French shipbuilder Naval Group finally revealed a long-mysterious warship concept that had sparked quiet speculation in defense circles. The SCX-26 (Surface Combattant eXperimental 2026) is a heavy combat vessel designed for the operational challenges of the 2040s. This is a future “drone carrier” destroyer that acts as the central hub of a highly connected naval force mixing manned ships and unmanned systems. The SCX 26 measures approximately 170 meters in length and 24 meters in beam, with a full-load displacement of around 10,000 tonnes. It is designed to reach 30 knots and cover up to 8,000 nautical miles. The SCX 26 is heavily armed. It features twelve Sylver-family vertical launch systems: eight on the forward deck and four positioned beside the aviation platform. This gives a baseline capacity of 96 missiles. Close-in defense includes two mobile Rampart launchers that can fire short-range anti-air or anti-surface missiles, laser-guided rockets, or decoys. For guns and directed energy, the concept includes: A large-caliber electromagnetic railgun with rapid-fire capability and a stealth fairing as the main gun. A 100 kW laser mounted high on the forward superstructure for a clear field of fire. A stealth 57-millimeter gun turret plus lighter guns providing 360-degree coverage. This mix of traditional missiles, advanced guns, lasers, and drones is intended to handle everything from swarming drones and saturation attacks to hypersonic missiles and long-range strikes.
Source: This is the Future “Drone – Carrier” Heavy Destroyer! Meet Naval Group’s SCX 26 super warship
