Sea Fire digital radar for FTI frigate programme enters production.

Thales is pleased to announce that the first Sea Fire radar for the French Navy’s FTI future medium-size frigates programme is now in production. The Sea Fire is 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.

Sea Fire radar array at the integration facility in Limours, France © Thales

The French defence procurement agency (DGA) awarded the FTI contract to develop and build five 4000 tons frigates to Naval Group in April 2017. The first of these five vessels will be delivered 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. This digital radar is at the forefront of technological innovation and benefits from all Thales's Big Data and cybersecurity expertise. Subsequent software developments will further improve the product’s performance and operational reliability throughout its lifecycle.

Our video interview on the Sea Fire at Euronaval 2016

First radar will be installed for qualification testing at the DGA facilities in Saint-Mandrier in 2019. Thales will deliver the 4 panels of the first Sea Fire radar to Naval Group shipyard in Lorient in 2020 for the FTI program.