Corfu, April 23 – The advanced French Navy frigate Alsace (D656) has docked in the port of Corfu since Tuesday, April 22, as part of a naval exercise in the broader region. This deployment is understood to be a response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Alsace: A Multi-role Frigate with Enhanced Air Defense
The Alsace is a multi-role frigate, the first of two Aquitaine-class (FREMM) units specifically designed for enhanced air defense (FREMM DA). Delivered in April 2021 and fully operational by November of the same year, its primary role is to protect large surface units, such as the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, from aerial threats.
The frigate is heavily armed to counter multiple threats simultaneously, featuring:
- 32 vertical launching system (VLS) Sylver A50 cells for Aster 15 and 30 surface-to-air missiles.
- Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles.
- MU90 torpedoes and CAPTAS-4, UMS 4110 CL sonars for anti-submarine warfare.
- A 76mm OTO Melara Super Rapid gun.
- It also accommodates an NH90 Caïman Marine helicopter.
Recent Operational Success in the Red Sea
In 2024, the frigate Alsace achieved a significant success in the Red Sea during Operation Aspides, where it intercepted three Houthi ballistic missiles targeting commercial vessels. This marked the first time the naval version of the Aster 30 missile was used to intercept a ballistic target in real combat conditions.
Military exercises are frequently conducted by armed forces globally, particularly during periods of crisis and conflict, highlighting the strategic importance of such deployments.
Source: startmedia.gr
