The Euronaval exhibition, the world’s leading event in the naval industry, celebrated its 50^th anniversary edition this year. The special occasion saw many important political visitors, including the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. For the first time since its creation in 1968, the Euronaval exhibition had the honour of receiving the President for its opening day. Accompanied by minister of the armed forces, Florence Parly and secretary of state, Geneviève Darieussecq, Macron spent four hours at the exhibition. He met industry leaders, the actors of the defence and the state action at sea, SMEs and start-ups.

The same morning, minister Parly inaugurated the exhibition with an extremely positive speech for the naval industry, announcing the launch of the studies for the future aircraft carrier. The minister of education and youth, Jean-Michel Blanquer also inaugurated the Trade Vessel for the French industry in the presence of President, GICAN and CEO, Naval Group, Hervé Guillou, President, MEDEF, Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux and President, UIMM, Philippe Darmayan.

For its 50th anniversary, Euronaval welcomed 142 official delegations including 101 foreign delegations representing 72 countries from five continents. The delegations benefitted from tailor-made tour programmes, allowing them to discover the naval materials of the future that could equip their countries’ navies. Also, present were close to 60 representatives of overseas organisations.

As a privileged witness to half a century of innovation, the exhibition is always looking to the future, amply demonstrated in its SEAnnovation space dedicated to start-ups and its Trade Vessel.

Thanks to its growth and sound economic health, the French naval industry is recruiting, but is still having difficulties attracting young people. To respond to this considerable need for young talent, the GICAN, with the help of the Naval Industries Campus (CINAV), has designed and developed the trade vessel. An innovative scheme that was inaugurated by the minister of education and youth.

The SEAnnovation space hosted 34 French and foreign start-up businesses, representing the diversity of the sector. For the start-ups present, this was a unique opportunity to make themselves known to contractors of the shipbuilding industry all over the world.

Safran Introduces New Family of Naval Navigation Systems

Drawing on feedback from its many products used in deployments around the world, Safran Electronics & Defence introduced a complete range of inertial navigation systems for both surface vessels and submarines, designed to meet the expectations of today’s navies.

Thanks to the HRG Crystal hemispherical resonator gyro, patented by Safran, and complete support packages with minimum guaranteed down times and extended warranties, this new range offers a major step forward in terms of operational effectiveness, product integration and cost of ownership.

It also covers the full spectrum of naval requirements in terms of navigation precision, based on a wide variety of models in the family. The new Argonyx product line is designed for all surface vessels, from patrol boats and corvettes to frigates and aircraft carriers, while the Black-Onyx and Black-Onyx Dual-Core product lines cover all submarines, conventional and nuclear-powered, as well as air-independent propulsion (AIP) models.

These new navigation units are light, reliable and robust to meet the most demanding requirements for navigation and weapon system stabilisation. They deliver all data needed for navigation including heading, roll and pitch, angular velocities, position and heave, vertical/ horizontal speed and acceleration. They also offer high performance in environments without access to signals from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), allowing submarines to run without surfacing for unprecedented periods. Compatible with Sigma 40 interfaces, they are fully interchangeable, which means they can be selected for modernisation programmes.

The introduction of this new range of shipborne inertial navigation systems, following the launch of the Geonyx range for army applications at Eurosatory 2018, marks a new step forward in Safran’s deployment strategy for the HRG Crystal gyro.

Safran Electronics & Defence is a legacy supplier of inertial systems, both civil and military, for land, sea, air and space applications. The company has built up globally recognised expertise in inertial navigation and positioning. Today, Safran outfits more than 1,000 ships – merchant marine, naval surface ships and submarines – and some 40 navies worldwide, with inertial systems and sensors designed and built in France.

HENSOLDT Presents New Sensor Solutions

HENSOLDT, the leading independent sensor solutions provider, presented its wide range of naval sensor technologies at this year’s exhibition

The peak in submarine sensor technology represents HENSOLDT’s unique twin optronic mast solution combining the OMS 150 and OMS 200 periscopes. Bringing together the latest optronics sensor technologies such as low light level TV camera, high-definition mid-wave infrared and short-wave infrared, this product enables new submarine capabilities in all light and weather conditions.

HENSOLDT’s TRS-4D naval radar is designed to support anti-air and anti-surface operations. It is available with one rotating antenna and in another version with four fixed antenna panels. The radar’s AESA technology delivers increased sensitivity to detect smaller and manoeuvring targets with greater accuracy, as well as faster track generation to give naval vessels more time to react on hostile threats. The radar is in the process of being integrated into the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship LCS and the German Navy’s new F125 frigates.

Another part of HENSOLDT’s display was dedicated to protection systems enhancing the survivability of naval vessels. Early warning against laser threats such as laser beam riding missiles, laser target designators and rangefinders provides the COLDS NGB warning system while secondary radar, transponders and encryption devices ensure reliable identification-friend-or-foe (IFF).

Airbus Showcases Smart Solutions for Safer Oceans

Airbus showcased a myriad of smart solutions for safer oc