France doubles up on Aster missile numbers for FDI frigates

The Hellenic Navy's first of class FDI frigate Kimon, with 32 Sylver A50 cells. (Naval Group)

The Aster 15/Aster 30 anti-air missile loadout on the French Navy's five new Amiral Ronarc'h-class FDI ( frégates de défense et d'intervention ) multi-mission frigates is to be doubled, the Directorate General of Armament (DGA) announced on 5 November 2026.

In a statement issued during the Euronaval 2026 exhibition, held in Paris from 3-6 November, the DGA said it had finalised arrangements with Naval Group and MBDA to increase capacity from 16 to 32 missiles. This will see two additional Sylver A50 eight-cell vertical launch modules installed in the forward section of each ship.

According to the DGA, the move to increase the number of vertical launch cells reflects an understanding that the increasing diversity of the air threat, and the likelihood of complex multi-threat engagements, demands increased magazine depth. “Going from 16 to 32 Aster cells is the real answer to saturation by drones and cruise missiles,” said the DGA. “A frigate that exhausts its arsenal in two salvos does not provide any area defence. [Now], the FDI [frigates] become true escort units.”

The last two FDI frigates for the French Navy - Amiral Nomy and Amiral Cabanier - will be delivered with 32 Sylver A50 vertical launcher cells. The first three ships - Amiral Ronarc'h , Amiral Louzeau , and Amiral Castex – will receive the additional Sylver A50 modules as a retrofit.

For more, please see: Feature: Strategic autonomy guides France's naval sector

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