Thales has announced that the first Sea Fire radar for the French Navy’s FTI future medium-size frigate programme is now in production. The Sea Fire is a fully solid-state multifunction radar with a four-panel phased array antenna.

It is designed for roles ranging from ship self-defence to extended air defence, providing protection from conventional, asymmetric and emerging air and surface threats.

The French defence procurement agency (DGA) awarded the FTI contract to develop and build five 4,000t frigates to Naval Group in April 2017. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2023 and will enter active service in 2025.

The Sea Fire radar concept is the culmination of three years of advanced research into new radar technologies and architectures, conducted with the support of the DGA. It is tailored to evolving requirements and the new threats faced by the French Navy, particularly supersonic missiles.

The radar benefits from Thales's expertise in Big Data and cybersecurity. Subsequent software developments will further improve the product’s performance and operational reliability throughout its lifecycle.

The first radar is due to be installed for qualification testing at the DGA facilities in Saint-Mandrier in 2019. Thales plans to deliver the 4 panels of the first Sea Fire radar to Naval Group shipyard in Lorient in 2020 for the FTI programme.