The 'Normandie', the second Aquitane-class multi-mission FREMM frigate for the French Navy, was put to sea for the first time in late October.
Signifying the beginning of the 142-metre x 20-metre ship's sea trials, which will take place off Brittany and are expected to last several weeks, the main aim of these preliminary trials is to test the performance of the ship's propulsion and navigation systems.
Tests will be conducted at a sustained pace during the day and at night. The first three days will be devoted to the 'familiarisation' phase, during which the crew and other personnel will test the ship's safety systems and equipment.
Further testing will then focus on the propulsion system. The FREMM's high-performance hybrid power package combines a gas turbine for mechanical propulsion at speeds exceeding 27 knots and electric motors for quiet, low-speed propulsion. This phase will also include extensive testing of the ship's navigation and other basic systems.
On completing these preliminary trials, the 'Normandie' will return to DCNS's Lorient shipyard for several weeks of quayside work. In early 2014, the ship will put to sea for a second series of trials focusing on the combat system.
