frigates. These were innovative due to their coating designed to reduce their radar signature. However, they had a major problem: their armament was too weak to make them true modern combat and defense vessels. Indeed, equipped only with short-range anti-aircraft missiles, a 100mm gun, and eight anti-ship missiles, these frigates could not handle modern warfare, particularly engagements with anti-ship missiles. Furthermore, the navies of Singapore and Saudi Arabia possess ships derived from this class but equipped with missile silos, making them true combat vessels. This is why the study of a new ship with enhanced capabilities began. Joined by Italy, which also wanted frigates of this type, the FREMM (Multi-Mission Frigate) project was launched.

The fifth FREMM ASM (anti-submarine warfare) frigate delivered to France, the Bretagne, was delivered in 2018 and joined the French operational forces the following year. The ship is similar to other ships of its class but features one significant change: its forward silos, which housed the Aster 15 anti-aircraft missiles, have been replaced with more modern silos capable of accommodating Aster 30 missiles with a much greater range, thus improving the ship’s anti-aircraft capabilities while retaining its original anti-submarine capabilities.

Based in Brest, the Bretagne has participated in various missions; however, one of its primary missions is and remains the protection of French submarines during their departure from and return to their base at Île Longue. The ship is participating in Operation TANSKORN in the Indian Ocean, notably to demonstrate the presence of French forces in the region.

The ship is named in honor of the Brittany region, located at the westernmost tip of metropolitan France. The region is the ship’s sponsor and also hosts it, as the port of Brest is the Bretagne’s home port.

Characteristics

Length : 142.00 m

Width : 20.00 m

Draft : 5.00 m

Displacement : 6000 tons

The ship is equipped with an Italian-made CODLOG (for combined diesel-electric or gas) propulsion system, consisting of a General Electric gas turbine and two electric motors, allowing it to reach a speed of 27 knots. Its range is 6000 nautical miles at a speed of 15 knots. The crew consists of 145 sailors.

Equipment

The ship’s equipment is, as expected, particularly modern, featuring all the various systems for detecting and identifying ships and aircraft, as well as various defense capabilities.

Radar :

1 x Herakles multi-role ESA radar (Thales)
1 x Scanter 2001 navigation radar (Terma)

Sonar :

1 x UMS 4110 CL hull sonar (Thales)
1 x UMS 4249 CAPTAS 4 towed sonar (Thales)

Other sensors :

1 x ARTEMIS IRST (Thales)

Fire control :

1 x NAJIR for the 76mm gun
2 x SOFRESUD QPDs

Decoys :

1 x NGDS decoy launcher
2 x SLAT anti-torpedo decoys

In addition, the ship can embark one or two attack helicopters and all their equipment/weaponry, which greatly enhances its power projection capabilities. The embarked helicopters are either Panther or Caïman Marine, both capable of firing Exocet missiles and torpedoes. Drones such as the CAMCOPTER S-100 can also be embarked.

Weapons

Regarding its armament, this frigate boasts a particularly diverse range of weapons, enabling it to engage all types of targets.

Guns :

1 x 76mm/62SR OtoMelara/Leonardo
2 x 20mm Nexter Narwhal NWS
2 x 12.7mm M2 Browning

Torpedoes :

2 x twin torpedo tubes for Mu90 torpedoes (up to 19 torpedoes in hold)

Missiles :

32-cell VLS (vertical launching system)
- 16 x MBDA Aster 15 or Aster 30 air-to-air missiles
- 16 x MBDA MdCN cruise missiles
8 x MM40 Exocet Blk 3 anti-ship missiles

It should be noted that all FREMM frigates are expected to receive a SIMBAD-RC system (based on the Mistral 3 missile) in the coming years, allowing them to effectively and cost-effectively counter drones.

This ship is obviously not one to be added to the game immediately; it’s a modern vessel equipped with technologies that are not currently available. However, if these technologies were to be added, it would be a particularly interesting addition, providing a ship capable of engaging all types of targets. Furthermore, its slight differences from other FREMM ASW frigates would make it an interesting ship to add to the existing fleet.

Pictures

Video

Pourquoi la France RENFORCE sa présence MILITAIRE dans le Pacifique
Tir ASTER 30 FREMM Bretagne
FREMM BRETAGNE (D655) departs A Coruna [4K]

Sources