Naval Group Reveals SCX 26: A Modular Warship Concept for Hybrid Naval Fleets
French shipbuilder Naval Group has unveiled the SCX 26, a conceptual 8,000-tonne warship designed to serve as a hub for hybrid naval fleets. Presented at Euronaval 2026 in Paris, the 170-meter vessel features over 100 vertical launch system cells, a 100-kilowatt laser, and a rapid-fire electromagnetic gun. The design emphasizes modularity, with a large aft mission bay for deploying and recovering various drones, including aerial, surface, and underwater units. Naval Group describes the SCX 26 as a forward-looking study to explore future naval architectures, not a ship currently scheduled for construction. The concept aims to address the rising threat of drone swarms and electronic warfare by integrating advanced sensors, including UHF radar for ballistic missile defense, while maintaining human oversight for operational decisions.