France’s three Mistral-class amphibious helicopter carriers will receive upgraded navigation capabilities under a partnership between CNN MCO, Thales, and CS GROUP. The modernization covers the Mistral, Tonnerre, and Dixmude, and extends to support for the auxiliary ship Somme. Implementation on the Tonnerre and Dixmude will follow scheduled maintenance periods, with the full modernization program set for completion by 2027. A key focus of the upgrade is resilience: the new systems are intended to preserve navigation accuracy even in contested environments where GPS signals may be degraded or denied. Thales will deliver its TopAxyz inertial navigation technology, a system that determines a vessel’s motion and heading solely through internal instrumentation. Using precision accelerometers and gyroscopes, it provides continuous positional data without needing GPS input, making it particularly valuable during electronic warfare scenarios. CS GROUP will integrate the TopAxyz units into the ships’ navigation infrastructure by managing the linking of sensors, distributing navigation data, overseeing embedded systems, and ensuring strong cyber protection. CNN MCO will conduct installation work onboard and handle full lifecycle support, including testing and maintenance. Mistral-class vessels are among the most capable amphibious platforms in Europe. Each ship is 199 meters long with a 32-meter beam, displaces 21,500 tons, and is capable of reaching 19 knots (35 kilometers or 22 miles per hour). Their capacity includes 177 sailors, up to 900 troops, 16 helicopters, and either 60 armored vehicles or 13 main battle tanks. They are also equipped with a 69-bed hospital, making them suitable for joint operations, logistical support, and humanitarian or medical missions.
