Naval Group unveils drone-focused warship concept

Nov 3 (Reuters) - French warship builder Naval Group on Tuesday unveiled a concept for a large drone-focused warship, the SCX-26, at the Euronaval defence trade show, as European navies adapt to high-intensity warfare and the growing role of autonomous systems.

• The 170-metre vessel, with a displacement of 8,000 to 10,000 tonnes, is designed around drone operations, featuring a large mission bay for deploying, recovering, maintaining and potentially manufacturing drones on board

• The ship would also feature advanced sensors, around 100 vertical-launch missile cells, an electromagnetic gun and a 100 kilowatt per hour laser weapon

• The research project draws on lessons from recent conflicts and technologies likely to become available in a few years, with a configuration designed to adapt to mission requirements throughout its life cycle, the company said

(Reporting by Ronan Corcoran, Hugo Lhomedet and Florence Loeve; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)