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2020-12-06

EURONAVAL Online A Huge Hit With Participants

EURONAVAL 2020, which had been transformed into an entirely new and digital format in a matter of just a few weeks, closed its ‘virtual’ doors on October 25.

Despite the massive global challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the popular event witnessed seven days of intense online meetings, B2B and B2G business interactions, web-conferences, round tables, webinars and workshops. The unique edition, like the French, European and global naval industry, has proved its resilience and its position at the forefront of the fight for economic recovery.

“The digital exchanges probably don’t have the intensity and humanity of a handshake, a face to face meeting or a moment shared in person. However, we are proud to have been able to maintain the essential, useful and necessary export support for the French, European and world shipbuilding industries,” stated Hervé Guillou, President of the GICAN and President of EURONAVAL.

He thanked the exhibitors and sponsors who put their trust in the organisers and followed up on EURONAVAL-Online.

As he put it, “To all our partners, and especially to the small team at SOGENA, I offer my warmest congratulations for creating and running EURONAVAL-online in such a short time and under particularly difficult conditions.”

With more than 10,000 online visits, confirming the choice to maintain EURONAVAL in digital format, the “première” highlighted the advantages of the new arrangement.

Interestingly, the audiences for the workshops, conferences and round tables were higher overall than at previous classic editions of the exhibition, particularly for presentations made by exhibiting industrialists.

The systematic online replay of political and military speeches and workshops offered visitors a different experience that went far beyond the usual framework of an event of this type.

These tools, developed specifically for EURONAVAL-Online, will probably be used to complement future editions. It also seems that the digital exhibition has been of greater benefit to small and medium-sized companies, which are usually less visible than large groups at traditional trade fairs.

Another interesting development was the fact that a good number of new foreign companies chose to exhibit at the digital show while not opting to exhibit at the classic exhibition at the Le Bourget centre.

Powerful Speeches

New features were incorporated this year for the inauguration. On the “live” part of the exhibition, political and military speeches punctuated the first morning of the show.

At the opening of EURONAVAL-Online, Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces, delivered a powerful speech and confirmed in particular that… “this programme (of the future aircraft carrier) will be launched in 2038 as a successor to the Charles de Gaulle. This future aircraft carrier will unite the excellence of our naval industry in the coming decades and via its strategic dimension, will provide a framework for employment that is perfectly adapted, as early as the design phase, to the future combat aircraft of our armies, known as SCAF.”

For the first time, this year EURONAVAL welcomed Annick Girardin, Minister for the Sea, who expressed her satisfaction that the international dimension of EURONAVAL is not limited just to European countries. “The ships and systems presented at this exhibition, by the industry, also represent cooperation with other parts of the world.”

Rapid Transformation

What’s admirable is the rapid transformation of the entire event from physical to digital.

It was on 24th September, just three weeks before the opening, that it was decided to transform EURONAVAL into a digital trade fair. Nearly 300 exhibitors and 77 delegations had already confirmed their participation. More than two thirds then decided to join the digital exhibition. They were then joined by new exhibitors interested in the innovative project.

More than 280 exhibitors and 59 official delegations from 31 countries took part in EURONAVAL-Online, including for the first time a delegation from the French Navy. A good level of participation considering the circumstances and a strong sign of the resilience of the naval industry, as the French Minister of the Armed Forces pointed out in her opening speech.

Hugues d’Argentré, GD EURONAVAL explained: “Our wish was to offer exhibitors, delegations and visitors a digital experience as close as possible to that of a classic EURONAVAL exhibition. We built it with our partner J2C Communication as EURONAVAL’s digital double. We even went so far as to experiment, organising B2G (business to government) meetings between exhibitors and official delegations. We wanted them to benefit as much as possible from the same personalised services as in previous editions of EURONAVAL, with tailor-made support to promote synergies.”

The challenge was enormous as in an extremely short timeframe, exhibitors had to get to grips with the new tools available to them. During the entire exhibition week, from 19th to 25th October, a new momentum, different from previous editions, but no less relevant, took over the world shipbuilding industry.

Special Highlights

The announcements made by the Minister of the Armed Forces included the launch of the PANG programme, the first firing of a cruise missile from the Suffren (the first in the series of six nuclear attack submarines (SNA) in the Barracuda programme), the repair of the SNA ‘La Perle’, and the commitment to the programme to renew the Navy’s ocean patrol vessels.

Other highlights were:

* The presentation of the new study “World defence shipbuilding (2015-2019)”, which offered a global vision of world defence shipbuilding and the major trends.

* The conference on export markets and strategic partnerships organised in partnership with the FRS, with general engineer of armament Thierry Carlier, Director of International Development for the DGA.

* The round table on the European Union’s maritime strategy, bringing together the SGMer and executive directors from the three European agencies Frontex, European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and European Maritime Security Agency (EMSA).

CYBER Naval Hub, SEAnnovation and Trade Vessel

On EURONAVAL-Online, three spaces particularly illustrated the challenges and energy of the naval defence and maritime security industries, namely cybersecurity, technological innovation and training and employment.

The CYBER Naval Hub by FIC, one of the new features of this EURONAVAL-ONLINE 2020 edition organised in partnership with CEIS, organised four round tables giving the floor to the companies present at the pavilion as well as to expert speakers and major industrialists.

The SEAnnovation space, organised in partnership with Starburst, welcomed around 30 French and foreign start-ups. This pavilion broadcast four round tables on major subjects of the Special Forces’ operational needs, economic support to the French naval innovation sector and innovation for operational maintenance and the future of naval aviation.

The Trade Vessel, organised by the Naval Industry Campus, broadcast five webinars to present the many facets of naval industry professions (production, design technicians, engineers, robotics & cybersecurity and women in the maritime industry). Around 1,000 young people were able to attend these webinars and present questions to naval industry professionals.

French Navy Launch Customer of D-19T UUV

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) turned out to be the launch customer of Naval Group’s new unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), the D-19.

The D19 is the last generation of versatile Unmanned Underwater Vehicle developed by Naval Group for military missions. The D19 is built on a F21 torpedo base and is propelled by a Lithium-ion energy section.

The family of D19 drones is equipped with modular front-end payload, meaning it can easily be adapted for each mission. It can be launched by a submarine, a surface vessel or from the shore. Thanks to its plug-and-play payload system, D19 can fulfil a wide variety of missions.

A New Generation of Vigilante OPVs

French shipyard CMN unveiled a new generation of OPV, the Vigilante Mk II. It will replace the successful Vigilante family on the export market. They are available in several variants, from 45 to 75 metres long, and they will fulfill both littoral and oceanic missions. Designed for modern naval warfare, they feature a hybrid propulsion and will be able to operate a whole range of drones.

The VIGILANTE Mk II is designed with an inverted sharp bow combined with a slender bulb. It provides the vessel enhanced seagoing capabilities with a smoother passage through waves, increased waterline length and then hydrodynamic performances coupled with reduced fuel consumption and increased firing arc of the main gun.

The Vigilante Mk II will be useful in a large range of missions, including anti-smuggling patrols, fisheries policing, rescue at sea, humanitarian aid, EZZs protection, anti-pollution, Special Forces deployment and maritime/coastal intelligence.

EMALS and PANG Programme

Talking about France’s future aircraft carrier programme known as PANG, Scott Forney, President of General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems, said this could be an exciting opportunity for the United States Navy, French and for General Atomics. “We’ve been under a contract for the last 18 months with the U.S. Navy customer supporting a variety of studies including EMALS and AAG on the potential French aircraft carrier. We will continue to support the PANG programme,” revealed Forney.

EMALS and AAG would allow interoperability between the French Navy and the U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class and Gerald Ford-class.

PANG (porte avions nouvelle génération) is the next generation aircraft carrier project for the French Navy (Marine Nationale).

iXblue Unveils Cetos Suite

At the EURONAVAL 2020, iXblue unveiled for the first time its complete Cetos Suite. Partly presented in 2018, the Cetos Suite provides enhancing resilient positioning and navigation awareness.

For coastal and littoral operations, Cetos Suite allows a safe navigation, even during intense GNSS spoofing activities. Using Artificial Intelligence and augmented reality, Cetos offers a unique way to sail in a complex environment.

Recently tested by the French Navy, Cetos Suite is an advanced artificial intelligence-based navigation solution that provides naval forces with full navigational awareness, helping crews’ short-time decision-making and ensuring safe navigation.

Naval Group Showcases its Sea Power

Naval Group recently participated at the 2020 online edition of EURONAVAL. The company’s EURONAVAL booth was transferred to Naval Group’s site in Ollioules, France. Visitors were virtually able to discover the different workshops thanks to the experts who presented the products, services, expertise as well as the latest customer-centric innovations.

“Thanks to a proactive corporate strategy based on open innovation and partnerships with research centres around the world, Naval Group develops tomorrow’s technologies and accelerates their deployment on-board its customers’ ships. Naval Group thus contributes to strengthening its customers’ scientific, technological and industrial capabilities,” said Lionel Jodet, Senior Vice-President for Marketing, Naval Group.

To prepare for the future, Naval Group is investing in innovative technologies. The SMX31 E is the new submarine concept ship, which integrates the latest digital technologies for strengthened operational efficiency and significant versatility of use. Stealthier thanks to its biomimetic covering, the ship also benefits from an unmatched electrical energy storage capacity and a new propulsion concept.

Thales Provides New IFF for FDI Frigates

Thales unveiled the TSA6000, the first IFF interrogator to use flat fixed-array active antenna technology. This unique solution provides 360° coverage around the vessel, with no trade-off in range capabilities, and an extremely fast identification capability.

Identifying air targets after they have been detected is crucially important in the theatre of operations.

The fully digital TSA6000 comprises four fixed antenna panels to provide 360° coverage and unprecedented identification performance. Smaller, lighter and more efficient than a rotating antenna system, the interrogator can identify targets extremely quickly and is set to revolutionise IFF identification.

Safran Showcases Argonyx and Black-Onyx

Safran Electronics & Defense offered a new range of inertial navigation systems for surface vessels with Argonyx family. Based on HRG Crystal disruptive technology, Argonyx is the most lightweight and reliable INS on its market.

All Argonyx versions are tailored to specific ship configurations, from the small patrol boat with Argonyx SP, that offers an autonomous navigation performance of 1Nm/4h, to the destroyers with Argonyx XP, that offers an autonomous navigation performance of 1Nm/72h (TDRMS).

New submarines platforms, in particular ocean-going submarines, potentially fitted with AIP or nuclear propulsion, have increasing requirements in terms of autonomy. With its new Black-Onyx family, Safran meets these customers’ requirements by improving the autonomous navigation performance of its inertial navigation systems.

Patrouilleurs Océanique (PO) Platform

Launched on June 10 by the French Minister of Defence, the future ten ocean-going patrol vessels known as PO (Patrouilleurs Océanique) programme will replace the current fleet of aging A69 type PHM (formerly Aviso/light frigates and then reclassed as patrol vessels) based in Brest and Toulon and the Patrouilleurs de Service Public (PSP) or Flamant-class (OPV 54 class) based in Cherbourg.

These new platforms can fulfill a range of missions including support for deterrence, presence in areas of sovereignty and interest, evacuation, protection, escort and intervention in the framework of State action at sea.

According to the Marine Nationale’s presentation provided during the recent IQPC OPV International 2020 online conference, the 10-ship component will be delivered between 2025 and 2029, being funded starting with the 2019-2025 LPM.

CNIM Lifts Veil on LCAT Mk2 Landing Craft

At the exhibition, CNIM lifted the veil on a faster, more protected and armed variant of its LCAT catamaran landing craft. Dubbed LCAT Mk2, this enhanced version is reinforced on a number of points based on feedback from the French and Egyptian navies.

KERSHIP Presents New CG 41

The French shipyard KERSHIP unveiled a new coastal patrol vessel. The CG 41 is the latest addition to KERSHIP’s family of coastal and off-shore patrol vessels. As its name implies, the CG 41 is a 41m long vessel specially designed to perform Coast Guard missions.

To conduct coast guard and law enforcement missions, the CG 41 can quickly launch and recover two 6.5m intervention RHIBs installed on davits.

For surveillance and rescue operations, the new 360° vision bridge allows increased search capabilities. The CG 41 can also operate a small UAV copter. The ship’s weapons can include a 20mm remotely controlled gun, as well as machine guns and non-lethal weapons.

The ship’s displacement of 445 tonnes and unique hull shape give the CG 41 a top speed of 18 knots.

Reference Text/Photo:www.euronaval.fr

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