Thales announced that it has started production of the first Sea Fire radar for the French Navy’s FTI future medium-size frigates. Designed for roles ranging from ship self-defense to extended air defense, Sea Fire is fully solid-state multifunction radar with a four-panel phased array antenna.

Thales says the first radar is to be installed for qualification testing in 2019. The company will deliver the four panels of the first Sea Fire radar to Naval Group’s shipyard in Lorient in 2020 for the FTI program. The first of five frigates under contract with French Navy will be delivered in 2023 and will enter active service in 2025.