**PARIS** — The heads of the French and U.K. navies emphasized the necessity for Western navies to innovate rapidly and collaborate closely with industrial partners to counter evolving maritime threats. During the Euronaval industry conference outside Paris, French Navy Chief of Staff **Adm. Nicolas Vaujour** remarked that navies can no longer expect ships to remain relevant throughout their typical 40-year lifespan, indicating that weapon systems will undergo significant changes within that timeframe.
Adm. Vaujour stated, “Weapon systems may need to be adapted as frequently as every year,” which underscores the importance of designing ship architecture that allows systems to be easily integrated or altered as needed. He noted, “We have to build adaptable by design,” acknowledging that creating adaptable ships over a long lifespan presents considerable challenges.
In the past three years, navies from the **U.S., China, Russia**, as well as **France** and the **U.K.**, have been advancing maritime weaponry technologies, including swarming drones, lasers, hypersonic anti-ship missiles, and rail guns. Additionally, progress in artificial intelligence has led to increasingly autonomous unmanned vehicles.
**Adm. Sir Ben Key**, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff of the U.K.’s Royal Navy, highlighted that generational technology shifts are occurring at a pace that outstrips the time required to construct a ship. He urged the need to implement new capabilities “far quicker than the speed at which we can build a hull,” which calls for a transformation in mindset toward operational capabilities independent of ship platforms.
Current conflicts have shown adaptability’s importance. In Ukraine, for instance, the use of missiles, drones, and unmanned craft has effectively restricted Russian naval access in the Black Sea, despite Ukraine’s limited naval resources. Meanwhile, Houthi rebels in Yemen have used drones and ballistic missiles against commercial vessels in the Red Sea, forcing a significant reroute of freight traffic.
Adm. Vaujour cautioned, “If you stay with your old doctrine, you will be dead very rapidly,” referring to the need for quick adaptation in response to threats. The French and British navies’ collaborative efforts in response to the Houthi threat have illustrated how urgent scenarios can accelerate innovation processes.
Key also noted that the lesson learned is to focus on critical factors rather than pursuing perfect solutions that may arrive too late. He compared the current phase of maritime warfare to the transition at the end of the Age of Sail, where the technical expertise of engineers became increasingly vital.
Adm. Vaujour mentioned that constant threats can challenge crew endurance, suggesting that the navy may require larger crews than previously planned. He highlighted the need for “a lot of innovation bias,” citing a successful incident where the French frigate Alsace used a helicopter to down a Houthi drone—a tactic tested shortly before.
Both admirals asserted that closer collaboration with industrial partners is crucial for speeding up innovation. The French navy plans to integrate industry engineers onboard to enhance understanding of onboard needs, particularly regarding artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the U.K. navy is seeking to engage its industrial partners in training and fostering risk-sharing arrangements.
Adm. Key emphasized the necessity of an agile mindset in developing naval capabilities amidst rapid advancements seen in regions such as the Black Sea and the Red Sea.
**Rudy Ruitenberg** is a Europe correspondent for Defense News and has previously reported on technology, commodity markets, and politics at Bloomberg News.
