What HII’s UK expansion could mean for Royal Navy’s uncrewed future
As HII prepares to deliver its latest AI-enabled uncrewed surface vessel later this year, its major UK facility expansion aligns with the UK Royal Navy’s plans for a hybrid fleet.
France receives first modernised La Fayette frigate
Aconit will be the third and final frigate to be upgraded in the La Fayette class. (Photo: Jean-Marc Tanguy)
The service life of three upgraded La Fayette frigates will overlap slightly with new-generation FDI vessels.
The French Navy on 14 October announced it has received its first modernised La Fayette-class frigate after the Courbet completed an upgrade.
Courbet is equipped with a Kingclip hull-mounted sonar supplied by Thales, and the Crotale CN2 point defence missile launcher (also from Thales) was dismantled and replaced with two MBDA Sadral six-round launchers capable of firing Mistral 3 missiles.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that Sadral is integrated with the SENIT FLF combat management system. The launchers on Courbet are not new, having been recovered from decommissioned F70 anti-submarine frigates.
The operations centre has been completely overhauled and Courbet now
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