First BR71 MK II Combattante Corvette for Angolan Navy Launched by EDGE and CMN.

Angola’s first BR71 MK II Combattante multi-mission corvette, NRA Ekuikui II, was launched in Cherbourg on March 10, 2026, as part of a three-ship naval modernization program. The project, developed by EDGE Group, ADSB, and France’s CMN Naval under a EUR 1 billion Angola–UAE defense agreement, aims to strengthen maritime security along Angola’s South Atlantic coast.

The first BR71 MK II Combattante multi-mission corvette for the Angolan Navy, NRA Ekuikui II, entered the water at CMN Naval’s Cherbourg shipyard on March 10, 2026, marking a major milestone in Angola’s naval modernization program. The vessel leads a three-ship class developed through cooperation between the UAE’s EDGE Group, its naval subsidiary Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), and French shipbuilder CMN Naval. The program is financed under a EUR 1 billion agreement between Angola and the United Arab Emirates and combines European shipbuilding expertise with Emirati systems integration and technology transfer. Once operational, the BR71 MK II corvettes are expected to enhance Angola’s ability to monitor and secure its South Atlantic maritime approaches, including offshore energy infrastructure and critical sea lanes.
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The first BR71 MK II Combattante multi-mission corvette NRA Ekuikui II is launched in Cherbourg, France, on 10 March 2026 for the Angolan Navy (Picture source: Edge)

The industrial organization of the programme reflects a distributed production model linking France and the United Arab Emirates. CMN Naval in Cherbourg is responsible for the design and construction of the first and third corvettes, while the second unit is assembled in Abu Dhabi by Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) following a transfer of technology from the French shipyard. EDGE coordinates the overall programme through its naval division and supports complementary maritime security projects linked to the Angolan contract. ADSB previously delivered six 12 metre and one 16 metre high speed interceptor craft to Angola, patrol assets intended to operate alongside the future corvettes and extend coastal monitoring and rapid interception capabilities.

The BR71 MK II Combattante class originates from the long-standing Combattante lineage developed by CMN Naval (Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie). The platform represents an upgraded evolution of the BR family of vessels derived from the Baynunah class design. Built around a monohull configuration combining a steel hull with an aluminium superstructure, the ship adopts a reduced signature silhouette and an optimized bridge layout providing wide visibility over the surrounding maritime environment. This architecture allows the integration of modular subsystems tailored to surveillance, law enforcement, and naval combat missions.

In terms of dimensions and performance, the corvette measures about 70.3 metres in length with a beam of roughly 11 metres and operates with a crew of about 50 personnel. The propulsion system allows speeds exceeding 30 knots, a characteristic that supports rapid response missions in coastal and offshore environments. At a cruising speed of around 12 knots, the platform reaches a range close to 2,500 nautical miles, enabling sustained patrol operations across Angola’s vast exclusive economic zone.

The ship also incorporates aviation and boarding capabilities designed for maritime security tasks. The stern flight deck supports operations of a helicopter in the 5 tonne class or comparable unmanned aerial systems, while two 7.5-metre rigid hull inflatable boats (RIB) powered by diesel engines are deployed through davit launch systems. These crafts allow boarding teams to conduct inspections, interception missions, or search and rescue operations without requiring the corvette itself to approach smaller vessels.

EDGE Group assigns a central role to unmanned aviation within the Angolan configuration. Its subsidiary ANAVIA integrates the HT 100 NAVAL unmanned helicopter aboard the BR71 MK II corvettes. Each vessel carries two HT 100 NAVAL unmanned aerial systems (UAS) equipped with electro-optic infrared sensor suites capable of detecting and identifying surface contacts during day and night operations. The aircraft are linked to the ship’s combat management architecture, allowing real-time transmission of sensor imagery and target data directly to the vessel’s command center.

These systems shape the operational concept of the corvette. Acting as a mobile command platform, the ship can detect contacts using onboard sensors, deploy the HT 100 NAVAL drone to visually classify the target beyond radar range, and dispatch interceptor boats for boarding or interdiction. Such layered surveillance extends maritime awareness well beyond the horizon of the ship itself. In regions where smuggling, illegal fishing, and trafficking networks remain persistent challenges, this architecture enables the Angolan Navy to maintain continuous monitoring of shipping routes and offshore infrastructure.

Operational flexibility further expands through the vessel’s ability to integrate into larger naval task forces. The design supports intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance missions, maritime patrol operations, and limited anti surface or anti air warfare tasks in coordination with allied forces. A corvette of this size provides enough space for mission planning facilities, communication systems, and boarding teams while remaining small enough to maneuver effectively in coastal waters and narrow maritime approaches.

The launch of NRA Ekuikui II also illustrates the broader strategic partnership that has developed between Angola and the United Arab Emirates in recent years. EDGE confirmed that the corvette programme forms part of a wider security cooperation framework involving maritime surveillance, border protection technologies, and training initiatives. In October 2025 the company signed a letter of intent with Angola’s Ministry of Interior to develop an integrated border security system combining surveillance infrastructure with command and response capabilities.

These developments reflect a wider evolution in defense cooperation across the Atlantic and the Gulf regions. Gulf defense industries are increasingly seeking export markets and long term partnerships with African states, while coastal nations such as Angola are investing in naval modernization to protect offshore energy resources and commercial sea lanes. Within this environment, the BR71 MK II Combattante programme demonstrates how shipbuilding, unmanned systems, and security cooperation are gradually reshaping maritime security structures along the South Atlantic corridor.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.