Naval Group has unveiled the SCX 26, a 170-meter concept warship designed to explore how future surface combatants could operate in high-intensity naval warfare involving drones, electronic warfare, cyberattacks and increasingly complex missile threats.
Presented at Euronaval 2026, the concept ship has a displacement of 8,000 tonnes, a maximum speed of 30 knots and a range of more than 8,000 nautical miles. Its design focuses on combining conventional naval combat capabilities with modular architecture, unmanned systems and the ability to integrate new technologies throughout the vessel's service life.
The SCX 26 features two integrated structural modules separated by a flexible zone intended to accommodate additional mission capabilities. Its aft section incorporates a large mission bay for deploying, recovering and maintaining unmanned systems. Integrated lifting equipment and a large-capacity elevator are designed to support the handling of different types of drones and helicopters.
The proposed sensor suite includes a UHF radar intended for ballistic missile defense, a sonar suite for anti-submarine warfare and electronic warfare systems. The ship's weapons configuration includes more than 100 vertical launch system (VLS) cells of different classes and an electromagnetic gun.
For close-range defense, the design incorporates two Rampart multipurpose modular launching systems and a 100-kW laser weapon. It also includes remotely operated munitions and remotely operated secondary artillery providing 360-degree coverage.
Naval Group has incorporated redundancy and system separation into the design to improve survivability. Key systems, including weapons, are distributed across the ship, with two masts and launchers positioned at the bow and stern, according to the company.
The mission bay is intended to allow the vessel to adapt its unmanned systems configuration to different operational requirements, including intelligence, surveillance, electronic warfare, anti-submarine warfare and force protection. The ship is envisaged as part of a wider naval force operating alongside other warships, aircraft and unmanned platforms.
The concept provides accommodation for an optimized crew of 150 sailors, with an additional capacity for 100 personnel, including senior officers and specialists. Naval Group describes automation, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems as tools to support the crew, while operational decisions and responsibility remain with human operators.