FREMM-DA, Alsace (D656)

Mathll · June 1, 2026, 3:49am

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Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion.

To continue my series of suggestions for modern French ships, I have the honor of presenting the French FREMM frigates (also known as the Aquitaine class). And today I’m presenting the first FREMM-DA, the Alsace (D656).

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 FREMM-DA frigates are a sub-class of the FREMM class; these ships have been modified to have increased anti-aircraft capabilities. To achieve this, they lose their cruise missile capacity, which is replaced by anti-aircraft missiles. Commissioned in 2021, the Alsace is the first of two FREMM-DA frigates delivered to France.

The ship is based in Toulon. Due to its role being more focused on air defense than other FREMM frigates, the Alsace is generally deployed within the naval task force or escorting transport ships (such as the Mistral-class ships). However, it is also not uncommon to see it deployed on joint exercises and training missions, such as Exercise Orion or Mission La Fayette 26.
In 2023 and 2024, the ship intervened several times in the Red Sea to intercept drones and missiles targeting civilian merchant vessels. Employing a significant portion of its weapon systems (the onboard helicopter also destroyed a drone), several successful Aster 15 and 30 missile launches were conducted, protecting the ships, which earned the ship the Military Valor Cross in January 2026. Currently, the ship is deployed with the French naval task force en route to the Indian Ocean amidst tensions between Iran and the United States.

Like all FREMM frigates, the Alsace is named after a region. In this case, Alsace, a region in eastern France where part of the fighting of the First World War took place.

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. The main difference compared to the FREMM-ASM frigates is the improved radar, which has greater power, making it more effective in detecting and locking onto aerial threats.

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)
- 32 x MBDA Aster 15 or Aster 30 air-to-air 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 meant 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, this version, designed to be different from others in its role and missile capabilities, would make it a particularly valuable addition alongside other ships of its class.

Pictures

Video

L’Alsace : 1ère frégate multimissions à capacité de défense aérienne renforcée
Tir missile EXOCET MM40 Block3C par la FREMM-DA Alsace
[ENG SUB] Embarquement sur la FREMM DA Alsace
French frigate Alsace shoots down three Houthi missiles targeting a cargo ship in the Red Sea

Sources