FMM multipurpose frigate
 The X650 Aventurier as it was commissioned in 1996
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| Class overview | |
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| Builders: |
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| Operators: | |
| Preceded by: |
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| Built: | 1991–present |
| In commission: | 1996–present |
| Planned: |
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| On order: | 20+ |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Frigate |
| Displacement: | 5,200 tonnes |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 17.5 m (57 ft) |
| Draft: | 4.8 m (16 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 30,000 kW |
| Speed: | 28 knots |
| Range: | 5,000 nm @ 19 knots |
| Complement: | 210 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: | 2 × NH90 |
The FMM ("Frigate Multi-Mission"; Merovingian: Frégate multi-mission; Sylvan: Fregata multi-missione) is a class of multi-mission frigates designed in the late-1980s and built throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s. The ships were designed with industry support by the AVA Committee on Frigate Replacement known as AVAC-FR. The ships were designed to give AVA states a single platform multi-purpose frigate to replace "medium range" air-defense warships like the Durand de la Penne-class used by the Sylvan Navy and the ''Vercingétorix''-class used by the Sieuxerrian Navy and also primarily ASW warships like the Maestrale-class and ''Charlemagne''-class.
The FMM would spearhead a number of new sensors and weapon systems while also retaining legacy systems to help reduce costs and increase interoperability between allied nations. In the Sieuxerrian Navy it is known as the Aventurier-class and in the Sylvan Navy as the Mamamiapizzapie-class.
Design
Armament
Guns
The ships are equipped with a single Canon de 76 mm Modèle 1964 CADAM gun, cued to the two RTN-25X fire-control radars. An improved variant over the older Model 1964 guns used by the Sylvan Navy, the gun features a rate of fire over 120 rounds per minute with a magazine of 85 rounds. Starting in the mid-2000s to current, new-build ships were equipped with new housings for the 76mm gun, instead of the older 1970s era housing, a new "low-observable" mount was used. In 2011 to 2018 all ships were reequipped with the STRALES system, which was a new 76mm gun with an in-built radar and new guided ammunition. This allows the 76mm gun to act as a dedicated CIWS out to 8km.
Close-In-Protection is provided by two Testudo CIWS mounts. With 2 - 25mm 7-barrel gatlin guns, the Testudo puts out an impressive 10,000 rounds per minute with an effective range of 1,500 meters. Each gun has 2,000 rounds for 4,000 rounds in each mount. Like the 76mm gun, they are cued by the RTN-25X fire-control radars.
There is then two 20mm F2 autocannons with thousands of rounds stored with an effective range of 1,500 meters and a rate of fire of 700+ rounds per minute. After that is the Arme Automatique Modèle 1982 heavy machine guns and are normally used for littoral defense.
There is then a crew armory with machine guns, assault rifles, and also MANPADs.
Missiles
To serve its air defense role, the FMM is equipped with six 8-cell VLS modules. Two of these are the A-43 for the quad-packed COFFIN-SR/MR missiles, allowing for upwards of sixty-four quad-packed missiles. These mostly serve as local air defense with ranges of 30 and 50km respectively. Medium range defense is provided by the COFFIN-ER in the A-50 cells, which make up the rest of the four 8-cell modules. This allows for a max of thirty-two missiles to be carried. The shorter-ranged missiles can be placed in the A-50 cells, but they detracted from the extended range missiles. The extended range missiles achieve a range of 180km.
Secondary air defense system is comprised of two Sadral launchers. The Sadral launcher uses the Mistral short-range air-defense missile and the missile has an effective range of upto 6km. The missile is highly maneuverable and capable. The launcher itself has a TV camera and a FLIR sensor.
Lastly, the ship is equipped with 2 4-cell anti-shipping missile launchers. These two 4-cell launchers use either the MM.40 subsonic missile or the MM.80 supersonic missile.