![Naval Group starts construction of France’s first FTI frigate](http://media.assettype.com/bairdmaritime%2Fimport%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F191028-3-Naval-Group.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
Naval Group recently held a steel-cutting ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of the first Intermediate Frigate (Frégates de taille intermédiaire; FTI) ordered for the French Navy.
The frigates will be used for anti-surface warfare (ASuW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-air warfare (AAW), insertion and extraction of special operations forces.
Each FTI will have a length of 122 metres, a beam of 18 metres, a displacement of 4,500 tonnes, a maximum speed of 27 knots, and a flight deck for helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Armament will include Exocet anti-ship missiles, Aster surface-to-air missiles, and torpedoes.
Five ships have been planned with the first unit scheduled for delivery in 2023.