FREMM

The Franco-Italian FREMM multimission frigate — combining anti-submarine warfare excellence with long-range land-attack and air defence, and the design parent of the US Constellation class.

Overview

The FREMM (Frégate Européenne Multi-Mission) is a family of multirole frigates developed jointly by France and Italy, entering service in 2012. Built around a CODLAG propulsion system for quiet anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and equipped with Aster anti-air missiles and optional land-attack cruise missiles, the class serves as the backbone of both the French and Italian surface fleets. The design also directly seeded the now-canceled United States Constellation-class frigate. Export operators include Egypt and Morocco.

Development

France and Italy launched the FREMM program to replace their aging frigates with a common multimission platform, with Naval Group building the French Aquitaine-class and Fincantieri building the Italian Carlo Bergamini-class. The lead French ship, Aquitaine, was commissioned in 2012, and the Italian Carlo Bergamini followed in 2013, as documented by the French Ministry of Defence and Wikipedia. The design’s success led to its adoption as the parent for the US Navy’s Constellation-class frigate, which Fincantieri Marinette Marine was to build before the program was canceled in November 2025; Fincantieri’s product page for the Constellation notes its FREMM parentage, emphasizing the transfer of the proven hull and propulsion concept into a US-specification combatant, according to Fincantieri Marine Group.

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