[5] Original plans were for 17 FREMM to replace the nine D'Estienne d'Orves-class avisos and nine anti-submarine frigates of the Tourville and Georges Leygues classes.

Following the cancellation of the third and fourth of the Horizon-class frigates in 2005 on budget grounds, requirements for an air-defence derivative of the FREMM called FREDA were placed – with DCNS coming up with several proposals.

[9] Provence operated in the north of the Indian Ocean from 23 December 2015, and the frigate briefly joined the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, then joined the Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group which in addition to Provence included the frigates Chevalier Paul and La Motte-Picquet, a nuclear attack submarine, the replenishment ship Marne, the British HMS Defender and the German Augsburg, which accompanied them in the crossing of the Strait of Hormuz on 26 December as part of Opération Chammal.

The Caiman Marine of the 33F flotilla embarked on Provence was able to show its ability to land on the American aircraft carrier.

[10] In March 2016, as part of Combined Task Force 150, the frigate made a major arms seizure off the coast of Somalia.