Six strategic orientations for innovation in the service of sovereignty
Our six areas of innovation
Naval Group annually invests a significant portion of its total sales in R&D and innovation to provide its customers with new high-tech products combining significant added value with controlled costs.
To accelerate its innovation process, Naval Group focuses on three fundamental pillars: planned innovation, open innovation and disruptive innovation. An agile approach – like our various laboratories and technology centres – which, combined with the recognised scientific expertise of our R&D teams, enables us to capture every promising conceptual design. Innovation is also about ambition: offering excellence in the field of naval defence. Naval Group has introduced innovation into its technological strategic plan, in six major areas: Smart Naval Force, Invulnerable Ship, Smart Ship, Blue Ship, Smart Availability, and Smart Industry.
Smart naval force
The aim: ensure superiority in terms of operations, information and fleet engagement in all kinds of missions, thanks to coordinated operations between manned platforms and drones.
Naval Group is continuously improving its ships’ combat capabilities in all areas of warfare including collaborative engagement, the new generation of underwater weapons, and support in running operations and in deploying aerial, surface or underwater drones.
Invulnerable ship
The aim: improve naval and military performance to guarantee ship stealth and resilience irrespective of the threats and attacks faced.
Naval Group guarantees its customers the best naval and military performance thanks to major innovations in the fields of stealth and signature control, shock resistance, protection from war-related damage and accidents, as well as hulls and structures (hull form, appendages, stabilisation systems etc.).
Smart ship
The aim: step up ship automation as well as the integration of the latest digital technology and artificial intelligence to improve information processing capabilities.
Naval Group equips its ships with scalable onboard digital infrastructure. This makes it possible to centralise and use operational data, new onboard artificial intelligence (AI) and new communication, navigation and cybersecurity systems.
Blue ship
The aim: equip warships with an optimised and scalable energy architecture, capable of integrating new sources of energy and new consumers, meeting the specific needs of users, while respecting international environmental standards.
Naval Group has adopted an eco-design approach to develop and integrate new means of energy production and storage (lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells), equipment required for the electrification of platforms, and intelligent systems for the tactical management of energy.
Smart availability
The aim: provide our customers with reliable and resistant ships as well as new means of crew training to increase the availability of their naval force.
Naval Group is designing a brand new services offer for its customer navies including intelligent systems for predictive maintenance, diagnostic tools and services to improve through-life support.
The group is also developing state-of-the-art naval infrastructure and latest-generation simulators for crew training and practice.
Smart industry
The aim: offer products and services that are competitive in terms of cost, lead times and quality thanks to a flexible and responsive digital industrial tool.
Naval Group is developing advanced simulation tools and new processes. They provide the group with unique know-how, enabling it to optimise the design and construction of its products. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), additive manufacturing and augmented reality are also at the core of our Smart Industry strategy.
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