French navy shipyards launched the first of three stealth frigates ordered by Saudi Arabia. The 4,500-ton frigate Al Riyadh, launched in the Brittany port of Lorient, is due for delivery in the summer of 2002 after being fitted with equipment and undergoing tests. Two sister ships, the La Fayette class missile-launching frigates Makkah and Al Damman, are still being built.
French defense electronics group Thomson-CSF provides the frigates' combat systems.