It takes the total number of SAMP/T NG systems ordered by France and Italy to 18.

A total of eight systems will be delivered to the French Air Force while the rest will go to the Italian Army and Air Force.

France is expected to receive the first system by 2026 and the rest by 2030. Paris reportedly plans to procure four more systems by 2035.

Can Counter Hypersonics

The NG is an upgrade on the SAMP/T, which has been in service since 2010.

It provides an interception range of over 150 kilometers (93 miles) against a variety of threats, including short- and medium-range ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles. 

A consortium of Thales and MBDA produces the system, which uses the munitions of the Aster family (A30 B1 and A30 B1NT).

Features

The system is based on the multifunction Thales GF300 rotating active electronically scanned array radar and the New Generation Engagement Module (ME-NG) developed by Thales and MBDA Italy.

The radar provides 360-degree coverage and has a detection range of 350 kilometers (217 miles).

The ME-NG is designed to integrate a diverse range of radars and munitions to cater to the needs of different nations, according to Thales.

The truck-based system can be equipped with six launchers, each carrying Aster 30 missiles.

“Thales is proud to contribute to the sovereignty of nations with its most innovative Air Defence technologies, including the New Generation Engagement Module (ME-NG) and the GF300 radar,” executive VP of Land and Air Systems at Thales Herve Dammann said.

“This contract for seven additional SAMP/T NG for France is a significant step forward in the European Air Defence. It further strengthens Thales’ role as a trusted partner of the French Air and Space Forces.”

The post France Orders Seven Next-Gen SAMP/T Air Defense Systems appeared first on The Defense Post.

Under the administration of new President Lai Ching-te, Taiwan revamped training for its armed forces to include more nighttime drills and exercises as the democratic island faces greater pressures from China, which claims it as part of its territory.

On Tuesday night, Captain Hsieh Pei-hsun was forced to eject from his single-seat Mirage 2000 fighter after it apparently lost power, the defense ministry said.

The jet crashed into the sea, while Hsieh was rescued about two hours later and transported to a hospital in central Taichung city.

The air force’s chief of staff said it had implemented a Tien An – or “safe skies” – inspection of its 60-plane Mirage-2000 fleet, which would mean grounding them.

“A special inspection will be carried out for the whole Mirage fleet,” Lieutenant General Wang Te-yang said during a news conference. “We also set up a task force immediately to investigate the incident.”

Despite the grounding, he said “there will be no pressure or impact on the air force’s combat capabilities in the short term.”

Taiwan’s Mirage-2000 fighters were purchased in 1992 from France in an arms deal that angered China.

They are still a core component of the island’s ageing fleet, which also includes F-16 fighter jets from the United States, and locally built Indigenous Defence Fighters.

Taiwan’s air force and military are up against increasing pressures from China, which has in recent years ramped up incursions by fighter jets and drones around the island – actions that military experts dub as grey-zone tactics that serve to exhaust the island’s armed forces.

In a 24-hour window ending 6:00 am Wednesday (2200 GMT Tuesday), 21 Chinese military aircraft, nine naval vessels, and an official ship were detected around the island, Taiwan’s defense ministry said.

A subsequent statement said a further 19 Chinese fighter jets, patrol aircraft, and drones were tracked around Taiwan, and the defense ministry was monitoring the situation.

Lai visited Hsieh in hospital and said the pilot’s condition was stable.

“The people should also know that in order to protect the country, the armed forces not only stick to their posts but also train day and night,” the president told reporters after his visit.

“I ask the people to fully support the military and be the backing of the military. This way the military will have more strength to protect the country. Only by defending the country can we have a stable society,” he said.

Beijing, which regards Lai as a “dangerous separatist,” launched war games simulating a blockade around Taiwan three days after he was sworn in as president in May.

China has said it would never renounce the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.

The post Taiwan Grounds Mirage Fighter Jets After Night Crash appeared first on The Defense Post.

The widely anticipated deal will see Serbia receive nine single-seat and three two-seat jets by 2029, according to Dassault chief executive Eric Trappier.

The dozen multi-role fighter aircraft will help Serbia modernize its air force and replace aging Soviet-era combat jets.

“We are happy to become part of the Rafale club. We thank the president of France for making this decision and for enabling us to purchase the new Rafales,” Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters during the signing ceremony.

“The total value of the contract is 2.7 billion,” Vucic said without specifying the currency.

The Serbian president said the deal included logistics support and provisions for spare parts, while saying talks were ongoing about the type of armaments that would be provided with the planes.

Macron said the deal pointed to a “long-term alliance between our two countries within a stronger and more sovereign Europe” and provided a potential strategic opening.

“It is an opening towards a strategic change despite a lot of pressure, which must be underlined. It is real strategic courage and an opportunity for Europe,” said Macron during a press conference in Belgrade.

Serbia has long been close to Russia and China and purchased arms from both countries over the years, while relying on the Kremlin and Beijing for diplomatic backing over its dispute with Kosovo.

‘Political Protection’

The Rafale is a “multi-role” fighter that can be used to hunt enemy planes, strike ground and sea targets, and carry out reconnaissance.

The deal was just one of several agreements inked during Macron’s visit.

Macron arrived in Belgrade late Thursday afternoon, where he was greeted with a hug by Vucic and a traditional honor guard.

France has been strengthening its economic ties with Belgrade, with trade tripling in the past 12 years, according to Serbia’s finance ministry.

French company Vinci has been overseeing a years-long renovation of Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla airport, and French groups are set to build the capital’s first metro system and a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant.

Belgrade-based analyst Vuk Vuksanovic said Vucic likely saw the Rafale deal as crucial for ensuring France’s support in the future.

The president “believes that by purchasing these Rafales, which are an extremely expensive product of the French military and industry, he will buy President Macron’s favour and political protection,” Vuksanovic, a senior researcher at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, told AFP.

EU Lithium Deal

The fighter jet agreement marks the latest in a string of moves that has seen Serbia seek closer ties with Europe.

In July, the European Union and Serbia signed a deal to develop the country’s supply of lithium — seen as a crucial building block to achieve Europe’s transition to a green economy.

Belgrade reinstated the licenses for a controversial lithium mine this summer after revoking permits granted to mining giant Rio Tinto following demonstrations over environmental concerns.

Vucic has also acknowledged that Serbia had sold hundreds of millions of euros’ worth of ammunition to Western countries that has likely been shipped to Ukraine as Kyiv fights off invading Russian troops.

The sales come even as Serbia remains an outlier in Europe after refusing to join sanctions against Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Balkan country has been reliant for years on support from the Kremlin and Beijing to prevent the United Nations from recognizing Kosovo as an independent state.

Serbia has been a candidate to join the European Union since 2012, but its prospects are seen as bleak without the normalization of relations with Kosovo, where it fought a war against ethnic Albanian insurgents in the late 1990s.

In a letter published by the Serbian press on Thursday morning, Macron said Serbia “fully belongs” in the EU.

The post France, Serbia Sign Rafale Fighter Jet Deal appeared first on The Defense Post.

Joint Operations Command spokesperson Major General Tahseen Al-Khafaji revealed in a televised interview that Baghdad has officially signed a procurement contract with France, though he did not say how much exactly it is paying.

He said the purchase is for an air force fleet that covers all Iraqi operational zones as the country sets its sights on increasing its aerial power.

Formerly known as the Eurocopter EC725 Caracal, the H225M is designed to enable military forces to deploy “wherever and whenever needed.”

It has a maximum speed of 324 kilometers (201 miles) per hour, a climb rate of 3.6 meters (11.8 feet) per second, and an operational range of 1,482 kilometers (921 miles).

Apart from tactical transport, the helicopter can support special operations, combat search and rescue, and medical evacuation.

US Troops’ Pending Withdrawal

Earlier this year, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani demanded foreign troops in the country leave immediately amid soaring tensions in the region.

Sudani was allegedly being pressured by his Iran-aligned cabinet members, who wanted American troops out of the country.

He said the end of the international coalition “is a necessity for the security and stability of Iraq” and also for preserving constructive bilateral relations between Iraq and the coalition countries.

Though many analysts doubted that Baghdad would go through with it, Iranian news agency Tasnim revealed that Iraq’s foreign minister will visit Washington next month to finalize the decision.

Once American troops are out, Iraq is expected to address resurgence and terrorism in the country on its own.

Middle East analyst Ryan Bohl told Breaking Defense that the procurement of new tactical helicopters would certainly provide Iraqi units with greater mobility to combat non-state actors like ISIS.

The post Iraq Buys Airbus H225M Multi-Role Helicopters appeared first on The Defense Post.

Signed by the EU’s Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), the deal orders the ships in their modern “EVO” configuration, which comprises the system’s standard general-purpose functions as well as advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

The 1.5-billion-euro ($1.6 billion) project will be facilitated at Orizzonte Sistemi Navali’s centers in Muggiano and Riva Trigoso.

The shipyard noted that approximately 690 million euros ($745.7 million) and 415 million euros ($448.5 million) in sub-contracts will be awarded to its parent companies Fincantieri and Leonardo.

Construction of the first FREMM EVO will conclude in June 2029, while the second frigate will be completed in June 2030.

Once commissioned, the ships will undertake defense missions across Italy’s sea lines of communication, straits, and greater water areas.

“The signing today of a contract to supply the Italian Navy with another two FREMM frigates in the ‘FREMM EVO’ configuration is the result of close collaboration between institutions, armed forces and private industry,” Orizzonte Sistemi Navali CEO Giovanni Sorrentino said.

Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, added that “With the new FREMM EVO, the Italian Navy will be able to count on next-generation naval units, which are reliable, sustainable, and have advanced operational capabilities.”

“We are proud to be part of this highly significant project: it demonstrates how synergy between the public and private sectors can create important economic and technological opportunities.”

Italian-French Frigate Program

The FREMM program is a bilateral military strategy to employ a modern, uniform warship fleet for Italy and France.

Frigates delivered to Rome are designated as the Bergamini class, while Paris named its ships the Aquitaine class.

Throughout the initiative, the FREMM has been produced in different configurations and replaced older vessels from both countries, including the Georges Leygues anti-submarine destroyers, Cassard anti-air destroyers, Lupo anti-surface frigates, and Maestrale anti-submarine frigates.

The first FREMM was inducted in 2012 under the French Navy. The latest platform, Emilio Bianchi (F-5999), was launched in May 2024.

Rome’s Bergamini FREMM

The Italian FREMM frigate measures 144.6 meters (474.5 feet) in length and has a 19.7-meter (64.8-foot) beam.

It is powered by combined diesel-electric and gas engines, electric motors, and diesel generators for a top speed over 30 knots (56 kilometers/35 miles per hour) and range of up to 6,800 nautical miles (7,825 miles/12,600 kilometers).

The ship can carry 200 personnel, maritime helicopters, surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles, naval and acoustic guns, autocannons, remote weapon stations, and torpedoes.

The post Italian Navy Orders Two More FREMM Frigates appeared first on The Defense Post.

According to the Dutch Ministry of Defence, the District Court of The Hague rejected the claims made by losing bidder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and upheld the original decision.

The court did not provide specific details regarding its verdict.

With the protest dismissal, the contract to build four Orka-class submarines will remain with Naval Group and its Dutch partner Royal IHC.

The Protest

In March 2024, State Secretary for Defense Christophe van der Maat announced that Naval Group won a multibillion-dollar program to replace the country’s aging Walrus-class submarines.

He said the French firm succeeded in pitching a “balanced, versatile, and realistic” platform, while highlighting the important contributions of Dutch manufacturers.

However, TKMS filed an objection later that month, saying it had unanswered questions regarding “specific evaluation criteria.”

Though the company did not say exactly what it was questioning, it claimed that its questions were relevant to the overall evaluation of the award decision.

“This measure is a professional business procedure in such publicly tendered major projects and part of the competition,” TKMS argued.

Orka-Class Submarines

According to the Dutch defense ministry, the Orka-class submarines will be a significant improvement over the country’s Walrus class because of their new design and ability to launch cruise missiles.

They will also boast modern sensors and communication systems for collecting, analyzing, and sharing intelligence.

“Because the boats are larger than submarines designed for operations close to their home base, they can also operate independently for long periods far from home. This combination is rare and means that Dutch submarines are highly regarded within NATO,” it added.

Despite some lawmakers wanting to opt for a consortium of Swedish firm Saab and Dutch shipbuilder Damen, the decision to tap Naval Group had been widely supported in the House of Representatives.

The first two submarines in the class — the Orka and the Zwaardvis — are expected to be delivered to the Royal Netherlands Navy within 10 years.

The post Netherlands Junks German Protest Over $6B Submarine Deal With France appeared first on The Defense Post.

The handover is part of an ongoing program signed in 2010 to supply up to 50 Atlas planes for the service.

Paris wrote that the fleet was ordered to extend the military’s “strategic range” across local and international theaters.

The aircraft leverages advanced airdrop capability to support mixed logistics approaches, enabling successive or simultaneous drops of equipment and paratroopers.

Additionally, the systems can deploy and land in areas with poor visibility or under extreme weather conditions.

Delivery, Maintenance Continue

France expects to receive approximately 35 A400Ms by the end of the decade, as underscored by the government’s 2024-2030 Military Programming Act.

Work for the sustainment of the initial French Atlas systems is also underway, generating over 10,000 direct jobs in Europe and 2,400 in France, as well as support for over 80 local companies.

The long-term retrofitting project was signed in 2016 and reaffirmed in 2019 in partnership with the EU’s Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation.

Airbus A400M Atlas

The A400M Atlas is a 45.1-meter (148-foot) long plane with a wingspan of 42.4 meters (139.1 feet).

The aircraft is operated by up to three pilots and a loadmaster. It has a maximum payload capacity of 37,000 kilograms (81,600 pounds) and accommodation for more than 100 equipped personnel.

The Atlas is powered by four 11,000 horsepower Europrop engines for a top speed of 889 kilometers (552 miles) per hour, a range of 6,400 kilometers (3,450 miles), and a service ceiling of 12,200 meters (40,000 feet).

The post France Accepts 24th Atlas Cargo Aircraft From Airbus appeared first on The Defense Post.

The new Syracuse IV satcom station will be installed on the Serval light multi-role armored vehicles being developed for the Scorpion program.

It will be an on-the-pause tactical communication node for high-throughput satellite communications services.

Jam-Proof

The system offers joint communications capability to the army, featuring “secure, high-data-rate satcom services with robust protection from jamming, interference, cyberattacks and other threats to guarantee end-to-end connectivity and tri-service interoperability,” Thales explained.

The two satellites for the Syracuse IV defense communications systems are the Syracuse 4A and Syracuse 4B, jointly built by Thales Alenia Space (a consortium of Thales and Leonardo) and Airbus Defence and Space.

$87M Contract

The 80-million-euro ($87 million) contract follows an earlier agreement to deploy satcom stations on French Navy surface vessels and submarines. 

Before that, a production and development contract for the Mercure on-the-move stations was awarded for the French Army’s Griffon and Serval vehicles and airborne stations for the French Air Force’s wide-body aircraft.

The post Thales to Equip French Armored Vehicle With Satcom Capability appeared first on The Defense Post.

The two-month training will be held at French military training centers and will include tank instruction, the outlet added, citing documents.

A Ukrainian Armed Forces brigade is intended to be raised through the training by December, armed with 128 VAB armored personnel carriers, 24 light tanks, and 18 Caesar 155mm truck-mounted howitzers.

Additional equipment planned for transfer to Ukraine this year includes anti-tank missiles, trucks, and radars.

French Military Assistance

Since 2022, France has provided 3.8 billion euros ($4.14 billion) worth of military assistance to Ukraine, including 1.2 billion euros ($1.31 billion) for the European Peace Facility.

The French have delivered weapons, including 30 Caesars, 38 AMX10 RC light tanks, a SAMP/T air defense system, and an undisclosed number of long-range SCALP air-launched cruise missiles.

In addition, around 7,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained by the French Army in 2024.

“This collaboration between France and Ukraine has made it possible to train 7,000 soldiers this year,” France 3 Champagne-Ardenne wrote, citing a source.

“A la carte training, depending on the terrain. Here, for example, future fighters must recognize a crossroads. The technique seems to be mastered.”

The post France Plans to Raise Ukraine Brigade Armed With Caesars appeared first on The Defense Post.

Developed under the Barracuda program, the Tourville’s sea trials are scheduled to last until the end of 2024, followed by delivery to the French Navy.

The tests are being conducted by the navy in collaboration with the Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA) in partnership with the industry. 

The French defense procurement agency is managing the trials.

Manufacturer Naval Group rolled out the nuclear attack underwater vessel in July last year, which was followed by completion work and dockside trials.

Trials

The initial stage will be held in the Channel, followed by the vessel’s return to the basin in Cherbourg.

Thereafter, it will set sail to the Atlantic for the second stage.

“All of these sea trials will be conducted by the submarine’s crew and according to a schedule set by engineers and technicians from the [defense procurement agency], the CEA’s Military Applications Directorate, Naval Group and TechnicAtome,” the ministry stated.

“Their objective is to progressively verify all of the submarine’s technical and operational capabilities.”

The Barracuda Program

The program’s initial pair, the Suffren and Duguay-Trouin, were commissioned in the French Navy in June 2022 and April 2024, respectively.

The rest of the three vessels are undergoing construction, with delivery scheduled by 2030.

The Suffren-class will replace the Rubis-class of nuclear attack submarines, commissioned in the 1980s.

Like its predecessors, the new class features nuclear propulsion. It is faster, more durable, and more versatile than the Rubis-class.

Among other upgrades, it is capable of accommodating a crew of 63 special forces personnel and is armed with an MBDA Naval Cruise Missile, Exocet SM39 anti-ship missiles, and Naval Group’s F21 heavyweight torpedoes.

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