**European Union’s Next-Generation Combat Vessel Initiative**
PARIS — The European Union is initiating the development of a next-generation combat vessel expected to be operational by the 2040s. EU defense ministers may sign a letter of intent to advance this project during their upcoming meeting in two weeks.
**Member State Interest and Budget Projections**
Currently, six EU member states have expressed significant interest in the project, with four of those having larger naval capabilities. Jürgen Scraback, head of the maritime unit at the European Defence Agency (EDA), revealed these details at the Euronaval conference. It is estimated that EU countries will require at least 30 combat ships in the future, although not all are anticipated to be part of this specific program. The budget for the initiative could exceed €20 billion (approximately $22 billion) based on 2024 pricing.
**Design and Technological Requirements**
The new combat vessels will be markedly different from existing ships due to evolving naval warfare scenarios. Fernando Miguélez García, chairman of the European Naval Industry Group (ENIG), indicated that the design may include mothership capabilities for deploying drones in combat operations.
Key requirements highlighted for the future vessel include:
– A compact structure capable of addressing a full spectrum of threats, including small UAVs and hypersonic missiles.
– A reduced crew size facilitated by high levels of automation and unmanned systems across various sizes.
– A displacement of at least 8,000 metric tons, taking modularity and the integration of containerized payloads into account.
For comparison, France’s newly commissioned FDI frigate displaces 4,500 tons, while the French-Italian FREMM frigates weigh about 6,000 tons.
**Upcoming Discussions and Technological Innovations**
EU defense ministers are scheduled to convene on November 19 to discuss the vessel project further. Countries such as Spain and Italy have shown interest, while France’s involvement remains undecided.
The next-generation combat vessels will also need to employ advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and integrate a naval combat cloud. These “smart ships” will focus on modular designs, allowing for flexibility between various operational tasks. Increased automation will be essential to counter hypersonic threats while maintaining connectivity with other vessels and drones.
Furthermore, new directed-energy weaponry, such as lasers and rail guns, will necessitate innovative power generation capabilities to support fast energy demands.
**Industry Cooperation and Strategic Framework**
The EU naval industry is actively identifying its technological gaps, with upcoming tasks focusing on collaboration among firms to address these deficiencies. Current efforts include defining new armament types and enhancing defenses against evolving threats, and establishing digital architectures and energy frameworks.
Scraback noted that the future combat vessel project is being considered for inclusion in the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework, which would secure commitments from heads of state.
**Reporting Details**
This information was reported by Rudy Ruitenberg, a Europe correspondent for Defense News with experience in technology, commodity markets, and political reporting.
