Thales radar for FTI frigate enters production
Thales has started production on the first Sea Fire radar for the French Navy’s Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire (FTI) future medium-size frigate programme, the company announced on 9 May.
The solid-state multifunction Sea Fire radar with a four-panel phased array antenna has been designed for missions including ship self-defence and extended air defence, providing protection from conventional, asymmetric and emerging air and surface threats.
The French defence procurement agency (DGA) awarded a contract to Naval Group in April 2017 to develop and build five 4000t frigates. The first of these five vessels will be delivered in 2023 and will enter active service in 2025.
The first radar will be installed for qualification testing at the DGA facilities in Saint-Mandrier in 2019. Thales will then deliver the four panels of the first Sea Fire radar to the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient in 2020.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![The UK joins the movement towards joint procurement]()
The UK joins the movement towards joint procurement
The UK will spend an estimated US$3.89 billion over the next decade in joint naval programmes, a lot of which will be in cooperation with Norway.
-
![Rheinmetall’s GMF 140: Ambitious frigate or market misfit?]()
Rheinmetall’s GMF 140: Ambitious frigate or market misfit?
Rheinmetall has unveiled its first next-generation frigate design, showing ambitions to compete as a surface combatant prime contractor. While the company is targeting North America, analysts believe the concept may be better positioned for future European programmes.
-
![US Navy $76.6bn award provides stability for submarine production]()
US Navy $76.6bn award provides stability for submarine production
The US Department of War’s US$76.6 billion Columbia-and Virginia-class submarine contract gives industry demand certainty as Washington seeks to rebuild its shipbuilding base.
-
![Dreadnought Phase 4 opens £2.5 billion supply chain opportunity]()
Dreadnought Phase 4 opens £2.5 billion supply chain opportunity
The UK government’s £8.4 billion Dreadnought Phase 4 investment sets aside £2.5 billion for the wider submarine supply chain, opening new work beyond BAE Systems’ prime contract.
-
![Hanwha Ocean deepens US ties and eyes Saudi submarine prospect after Canada setback]()
Hanwha Ocean deepens US ties and eyes Saudi submarine prospect after Canada setback
Hanwha Ocean is deepening ties with the US and eyeing a submarine opportunity in Saudi Arabia, as South Korea looks to convert its Canadian defeat into export momentum.
