Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

DSEI Japan 2023
  • News
  • Event News
    • SNA 2023
    • Euronaval 2022
    • Indo Pacific 2022
    • Sea Air Space 2022
    • DIMDEX 2022
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» News»Nexter & Naval Group to Upgrade Narwhal RWS on all French Navy Vessels
The Narwhal is a 20mm naval remote weapon station.
The Narwhal is a 20mm naval remote weapon station. Nexter picture.

Nexter & Naval Group to Upgrade Narwhal RWS on all French Navy Vessels

The French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) on January 16 awarded Nexter and its co-contractor Naval Group a contract for the modernization of the Narwhal 20B 20mm remote weapon stations (RWS) fitted aboard all French Navy (Marine Nationale) surface vessels.

Nathan Gain 02 Mar 2020

This contract encompasses three different levels:

1- In the short term, the DGA will qualify the Narwhal 20B in its new version dubbed “V1”. A first trial at sea campaign started in February. Full deployment of the upgraded “Narwhal 20B V1” across French Navy surface combatants is scheduled for 2020-2021.

2- On the medium term, studies (which are ongoing) aim at the certification in the first half of 2021 of the Narwhal 20B in its “V2” version. Its deployment on French Navy’s vessels would happen between the end of 2021 and the first half of 2022. 

3- In the long run, Nexter and Naval Group will work on a new, future system, through feasibility studies that will be launched this year. A concept study will be proposed to the DGA in October 2021. 

Nexter Narwhal 20B V1 and V2

The #FrenchNavy Horizon class destroyers have received 3 @Nexter_Group Narwhal 20mm RWS each. Good eye @Mr_Mat_fr!🤓 pic.twitter.com/57ThSQLcJl

— Naval Analyses (@D__Mitch) February 24, 2020

V1 will bring a number of improvements to the existing RWS (which can now be called “V0” even-tough existing Narwhal mounts have no official variant designation). The V1 improvements follow the initial feedback of French Navy sailors including requests for better accuracy in the context of firing warning shots against non-military targets. The V2 is set to bring, further down the road, some more improvements. These improvements include a new “warning shot” mode, improved man machine interface etc…

Accordingly, the whole French surface fleet equipped with the Narwhal 20B weapon system will benefit from these improvements. In numbers, this means:

  • 16x systems for the Aquitaine-class FREMM multi-missions frigates (including air defense FREMM frigates Alsace and Lorraine)
  • 6x systems for the three Mistral-class LHDs
  • 6x systems for the two Horizon-class air defense destroyers
  • 3x systems on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier
  • 1 system for the PEM, the main instruction center of the French Navy.
  • 1 spare system

In addition, the DGA awarded Nexter a contract in July 2019 a separate contract regarding the modernization studies of the Narwhal 20B fitted aboard the three La Confiance-class PAG patrol vessels of the French Navy.

Lastly, Naval Group and Nexter signed a contract in December 2019 to equip the next generation frigates of the French Navy, the FDI, directly with the Narwhal 20B in the V1 version. These mounts will be retrofitted to the V2 variant in the long term. In addition, six new offshore patrol vessels known as POM (Patrouilleur d’Outre-Mer) are set to be fitted with the system as well.

Contacted by Naval Group, a Nexter spokesperson commented:

These studies and retrofit contract awards reflect, in our opinion, the DGA’s confidence in the Narwhal 20B remote weapon station.

About Nexter Narwhal RWS

Narwhal 20 is a fully stabilized remotely controlled naval weapon station. It is the fruit of Nexter Systems innovation and expertise in medium caliber cannons, gun mounts and turrets for both fixed and rotor wing aircraft as well as for naval vessels.

Narwhal 20 combines the 20mm impressive firepower and advanced electro-optical day/night sensors and is ideally suited for maritime surveillance, law enforcement and sea police interception missions for countering and neutralizing evolving threats.

According to Nexter, Narwhal 20 is the most advanced 20mm naval weapon station on the market today. Selected by the French Navy in late 2011, the system ensures the close-in self-defense of the French FREMM Frigates.

Narwhal 20 A or Narwhal 20 B, selected by end users depending on their ammunition standard (20x102mm or 20x139mm) meets the exact needs of naval Forces and is the response for countering both conventional and asymmetric threats.

Xavier Vavasseur contributed to this story

French Navy Narwhal Naval Group Nexter Remote Weapon Station 2020-03-02
Tags French Navy Narwhal Naval Group Nexter Remote Weapon Station
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More

Authors

Posted by : Nathan Gain
Nathan is based in Namur, Belgium. He holds an MA in modern history with a minor in international relations from the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL – Belgium). Fascinated by military history he naturally turned to the defense sector after graduating and is particularly interested in Northern European and Belgian defense issues as well as in anything related to naval aviation.

Related Articles

French Mission Jeanne D’Arc 2023 to Sail Across Indo-Pacific

French Mission Jeanne D’Arc 2023 to Sail Across Indo-Pacific

Xavier Vavasseur 03 Feb 2023
French Navy (Marine Nationale) Mistral-class LHD "Dixmude" and La Fayette-class frigate "La Fayette" will sail around the world and through the Indo-Pacific as they set sail next week for "MISSION JEANNE D'ARC 2023".
French Navy receives First VFM Interceptor

French Navy receives First VFM Interceptor

Naval News Staff 03 Feb 2023
On January 05, 2023, The French DGA received the first "VFM" interceptor boat. It will be used by the French Navy for the protection of naval bases and critical assets.
VSR-700 VTOL UAV Successfully Tested Over Water

VSR-700 VTOL UAV Successfully Tested Over Water

Xavier Vavasseur 01 Feb 2023
The DGA validated the technical capabilities of the VSR-700 vertical take off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during a maritime test phase in December 2022.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 Naval News
All Rights Reserved