According to *Jane's International Navy*, on September 1, 2006, the final French *Horizon*-class frigate, *Shevalier Paul*, was launched on July 12, 2006, marking the end of a long and complex naval project. The *Horizon* program, initially designed as a multinational effort between France, Italy, and the UK, faced numerous challenges that ultimately led to its conclusion.
The *Horizon* frigate project was conceived in the early 1990s as a joint initiative to develop a new generation of multi-role frigates for the three nations. However, by mid-1999, disagreements over operational requirements caused the UK to withdraw from the project. The British then opted to develop their own Type 45 air defense destroyers, which were better suited to their specific needs.
Despite the UK's departure, France and Italy agreed to continue collaboration on the primary air defense missile system, which would be integrated into the frigates of all three countries. However, both nations reduced their planned orders for *Horizon*-class ships—France from four to two, and Italy from six to two. This decision was largely influenced by budget constraints and the need to focus on more cost-effective alternatives.
In response to these challenges, France and Italy launched the FREMM (Frégate Europeenne Multi-Missions) program, a multi-purpose frigate project aimed at addressing a broader range of naval missions while being more financially sustainable.
The first French *Horizon*-class frigate, *Forbin*, was launched in March 2005 and was undergoing sea trials at the time of the report. Meanwhile, Italy’s two *Horizon*-class frigates, *Andrea Doria* and *Caio Duilio*, were built by the Ancona Shipbuilding Company. *Andrea Doria* was launched in October 2005, with *Caio Duilio* expected to launch by the end of 2007.
Although the *Horizon* program did not reach its original scale, it still represented an important step in European naval cooperation and technological development. The lessons learned from this project helped shape future initiatives like the FREMM and contributed to the evolution of modern naval capabilities in Europe.
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