Ships of the Suffren class were designed as anti-air and anti-submarine escorts for the s and were similar in concept to the British Type 82 destroyer. They were ordered in 1960 as part of France's new naval policy of deterrence/intervention/defence following the election of Charles de Gaulle as president of France. The French designation for the class was frégates lance-engins (FLE 60). They were designated as frigates by the French Navy but were considered destroyers by publications. They were later re-designated frégates lance-missiles (FLM 60).
The vessel measured 157.6m (517.1feet) long overall and between perpendiculars, with a beam and a maximum draught of . The ship had a standard displacement of 5090t and 6090t at full load. By 1990 the ship had a standard displacement of and at full load. Suffren was powered by four multi-tube, automatic control boilers creating steam for two sets of Rateau double-reduction geared turbines turning two propellers. They were rated at 72500shp. They created a total of 3,440 kW of electrical power through two 1,000 kW turbochargers and three 480 kW diesel alternators. Suffren had a maximum speed of 34kn and a range of 5100nmi at . The frigate had a complement of 355 sailors including 23 officers. For increased stabilisation as a weapons platform, the frigate was outfitted with three pairs of non-retractable fin stabilisers. Ships of the Suffren class were considered extremely seaworthy vessels.
The Suffren class were armed with a twin launcher situated on the quarterdeck for the Masurca surface-to-air missile. 48 missiles were carried. The frigates were also equipped with two single-mounted 100mm Modèle 1953 naval guns in positions 'A' and 'B' along the centreline. These were later upgraded to the Modèle 1964. The frigates also mounted a Malafon anti-submarine missile system. Each ship carried 13 missiles and the magazine was situated in the aft deckhouse. 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. Each ship carried ten torpedoes. They were the first French warships to deploy torpedoes using fixed catapults.
Fire control was via the DRBI 23 3D radar for air search/tracking housed in a massive radome that dominated the ship's silhouette. The Suffren class also mounted DRBN 32, DRBV 50, two DRBR 51 and DRBC 32A radars. For anti-submarine warfare, they were equipped with DUBV 23 hull-mounted sonar and DUBV 43 towed variable depth sonar. For electronic defence, the vessels initially mounted the Syllex chaff system. The SENIT I tactical data system coordinated sensor data.
In 1977 to 1979, the MM38 Exocet anti-ship missile system was fitted to Suffren. The ship carried four missiles. The Masuraca system was upgraded between 1982–1985. Suffren had its DRBV 50 radar replaced with the advanced DRBV 15 system in 1989–1990 while also having its DRBC 32A gunfire control radar replaced with the newer DRBC 33A system. Furthermore during that refit, the Syllex outfit was replaced with the Dagaie and Sagaie electronic countermeasures systems. Additionally four single-mounted cannon were fitted two to each side of the ship abaft the DRBC 33A radar.
Suffren was named after the French admiral Pierre André de Suffren. 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. In 1975, when the Clemenceaus were transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet, Suffren went with them and was based at Toulon.
Suffrens service-life extension refit was delayed due to the ship's deployments to the Persian Gulf during the Iran–Iraq War. Suffrens refit took place from 1989 to 1990. Suffren was retired on 2 April 2001. The Suffren class was replaced by the s.