The UAE’s EDGE Group and French shipbuilder CMN Naval have launched the first BR71 MK II Combattante corvette for the Angolan Navy at a ceremony in Cherbourg, France. Named NRA Ekuikui II, the vessel is part of a €1-billion agreement signed in 2023 for three corvettes aimed at strengthening Angola’s maritime security capabilities. The first ship is scheduled for delivery in October 2026, while the remaining vessels are expected by 2027. The 71-meter warship can reach speeds of 30 knots and operate over a range of 2,500 nautical miles. Each corvette will also carry HT-100 unmanned helicopters designed for intelligence and surveillance missions.
