France's FDI is not the Type 83 comparator

If France is buying smaller FDI frigates, will British comparison with France push Type 83 toward a smaller ship?

No. FDI is France's light frigate; its planned large frigate and air-defence destroyer successors are the relevant comparisons.

The FDI does not represent France's preferred size for every future escort. It is the French light-frigate counterpart to Type 31, while France is also considering larger successors to FREMM frigates and Horizon air-defence destroyers for carrier escort. Those larger programmes are the relevant benchmark for British Type 83 choices.