Naval Group has unveiled a 5,400-ton variant of its Defense and Intervention Frigate (FDI) capable of carrying 16 Exocet anti-ship missiles and up to 300 loitering munitions, Interesting Engineering reported. This heavier, more heavily armed design is positioned to deliver both high-volume and long-range strike capabilities from a single platform. The integration of large numbers of loitering munitions shifts the crew-to-effectiveness ratio for surface vessels.
Why it matters. Consolidating missile and drone capacity in one platform streamlines logistics and expands mission profiles, but will require new automation for munition management and deployment. Reported