First BR71 MKII corvette for the Angolan navy as it is launched from the CMN Naval shipyard.

First BR71 MK II corvette launched for Angola amidst resurgent maritime challenges

The EDGE Group has announced the launch of the first BR71 MK II corvette for the Angolan Navy. Two more vessels will follow in an extensive modernisation designed to help counter rising challenges to its maritime zones.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, editor of Calibre Defence, published on March 11, 2026.

The first of three BR71 MK II corvettes has been launched at the CMN Naval shipyard in France, according to a March 10 press release. Under a €1 billion contract signed in early 2023, the EDGE Group is delivering three corvettes and a number of smaller vessels. 

Abu Dhabi Ship Building contracted design and production of the first BR71 MK II to CMN Naval in France. This is where the first ship was launched, and it will now presumably move on to fitting out. The second ship will be built in Abu Dhabi, facilitating the tech and knowledge transfer. And the third will also be built at CMN. 

The programme has moved rapidly, with first steel cut for what is now the NRA Ekuikui II (F300) in December 2023. Furthermore, EDGE has already delivered six 12-metre and one of five 16-metre high-speed interceptor vessels, the release states.

Marking its continued growth, the corvettes will also be fitted with the HT-100 uncrewed helicopter from ANAVIA, another EDGE company. The company has also been contracted to deliver the HT-100 to the UAE armed forces. 

Uncrewed helicopters are fast supplementing crewed platforms in naval roles as they can perform many of the same roles at a much lower cost and lighter maintenance burden. They are especially suited to maintaining orbits in tracking small vessels ready for a crewed platform to intervene. There is no indication that the Angolan corvettes will carry a crewed helicopter, so the HT-100 will be key to building situational awareness.

Calibre comment: Angola’s maritime challenges

Angola’s naval modernisation is driven by piracy, illegal fishing, and transnational crime. Illegal fishing has emerged as a core concern for nations in the Gulf of Guinea. Unlicensed boats are estimated to lead to a loss of $2 billion every year. And they extract up to 790,000 tonnes of fish every year, which is often exported to other countries. The impacts are far-reaching, destroying the local ecosystem and reducing the catch for local communities, with second order effects on food security. 

Piracy has also increased off the coast of Angola, with pirate networks growing in complexity and capability. 21 attacks off the Gulf of Guinea in 2025 made it the world’s second most dangerous area for piracy. Many of those attacks were armed and involved kidnapping. 

All of this has set the conditions for Angola’s naval modernisation. The BR71 corvettes will certainly help provide a significant presence. Especially against the larger industrial fishing boats and more aggressive pirates. However, effectively improving the situation in the maritime space will likely require cooperation with partner nations, as well as a persistent presence. It is worth watching how the Angolan navy manages its new corvettes, and whether it is able to keep them at sea.

Further reading on EDGE’s naval successes: 

The lead image shows the BR71 MK II Corvette, NRA Ekuikui II (F300), as it is launched at the CMN Naval shipyard. Credit: CMN Naval.

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