naval-forces-focus-french-technology

17Mer et Marine2014-2015 « INTERNATIONAL SHOWS Frigates «Optimised crewing and maintenanceTo minimise operating and upkeep costs,FREMM frigates are designed from stem tostern for advanced platform automation. Astandard-fit FREMM requires a complementof just 94, half the number required to manearlier generation vessels with similarcapabilities.Operating procedures have beenthoroughly optimised to further reducecrewing. This is particularly true of the ops(operations) room, the new DCNS-designedcombat management system and the 14multifunctional consoles controlling andcoordinating the ship's combat system andsensor suite. The Setis CMS automaticallyaggregates, analyses and displays incomingsensor data to determine thevessel's tactical situation which can thenbe shared other units. As the name implies,the CMS's prime function is to managethe combat system. CMS operators workon user-friendly displays presentingprecisely the information they need. Thefully reconfigurable consoles featureintuitive interfaces giving direct access toall CMS functions. Operators can optimiseworkload sharing and the number assignedto any given task, according to the tacticalsituation.The Ship Management System controlsall platform tasks and functions frompropulsion and power generation tocapabilities, alarms, fire-fighting and soforth. All of this information is displayed onSMS consoles in the ops room and on thebridge. The watch can thus monitor the SMSand control propulsion directly as and whennecessary. To ensure graceful recovery inthe event of a failure or combat damage, theSMS and the CMS share a fully-redundantarchitecture featuring multiple CPUs anddispersed autonomous networks.Upkeep (aka maintenance or through-lifesupport) has benefited from a range oftechnological and design innovations tofacilitate equipment handling, inspection,repair and changeouts. A level-two upkeepmaintenance period (UMP) lasting 60 daysis scheduled after 42 months' service.Each FREMM frigate will, in addition, bedrydocked for 135 days for a level-threeUMP after 120 months at sea. The fact thatthe Aquitaine completed two years at seawithout a day in drydock suggests that thisschedule should work well. The Aquitainehas experienced very few failures and thefew that have occurred have been quicklyresolved. The evidence suggests that thetype's innovations and upkeep strategiesare paying off. «JammerHerakles radarAnti-shipmissilesSiyver launchers(Aster & MdCN missiles)127-mm gunTorpedo launcherEmergencythrusterHull sonar