Suffren was a Suffren-class frigate of the French Navy, designed to protect a fleet against air threats, surface ships, submarines, and, to a lesser extent, provide firepower against land objectives.

Ships of the Suffren class were designed as anti-air and anti-submarine escorts for the Clemenceau-class aircraft carriers and were similar in concept to the British Type 82 destroyer.

[4][5] Suffren was powered by four multi-tube, automatic control boilers creating steam for two sets of Rateau double-reduction geared turbines turning two propellers.

[4] The Suffren class were armed with a twin launcher situated on the quarterdeck for the Masurca surface-to-air missile.

Furthermore, the Suffren class had four launchers for L5 torpedoes, two to each side of the ship, housed in the deckhouse between the mast and the bridge.

[1] Fire control was via the DRBI 23 3D radar for air search/tracking housed in a massive radome that dominated the ship's silhouette.

Additionally four single-mounted 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon were fitted two to each side of the ship abaft the DRBC 33A radar.

Suffren accompanied the Clemenceau-class aircraft carriers on deployments and as a result was based with them as part of the French Atlantic Fleet upon entering service.

[1][5] Suffren's service-life extension refit was delayed due to the ship's deployments to the Persian Gulf during the Iran–Iraq War.