FREMM multipurpose frigate The FREMM multipurpose frigate ( French Frégate multi - mission " or Italian Fregata multi - missione " ) is a class of frigate designed by DCNS / Armaris and Fincantieri for the navies of France and Italy . The lead ship of the class , " Aquitaine " , was commissioned in November 2012 by the French Navy . In France the class is known as the Aquitaine " - class , while in Italy they are known as the Bergamini " - class . Italy is buying two versions , a general purpose frigate and an anti - submarine variant ; France hopes to buy an air - defence variant . In 2007 , Morocco ordered one anti - submarine variant of FREMM . Background . Three original variants of the FREMM were proposed ; an anti - submarine variant ( ASW ) and a general - purpose variant ( GP ) and a land - attack variant ( AVT ) to replace the existing classes of frigates within the French and Italian navies . A total of 27 FREMM were to be constructed - 17 for France and 10 for Italy - with additional aims to seek exports , however budget cuts and changing requirements has seen this number drop significantly . The land - attack variant ( AVT ) was subsequently cancelled . A third anti - air warfare variant of FREMM was proposed by DCNS in repose to French requirements for a new air - defence frigate , the new variant became known as FREDA ( " " FREgates de Défense Aériennes " " , " Air defence frigate " ) . This new French requirement was due to the third and fourth Horizon - class frigate s being cancelled after the first two cost €1 , 350m each , but this decision left French Navy still in - need of replacements for its ageing " Cassard " - class air - defence frigates . As of 2009 , the FREDA design features a more powerful version of the Héraklès radar and 32 cells of SYLVER A50 in place of the 16 cells of A43 and 16 cells of A70 . The SYLVER A50 would allow it to fire the 120 km - range Aster 30 missile ; the towed array sonar would not be fitted . At Euronaval 2012 DCNS showed a new concept called FREMM - ER for the FREDA requirement , again based on the FREMM , but specifically mentioning the ballistic missile defence mission as well as anti - air . FREMM - ER has a modified superstructure replacing Héraklès with the new Thales Sea Fire 500 radar , whose four fixed plates resemble those of the US Navy ' s AN / SPY - 1 . France . Original plans were for 17 FREMM to replace the nine D ' Estienne d ' Orves - class ( A69 ) avisos and nine anti - submarine frigates of the " Tourville " class ( F67 ) and " Georges Leygues " class ( F70 ) . In November 2005 France announced a contract of €3 . 5bn for development and the first eight hulls , with options for nine more costing €2 . 95bn split over two tranches ( totaling 17 ) . Following the cancellation of the 3rd and 4th of the Horizon - class frigate s in 2005 due to budgetary reasons , requirements for an air - defence derivative of the FREMM called FREDA were placed - with DCNS coming up with several proposals . Expectations were that the last 2 ships of the 17 FREMM planned would built to FREDA specifications , however by 2008 the plan was revised down to just 11 FREMM ( 9 ASW variants and 2 FREDA variants ) at a cost of €8 . 6bn ( ~ US $ 11 . 5bn ) . The 11 ships would cost €592m ( ~ US $ 800m ) each , or €782m ( ~ US $ 1 , 050m ) including development costs . The 2013 White Paper on Defence and National Security reduced the number of FREMM frigates to enter service with the French Navy from 11 down to 8 . Current expectations are that there will be 6 ASW variants to replace the Georges Leygues - class frigate s and 2 will be built to FREDA specifications to replace the ageing Cassard - class frigate s . A decision on whether or not to build the remaining 3 FREMM will be made in 2016 . Italy . Planning assumptions for the Italian Navy were 10 FREMM ( 4 ASW variants and 6 GP variants ) at a cost of € 5 . 8 billion . FREMM will replace the " Maestrale " and " Lupo " - class frigates in service with the Italian Navy . As of 2013 , the Italian government has approved funding for the first six FREMM to be delivered to the Italian Navy ( 4 ASW varians and 2 GP variants ) . In the 2013 Italian budget , the Italian government has laid - out he necessary financing for two more GP variants ( FREMM 7 & 8 ) and the contract was awarded in September 2013 . Export . On 24 October 2007 it was announced that the Royal Moroccan Navy had ordered one FREMM to replace its Descubierta - class corvette . The contract was signed on April 18 , 2008 and construction of the Moroccan FREMM began in the summer 2008 with delivery expected in 2012 or 2013 ; the " Mohammed VI " was launched in September 2011 and will be delivered on 25 November 2013 . On 22 January 2009 the Hellenic Navy announced an order for six FREMM to replace an equal number of " Elli " - class frigates . After the Greek government - debt crisis this was cut down to between two and four ships equipped with SCALP Naval , with France alleged to have offered them to Greece at no cost for the first five years . Germany called foul on this deal in October 2011 and no deal has been signed . On February 2013 though and during the formal visit of the President of France , François Hollande , in Athens , according to press reports an agreement which includes the long - term leasing of two FREMM frigates ( the " Normandie " and " Provence " according to initial reports ) to the Hellenic Navy has been reached . In April 2013 , the French government showcased the FREMM class in Halifax with the hope of selling to the Royal Canadian Navy .