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.

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 configuration is part of Paris’ effort to employ a modern rotorcraft fleet for special forces missions.

It includes the Safran Euroflir 410 electro-optical system, larger rear sliding windows with self-protection gun compatibility, a new digital mapping system, and space for a third crew member.

Additionally, Standard 2 includes the integration of mechanical and electrical components for the Distributed Aperture System and a next-generation Helmet Mounted Sight Digital Display to further boost special forces operability in “highly demanding conditions.”

The tests are supported by NHIndustries, a joint venture between Airbus, Leonardo, and Fokker Aerostructures, in partnership with the NATO Helicopter Management Agency.

Enlarging the French NH90 Fleet

The announcement follows an order received by Airbus in 2023 to supply eight upgraded NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) variants for the French Army on top of 10 previously ordered, increasing the future modernized fleet to 18 aircraft.

Valued at 305 million euros ($327.6 million), the project supports the French Ministry of Defense’s goal to expand its NH90 fleet to 81 by the end of the decade.

The 18 aircraft will be manufactured at an Airbus facility in Marignane. Starting their shipment in 2026, the vehicles will gradually replace the military’s aging Caracal and Cougar helicopters.

The company delivered the first NH90 to the army in 2011, with its initial deployment under the service completed three years later.

Currently, 63 NH90s with 50,000 overall flight hours are active under the French Army.

The NH90 Helicopter

The Airbus NH90 measures 19.5 meters (65 feet) in length and has a maximum gross weight of 10,600 kilograms (23,369 pounds).

Depending on the variant, the aircraft can carry up to 4,000 kilograms (8,818 pounds) of payload and accommodate more than 20 personnel.

It has a maximum speed of 162 knots (300 kilometers/186 miles per hour), a range of 530 nautical miles (609 miles/982 kilometers), a service ceiling of 3,200 meters (10,500 feet), and endurance of up to five hours.

Users can equip the NH90 with torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and medium-caliber machine guns for anti-surface or anti-submarine warfare alongside special operations.

The post Airbus Begins Tests for Upgraded French NH90 Helicopter Prototype appeared first on The Defense Post.

The ASMPA-R missile was fired without a warhead by a plane in an exercise “above national territory… at the end of a flight representing a nuclear air raid,” Lecornu said in a statement.

In a separate post on X, he congratulated “all the forces, (defense) ministry teams, and industrial partners involved” in a “long-planned” operation.

The French nuclear missile test came a day after Russia began nuclear drills in its Southern Military District, which borders Ukraine and includes parts of the country Moscow claims to have annexed.

Lecornu’s statement said the French drill aimed to uphold “the credibility of the airborne nuclear element of deterrence” alongside France’s submarine-launched weapons.

France plans to spend around 13 percent of its military budget over the coming years on its independent nuclear capability, including upgrading to next-generation air-launched missiles by 2035.

The post France Tests Updated Air-Launched Nuclear Missile appeared first on The Defense Post.

Paris said the jets were designed under the latest F3R standard. Launched in 2014, the model allows the integration of advanced software, Meteor air-to-air missiles, and additional weapon systems.

The new aircraft will be stationed at Mont-de-Marsan, where they will receive the government’s F4.1 aircraft upgrade to counter modern threats through the end of the decade.

This separate initiative updates the Rafale’s electronic warfare suites, communications tools, targeting pods, and radars.

In addition, the planes will include the Scorpion helmet viewfinder, passive algorithmic threat detection, enhanced Rafale-to-Rafale data exchange, and improved fire control for the Meteor missile.

The Rafale F4.1 system achieved initial operational capability in February following months of training, sky policing trials, and other operational deployments.

In 2021, France completed its first flight of the two Rafales in the F4.1 configuration, demonstrating the upgrade’s functionality in “complex” combat simulations and air refueling tasks.

Fleet Replenishment

France said that the latest systems are the 13th and 14th planes under a 40 aircraft order with Dassault.

These include the tranche four contract of 28 jets and a special 12 aircraft order to replace units sold in a 2020 second-hand foreign military sale to Greece.

In 2021, Athens received its first Rafale jet from Paris under the framework, followed by a batch of six in 2022.

France wrote that its upcoming 40 aircraft fleet will be distributed to warfighters, with the exception of one that will be transformed into a test bench platform for future aerial development projects.

More Rafales

Since the program’s inception in the 1990s, the French military has employed 166 Rafales out of 234 planned.

In January, Paris signed a 5-billion euro ($5.4 billion) contract for 42 additional Rafales. The agreement serves as the fifth tranche ordered under the effort.

The post Dassault Delivers Two Rafale Combat Jets to France appeared first on The Defense Post.

The increase will help the French aircraft maker keep up with the jet’s existing orders, including the 42 aircraft purchased by Paris in December.

“We are going from a rate, which was almost less than one in 2020, where it became really critical, to a rate 3. Today, we are at rate 2,” a translated Trapiier quote by La Tribune read.

Nearly 500 Aircraft Ordered

A total of 234 Rafales have been ordered by France since the early 2000s for its air force and navy, according to Defense News.

Export orders for the 4.5 generation aircraft currently stand at 261, with customers including Egypt, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. 

Capacity for Increased Production

According to Trapiier, an increase in aircraft production will be achieved despite supply chain issues concerning subcontractors.

“We are observing certain delays in Rafale deliveries but they are not at the same level as the Falcons,” he said, referring to Dassault’s business jet.

He added that production could be raised to four aircraft per month if more orders are placed.

Doubts

Before the announcement, the International Institute for Strategic Studies doubted whether the annual production of the aircraft could even be raised to the mid-20s, stating that only 13 Rafales were produced in 2023 despite a goal of 15.

“The company has not yet given 2024 production guidance, though output will likely increase this year and next, given the strong demand,” Business Insider quoted the British think tank as saying, adding that Dassault has a production backlog of 228 aircraft.

“Even so, it is unlikely that annual aircraft numbers will quickly reach mid-20s.

“If Dassault production averages 20 Rafales per year across both 2024 and 2025, it leaves 188 aircraft to be delivered between 2026 and 2033. This would necessitate a delivery rate of almost 24 aircraft per year.”

The post Dassault to Ramp Up Rafale Production to Meet Rising Demand: CEO appeared first on The Defense Post.

The Dassault jet attained the capability in its first alert sorties on February 16, following months of training missions.

It qualifies the aircraft to carry out operational missions, such as sky policing, according to the French Air Force.

The final capability stage will be operational commissioning after the integration of state-of-the-art weapons and sub-systems, including the “helmet sight and a new 1,000 kg armament, improvement of the conduct of air-to-air and air-to-ground fire, the self-protection system, and the Talios [targeting] pod.”

1 an après sa livraison à l’ECE 1/30 « Côte d’Argent » situé sur la BA 118, le Rafale F4.1 a effectué une 1re sortie d’alerte au profit de l’entraînement de la 30e escadre de chasse le 16/02. Cette prise d’alerte démontre que le F4.1 du chasseur est prêt.@Armees_Gouv pic.twitter.com/Y2v9TqQ5IX

— Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (@Armee_de_lair) February 25, 2024

The F-4 Standard

The aircraft’s progression follows standard F1 (specific to the first aircraft of the French Navy), F2 (air-to-ground and air-to-air capabilities), F3, and F3R (extended versatility).

Upgrades include a helmet-mounted display for better situational awareness and better radar sensors and front-sector optronics for surveillance, tracking, and identification of multiple targets.

Additional offensive capabilities include the Mica NG air-to-air missile and 1,000-kilogram (2,205-pound) AASM Air-to-Ground Modular Weapon.

The post French Rafale F4.1 Attains Initial Operational Capability appeared first on The Defense Post.