French shipbuilder Naval Group has unveiled a warship concept that combines a large missile arsenal with drone operations, an electromagnetic gun and a high-energy laser. The 170-meter SCX 26 concept illustrates how next-generation surface combatants could operate in naval warfare.Presented at the Euronaval 2026 defense exhibition in Paris, the concept displaces approximately 8,818 US tons (8,000 tonnes) and is designed to reach 30 knots, with a range exceeding 8,000 nautical miles. Its proposed weapons fit includes more than 100 vertical launch system (VLS) cells, a rapid-fire electromagnetic gun, and a 100-kilowatt laser.The SCX 26 is a design study and not a ship currently scheduled for construction. Naval Group describes it as an exercise in exploring technologies and architectures that could shape future naval warfare.A warship designed around dronesOne of the concept’s most prominent features is a large mission bay at the stern, designed to support the deployment, recovery, and maintenance of uncrewed systems. Integrated lifting equipment and a large-capacity elevator would allow the ship to handle different types of drones and helicopters.The bay could be reconfigured depending on the mission, accommodating systems for intelligence gathering, surveillance, electronic warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and force protection. This would allow the vessel to operate as more than a conventional missile-armed combatant. It could also coordinate a wider network of crewed ships, aircraft and uncrewed platforms operating across the air, surface and underwater environments.The ship’s architecture is divided into two integrated modules separated by a flexible zone. This arrangement is intended to make it easier to introduce new capabilities as technologies and operational requirements change, rather than requiring major redesigns throughout the vessel’s service life.More than 100 missile cells and a 100 kW laserThe SCX 26’s proposed armament combines weapons intended for different engagement ranges and threats. Its main missile battery comprises more than 100 VLS cells of different classes, distributed between the bow and stern.Vertical launch systems allow missiles to be stored and fired directly from cells built into a ship’s deck. Depending on the launcher and missile combination, they can accommodate weapons for air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and land or surface attack. For closer-range defense, the ship would carry two Rampart modular launching systems and a 100 kW laser. High-energy lasers concentrate electrical energy into a beam that can heat and damage a target. They could provide another option against drones and other relatively inexpensive threats without requiring a conventional missile for every engagement. The effectiveness depends on factors such as weather, atmospheric conditions, range, and the ability to maintain the beam on a target.The electromagnetic gun is another proposed feature. Unlike conventional naval guns that use chemical propellants, electromagnetic guns use electrical energy to accelerate projectiles. The concept specifies a rapid-fire capability but does not provide details about the weapon’s caliber, range, or performance.Sensors and survivability built into the designThe concept also includes a UHF radar intended for ballistic missile defense, a comprehensive sonar suite for detecting underwater threats, and advanced electronic warfare systems. These would give the vessel a broad view of activity around it, from incoming aerial threats to submarines and electronic interference.Naval Group has also emphasized redundancy and segregation in the ship’s design. Its two masts and the distribution of launchers between the bow and stern are intended to reduce dependence on individual systems or locations.The proposed crew consists of 150 sailors, with accommodation for another 100 personnel, including commanders and specialists. Automation and artificial intelligence would help operators assess information and coordinate systems, while humans would remain responsible for operational decisions.