Naval Group has completed the La Fayette frigate (FLF) modernisation programme, with the redelivery of FS Aconit. The €400 million contract to refurbish three of the five ships of the class is intended to extend their useful service lives by at least five years to cover a delay in the production of their FDI replacements since building slots were reallocated to Greek orders. The work to update the ships
Courbet, La Fayette and Aconit included the replacement of the original combat management system with the SENIT FLF suite and the obsolete Crotale anti-air defence system with two reconditioned Sadral sextuple launchers armed with the latest generation of Mistral 3 missile.
As well as being able to defend against sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, the very short-range ground-to-air missiles are well suited to counter emerging asymmetrical threats, such as fast boats and USVs.