HORIZON MLU Milestone reached with KRONOS Grand Naval Radar Installed

A key milestone has been achieved in the Horizon Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) programme with the successful delivery and installation of the first Kronos Grand Naval radar at France’s Shore Integration Facility (SIF) in Saint-Mandrier.

The Kronos Grand Naval (KGN) radar, supplied by Leonardo, was shipped and installed at the DGA Shore Integration Facility on 17 December 2025. The installation represents a critical step in the Horizon-MLU cooperative programme, as it enables the start of qualification and acceptance activities for the Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) at the SIF over the coming year.

Progress on the programme was reviewed on 21 January 2026, when the SIF Steering Committee—including representatives from OCCAR, co-contractors NAVIRIS and EUROSAM GIE, and national authorities—visited the site and observed advancements in the infrastructure supporting the Horizon MLU effort.

Located at the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) site in Saint-Mandrier, the SIF is being prepared to host the core combat systems of the Horizon MLU, including PAAMS, the Kronos Grand Naval radar, the SMART-L MM long-range radar from Thales Nederland, and both Italian and French Combat Management Systems. This land-based configuration allows operational testing, integration, verification, validation, and qualification (IVVQ) to be completed before the systems are installed aboard Italian and French Horizon-class warships.

The Horizon MLU programme focuses on resolving system obsolescence and integrating modernised technologies, with common activities centred on the Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) and Electronic Warfare Systems (EWS) domains. These upgrades are intended to deliver enhanced capabilities and improved performance against evolving and advanced threats.

The modernised Horizon anti-air warfare frigates are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2030, reinforcing the long-term operational relevance of the Franco-Italian naval platforms.