What Is A Modern Day Frigate?

A frigate is a type of warship with a history dating back to the 17th century, designed for speed and manoeuvrability. The U.S. Navy’s next-generation frigate, the Constellation class, is a critical test of its return to building ships around existing ones. Construction began in August 2022, and it can help distribute the force by offering a capability similar to the Arleigh Taiwan military’s New Generation Frigate program.

The Royal Navy will soon have three new frigate classes: Type 26, Type 31, and Type 32. The FDI, the first French frigate natively protected against cyber threats, introduces the concept of a powerful and innovative frigate designed to meet the evolution of threats. It is the first frigate to be natively protected against cyber threats.

A frigate is primarily ASW focused or general purpose, while a destroyer is dedicated to AAW. In modern navies, frigates are used to protect other warships and merchant-marine ships from threats emanating from the sea, especially from submarines. They are fitted with a variety of sensors and weapons, and are generally slower than destroyers.

The Constellation-class multi-mission guided-missile frigates of the United States Navy are based on the European multipurpose frigates (FREMM). In modern navies, frigates are used to protect other warships and merchant-marine ships, especially useful as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) combatants.