FREMM program of 27 frigates

摘要

The FREMM programme (for Multi-Mission European Frigates) is the most important joint initiative in naval shipbuilding to date undertaken between two European partners: Italy and France. This Italian-French programme, of historic relevance, comprises the development and construction of 27 new frigates, 10 for Italy and 17 for France, by their respective national industries. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on which the agreement is based was signed in June 2003 by the Defence Ministers of the two nations concerned. Although both nations are co-operating with other partners within NATO it is difficult to understand this quite large quantity of ships to be built and whether this is in accordance with NATO-plans. Similar plans for a standardised design existed already some thirty years ago (see HANSA 22/1984, page 2281). At that time a first generation of NATO-frigate was planned, but the various NATO-partners were not able to agree on one standard design. The German Navy agreed partly with a Dutch design to develop their class F 122 frigate building programme. Finally eight vessels of this class were built.