French military developments

A.V.

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all frenchmilitary news,developments and discussions
 

1.44

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France Signs Deal for 332 More VBCI

The Délégation Générale pour l'Armament (DGA) procurement office has signed a contract with Nexter Systems and Renault Trucks Defense for an undisclosed amount for 332 véhicules blindés de combat d'infantrie (VBCI) armored troop carriers, the Defense Ministry said Sept 2.

The new contract brings the total number of VBCI vehicles ordered to 630, consistent with the guidance of the white paper on defense and national security, the ministry said in a statement. The white paper set a figure of some 650 units, not 630. The original program set a full order of 700 units.

The overall value of the VBCI program, including development and production, is 2.86 billion euros ($4.1 billion).

Defense Ministry spokesman Laurent Teisseire said Sept. 3 that the latest order allows Nexter to maintain a full rate production of the VBCI, whereas previously, the output for 2009 and 2010 had been reduced.

More than 100 VBCI vehicles have been delivered to the French Army since the first unit was delivered last year. The last vehicle is due for delivery in 2015.

France Signs Deal for 332 More VBCI - Defense News
 

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France Confirms Russian Interest in Mistral Ship

By PIERRE TRAN
Published: 3 Sep 2009 08:49

ARIS - Russia has shown interest in buying a helicopter landing ship from France, marking a possible shift in Moscow's defense procurement thinking, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense said Sept. 3.

"Russia has expressed official interest in acquiring a Mistral class ship," Laurent Teisseire told journalists at a weekly briefing. Russia's interest was "extremely general," he said.
France has two Mistral-class command and projection ships in service and ordered a third vessel this summer, as part of a defense stimulus package. A fourth ship is due to be ordered in the next decade.

Russia is a large arms exporter, rather than a buyer of foreign weapons, so the interest showed a potential change in policy, Teisseire said.

French firms have cooperated with Russia on past defense projects, including work on the MiG-AT fast jet trainer, Teisseire said.

Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the Russian General Staff, said Aug. 26 that the Russian military would negotiate with the French Defense Ministry and an unnamed French shipbuilding company to buy a Mistral-class helicopter carrier. Russian shipyards would then produce three or four additional carriers with French help, he said.

France Confirms Russian Interest in Mistral Ship - Defense News
 

sob

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Could somebody give information about the LeClerc tanks, their upgrades.

It is a mean machine but suptrisingly apart from UAE the French have not been able to sell it to any other country.
 

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French General to Take Post in NATO Command

French General to Take Post in NATO Command

NORFOLK, Va. - France takes over a top NATO post Sept. 9, the first time in the military alliance's 60-year history that one of its supreme commanders is from a country other than the United States.

French Air Force Gen. Stephane Abrial takes over from Gen. James Mattis of the U.S. Marine Corps, who is the current commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation for NATO.
"It's the first time in NATO history that one of its supreme commands is entrusted to a non-American," said Abrial, who takes over the post during a ceremony in Norfolk.

His naming, Abrial said, has "enormous symbolic value" as he acknowledged "the importance of France within the alliance," along with the appreciation among it allies of Paris's "military know-how and experience."

Abrial takes up his duties following a change of command ceremony to be held at Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation here.

Mattis, who held the post for a little less than two years, previously served as commanding general of the I Marine Expeditionary Force and Commander, U.S. Marine Forces Central Command. He assumed the NATO supreme command assignment in November 2007.

Abrial's appointment follows the naming of another Frenchman, Gen. Philippe Stolz, to Commander of the Allied Joint Command Lisbon, and affirms Paris's place back in the center of the alliance's command structure.

The historic change in NATO command comes with the alliance at a crossroads. Rather than focusing on Cold War security, as it did at its founding, troops from the 26-nation coalition now focus largely on counter-terrorism and peacekeeping.

In Afghanistan they are fighting a Taliban insurgency, as well as protecting U.N. food ships from pirates operating off the Somalia and training police in Iraq.

Last year, NATO forces helped train and airlift African Union troops into Darfur, while in 2007 they flew relief supplies to earthquake victims in Pakistan.

The growth of the alliance has created one of its greatest challenges and areas of greatest internal division - especially plans to incorporate Ukraine and Georgia against the wishes of Russia.

Abrial, who turned 55 this week, was born in the village of Condom, France.

He graduated from France's Air Force Academy in 1973 and earned his fighter pilot wings in 1976. He also did a year-long stint as an exchange cadet with the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.

Much of his career has been spent overseas including as a flight commander north of Munich, Germany, and as a detachment commander in Greece during the 1980s.

He spent time at NATO headquarters in Brussels during the 1990s among his other appointments before ascending to become the chief of staff of the French Air Force in July 2006.

He will be based in the southern U.S. city of Norfolk, home to the world's largest naval station, the Norfolk Naval Base directly northwest of the city, home port to 78 ships and 133 aircraft.

His ascension to the post is a historic milestone, especially given the country's contentious relations with the alliance over the years.

In March 1966, President Charles de Gaulle in a handwritten note to then-U.S. President Lyndon Johnson announced that France would no longer participate in NATO's integrated command and that NATO military headquarters and U.S. personnel could no longer be based on French territory.

De Gaulle pulled out of NATO out of a sense of displeasure over the perceived reliance by major European powers on American military power in the post-World War II era.

Some 43 years later, French President Nicolas Sarkozy moved to reintegrate France into the North Atlantic alliance, but he also sought a role for his country and for Europe as a whole in the NATO command structure.

French General to Take Post in NATO Command - Defense News
 

1.44

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Could somebody give information about the LeClerc tanks, their upgrades.

It is a mean machine but suptrisingly apart from UAE the French have not been able to sell it to any other country.
Try Leclerc Main Battle Tank - Army Technology
The high per unit cost $7mil may have something to do with it.Besides that with the France operating 406 and UAE 388 the cost of parts will also be high for such a small fleet of tanks.Plus with only two operators the cost of future upgrades might also be high.
 

RPK

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French ship builder eyes Asia naval defence market

Singapore: French warship builder DCNS on Thursday said it is in talks with Asian navies to sell submarines, ships and other naval equipment as the region looks to boost defence spending to protect burgeoning economic interests.


"Everybody in the area -- Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines -- is looking to upgrade their naval forces," said Eric Lassalle, managing director for DCNS's Asian unit.

"It's not an arms race. They have to protect their investments."

Lassalle declined to say which countries DCNS is in talks with or when deals may be announced. Asian countries, which have prospered from the surge in global trade over the last two decades, are seeking to safeguard shipping lanes, ports and assets such as offshore oil rigs from piracy and terrorism, Lassalle said in an interview.

Asia will likely account for about 32 percent of global military spending, or USD 480 billion, by 2016, up from 24 percent in 2007, according to consultancy Frost & Sullivan.

"The epicentre of the defence market is moving from America to Asia," Lassalle said. "Asia is quickly becoming the main market for arms."
 

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NATO Country France's ASMP-A (New French Air Force Nuclear Air-to-ground missile):

ASMPA

Air-to-ground missile, medium range, enhanced*

Operational requirement

ASMPA is destined to replace the ASMP (strategic and ultimate deterrent air-launched nuclear missile, for deployment by France’s strategic air forces and which can be carried under the Mirage 2000N).
The planned transition scenario from ASMP to ASMPA will firstly see initial entry into service on the K3 standard of the Mirage 2000N and subsequently on the F3 standard Rafale.

Programme Description

End 1997: programme launch
04/08/2000: programme development launch
29/12/2000: development contract awarded to Aerospatiale Matra Missiles (now MBDA France)
26/03/2009: test firing from Mirage 2000N concludes operational evaluation
Autumn 2009: scheduled in service on Mirage 2000N
2010: scheduled in service on Rafale

The in-service date of ASMPA will allow for the continued capability of the airborne component during the progressive withdrawal of the weapons currently in service.

Industrial Structure

Prime contractor air vehicle (not warhead): MBDA
Nuclear warhead : Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (CEA)

Technical Description

The concept is similar to that of ASMP. The ASMPA air vehicle uses the air vehicle pre-developed for the Vesta activity (ramjet air vehicle) in conjunction with the ANF future anti-ship programme (ANF was suspended at the end of 1999).
The missile is powered by a ramjet motor. This mode of propulsion, compared to a traditional rocket propulsion system, allows for the significant reduction of both the required space within the missile as well as missile weight in relation to the required range and warhead charge. It allows the missile to cover a large part of the flight envelope at high supersonic speeds.

Warhead

New, medium energy thermo-nuclear charge; a concept validated during the last nuclear testing campaign. Simulations have proven its effective operation.

Performance

The range and penetration capability have been significantly enhanced in relation to ASMP. The missile is nuclear-attack hardened.

* Information by courtesy of the French DGA


Source: MBDA Systems


YouTube - ASMP-A French Air Force new Nuke Mach-3 Missile
 

123Sunny

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DCNS wins contract to supply torpedo countermeasures for entire French submarine fleet
France - 5 October 2009

On 2 September 2009, DCNS signed a contract to supply and install torpedo counter¬measures for the French Navy’s entire submarine fleet. This new success further strengthens the Group’s international standing as a world leader in underwater weapons.

The contract signed with the French defence procurement agency (DGA) calls for the supply and installation of Nemesis torpedo countermeasure systems on the French submarine fleet which consists exclusively of nuclear-powered types.

Nemesis counters enemy torpedoes by either jamming their sensors or launching decoys until they lose contact with their target which can then leave the area safely.

Nemesis is designed to protect submarines against all types of light- and heavyweight torpedoes. A validated innovative concept gives Nemesis the evolvability to cope with emerging threats. The system is thus highly effective against both new-generation torpedoes and older types designed in the 1970s. The new systems will replace Dilsat systems.

DCNS specialises in the design, development, production and maintenance of underwater weapons and is a world leader in lightweight torpedoes, heavyweight torpedoes, torpedo countermeasures and autonomous underwater vehicles. The contract is being handled by the Group’s Underwater Weapons business unit.

Source: DCNS Group
 

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DCNS receives additional order for European FREMM multimission frigates from France
9 October 2009

DCNS has signed an order supplement for three new vessels under the European FREMM multimission frigate programme. This brings France’s total order to 11 vessels, scheduled for delivery from 2012 to 2022.

Contract confirmation was announced today by the French Minister for Defence, Mr Hervé Morin, at the production launch of France’s second multimission frigate in the series, the Normandie.

This amendment to the FREMM multimission frigate contract calls for the development and construction of three additional vessels, two in air defence configuration, as well as capability enhancements for all frigates in the series and a delivery schedule of one vessel every 10 months. It also calls for operational support for these state-of-the-art vessels in their first years of service.

“I would like to thank the French defence procurement agency and the Navy for their support and the confidence they have placed in us,” said Patrick Boissier, Chairman & CEO of DCNS. “DCNS is proud to be part of Europe’s most ambitious naval cooperation programme and contribute to this new chapter in the construction of a Europe-wide naval defence community. A project on this scale is a remarkable human adventure as well as an industrial challenge and shows what our teams are able to design and build to meet the emerging requirements of our customers.”

With one vessel delivered every 10 months, the programme represents a significant increase in workload for DCNS and its industrial partners. The Brittany region of France will be the main beneficiaries in terms of employment. The FREMM project provides 3 million hours of employment each year and almost 50 million hours over the duration of the programme, which runs from 2006 to 2022. Each frigate is equivalent to the construction of two Millau viaducts.

The FREMM frigates are the most technologically advanced as well as the most competitive vessels on the market. Built under DCNS prime contractorship, they are heavily armed and carry state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment, including the Herakles multifunction radar, MU90 torpedoes and Aster and Exocet MM40 missiles.

The FREMM frigates are highly automated to allow reduced crewing. They are inherently versatile to provide a response to all types of threats. World-leading innovation ensures that they offer unparalleled levels of interoperability and readiness. And with their intrinsic flexibility, they can match the requirements of most DCNS customers around the world, as demonstrated by our recent success in Morocco.


Source: DCNS
 

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France Closer To Buying U.S. Javelin Missile

9 Oct 2009

PARIS - A delegation of officials from the Direction Générale pour l'Armement (DGA) procurement office and the French Army is due to visit U.S. industrial sites as soon as advanced negotiations get under way for a prospective purchase of the Javelin anti-tank missile, defense sources said.

The visit during the week of Oct. 19 is intended to finalize arrangements for a buy of the infantry weapon under U.S. Foreign Military Sale rules, one defense source said. A Lockheed Martin-Raytheon joint venture builds the Javelin.The delegation will go to the United States to negotiate the purchase and also will visit the joint venture's facilities at Tucson, Ariz., where the command launch unit is built, and Troy, Ala., where the missile undergoes integration, a second source said.

France looks set for a single short-term purchase of some 300 missiles and 50 to 60 launchers, with an estimated budget of 70 million euros ($103 million) for an urgent operational requirement for Afghanistan.

There are a range of procurement options, and the negotiations are intended to help determine the number of missiles and firing posts. The talks also will pin down the cost of spare parts, training rounds, training courses, delivery dates, documentation and other details.

Executives at Rafael have resigned themselves to the fact that France is about to chose Javelin over Spike, even though French Army evaluators preferred the Israeli weapon.

"It seems they have made up their minds for Javelin," a Rafael executive said. "They will have to negotiate and they will pay for it, since there's no competition." The executive added, "Spike offers faster delivery and a competitive budgetary offer."

The DGA declined to comment.

But until a Javelin contract is signed, executives insist on caution.

The U.S. government also holds out the prospect of a broader industrial cooperation.

"The real issue is cooperation in the future," the first source said. "Javelin could be the template for other programs in the future that could involve an exchange of real technology."

France Closer To Buying U.S. Javelin Missile - Defense News
 

123Sunny

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French Army opens Tiger simulation centre and EA-ALAT army aviation simulation centre
France - 8 October 2009

LE LUC, France --- Coinciding with the ceremony to mark the beginning of the 2009-2010 training year, the French Army Light Aviation training application school (EA-ALAT) today inaugurated two helicopter simulator training centres: the Tiger simulation centre at the Franco-German Tiger training school, and the EA-ALAT simulation centre. The commanding officers of French Army Light Aviation and Germany’s Army Air Corps presided over the inauguration.

The Tiger simulation centre at the Franco-German Tiger training school is emblematic of the ongoing cooperation between the two countries. The facility is equipped to the highest standards, with four simulation suites, each including two full-mission simulators and two cockpit procedures trainers. The simulation systems reproduce the flight conditions of both French and German versions of the Tiger helicopter with an unprecedented level of realism. They simulate the full complement of weapon systems and provide operational scenarios for daytime and night flights with both light-intensification and infrared equipment. The simulation systems were built by Thales jointly with the German company Rheinmettal Defence Electronics.

The EA-ALAT simulation centre houses a suite of systems developed by Thales: three Flight & Navigation Procedures Trainers (FNPT 2) for IFR (instruments flights) training on Fennec helicopters; the Edith six-seat tactical trainer, which provides 80% of the tactical training received by helicopter commanders and can be reconfigured on demand to simulate Gazelle, Puma, Tiger or NH90 helicopters; and the first EPSA combined flight and weapon system trainer to provide basic and proficiency training for helicopter pilots flying day/night combat missions and deploying a full complement of weapon systems.

Industry partners, the French defence procurement agency and operational personnel have worked together extremely closely for more than 10 years to design and build the simulation facilities. In 2003, simulation accounted for just 2,500 hours of training; in 2008, the EA-ALAT provided 20,000 hours of simulator-based training. With the two new training centres, the figure is expected to rise to 30,000 hours in 2010 and 50,000 hours in 2015.

Lieutenant-Colonel Merck, simulation coordinator for French Army Light Aviation, stated: “Mature simulation programmes and the intensive use of simulation systems by the Army are perfectly aligned with our current objectives of reducing training costs, improving the abilities of crews to deploy complex weapon systems, and conducting our operations in a sustainable manner.”

The inauguration highlighted the spectacular growth in the use of helicopter simulation that has occurred over the last 10 years. Building on its successful developments and a full range of capabilities covering every aspect of helicopter training, Thales is now a world leader in this field.


Source: Thales
 

Vladimir79

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What is the point of buying Javelin for Afghanistan? I don't see Talibs driving tanks lately.
 

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France may buy U.S. Predator and Sky Warrior drones

France is considering buying military drones from U.S. company General Atomics to meet an urgent need for unmanned military surveillance aircraft, Le Point magazine reported on its website on Sunday.

The option being discussed would see France buy four Predator B drones and two stations for receiving and processing images for a cost of up to $100 million, the magazine reported. Each additional drone would cost $10 million.

The talks come as two of the French air force’s fleet of three Harfang drones — supplied by European defence group EADS and deployed in Afghanistan — remain grounded awaiting repairs, Le Point said.

France turned to the U.S. for a temporary solution as this would be quicker than waiting for a European alternative, the magazine reported.

The French defence ministry on Sunday said it would not have a comment on the article before Monday.

Privately held General Atomics makes the Predator and Sky Warrior unmanned aircraft and dominates the drone market along with Northrop Grumman Corp, maker of the high-altitude Global Hawk.

The Predator sends surveillance video to troops in real time and can also be armed with Hellfire missiles.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 12th, 2009

France may buy U.S. Predator and Sky Warrior drones IDRW.ORG
 

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French Shipbuilder DCNS Logs Maintenance Deals

PARIS - DCNS has won three maintenance and support contracts totaling more than 310 million euros ($459 million) for the French Navy's warships, the naval company said Oct. 13 in a statement.

The largest deal, for 250 million euros, covers support services for six years for 22 frigates, including the two Horizon air defense frigates, Forbin and Chevalier Paul, and the helicopter carrier Jeanne d'Arc.Service will be provided at the Brest shipyard in western France, and Toulon in the south, the company said.

Of that 250 million euros, a quarter is earmarked for refurbishment of combat systems including launch systems, missile launchers, gun turrets, and modernization of other onboard systems and equipment.

A second contract covers two amphibious assault vessels - Foudre and Sirocco - and two command and force-projection vessels - Mistral and Tonnerre - for 4½ years.

Maintenance will be provided in Toulon and cover the directional propulsion pods, the Thales 3-D surveillance radar, and high-speed communications system on the force-projection ships, classed as landing helicopter docks.

The third contract provides service for six years for the Monge research and missile-tracking ship, owned by the Direction Générale pour l'Armement procurement office and crewed by the French Navy.

French Shipbuilder DCNS Logs Maintenance Deals - Defense News
 

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France Buys 6 UAVs From Canada, Ponders Another

15 Oct 2009

PARIS - France is in talks to buy a fourth SIDM interim medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV from EADS and has bought six tactical SDTI drones second-hand from Canada, the Defense Ministry said Oct. 15.

"We are in the process of buying a fourth SIDM," Defense Ministry spokesman Laurent Teisseire said. The French Air Force has three of the SIDMs (Système Intérimaire des Drones MALE) built by EADS and earlier this year damaged one of the aircraft while flying in Afghanistan. The Air Force calls the SIDM Harfang, or Snow Owl.The damaged unit is currently at Mont de Marsan in central France and is expected to return to operation in 2010, a procurement official said. The fourth SIDM, which has been used for training, is also expected to be deployed next year.

A purchase of six SDTI (Système de Drone Tactique Intérimaire) from Canada has been completed, Teisseire said. "They are already on the ground."

Officials from the Direction Générale pour l'Armement (DGA) procurement office are inspecting the six Sperwer tactical UAVs to determine their operational condition, Adm. Christophe Prazuck said.

The French Army operates four Sperwer UAVs and one launcher in Afghanistan, he said.

Safran group's Sagem delivered 18 Sperwer aircraft and four launch systems in 2004, a company spokesman said. The DGA ordered an extra three Sperwer aircraft in June.

Asked if France was in talks to buy Reaper UAVs from the U.S.-based General Atomics, Teisseire said: "All options are being studied for acquisition of medium-altitude, long-endurance UAVs beyond 2015."

A French executive, meanwhile, said, "As far as we know, General Atomics has not been in contact with the DGA since early this year."

The French services are gathering information from operating the existing UAV fleet and will capitalize on the lessons learned, Teisseire said.

For the MALE segment, Thales and Dassault Aviation have teamed with Indra to offer the SDM, based on the Heron TP from Israel Aircraft Industries, while EADS has completed a risk reduction study on the Talarion, a jet-powered UAV.

France's share of development for Talarion would be 450 million euros ($672 million) and recurring costs would be 90 million to 100 million euros, based on three air vehicles, the payload and ground station, French newsletter AeroDefense News quoted EADS senior vice president Nicolas Chamussy as saying. The figure could be lower depending on the participation of France, Germany and Spain, the three countries that commissioned the risk reduction study.

France Buys 6 UAVs From Canada, Ponders Another - Defense News
 

rajkoumar

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Dassault Rafale

General characteristics

Crew: 1–2
Length: 15.27 m (50.1 ft)
Wingspan: 10.80 m (35.4 ft)
Height: 5.34 m (17.5 ft)
Wing area: 45.7 m² (492 ft²)
Empty weight: 9,500 kg (C), 9,770 kg (B),[61] 10,196 kg (M) ()
Max takeoff weight: 24,500 kg (C/D), 22,200 kg (M)[62] (54,000 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Snecma M88-2 turbofans
Dry thrust: 50.04 kN (11,250 lbf) each
Thrust with afterburner: 75.62 kN with M88-Eco >90 kN after 2010 (17,000 lbf) each
Performance

Maximum speed:

High altitude: Mach 2 (1,290 knots)[61]
Low altitude: 1,390 km/h, 750 knots
Range: 3,700+ km (2,000+ nmi)
Combat radius: 1,852+ km (1,000+ nmi) on penetration mission
Service ceiling: 16,800 m (55,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 304.8+ m/s (1,000+ ft/s)
Wing loading: 326 kg/m² (83 1/3 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 1.13
Armament


Guns: 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GIAT 30/719B cannon with 125 rounds
Missiles:

Air-to-air:
MICA IR/EM or
Magic II and in the future
MBDA Meteor
Air-to-ground:
MBDA Apache or
SCALP EG or
AASM or
GBU-12 Paveway II or
AM 39 Exocet or
ASMP-A nuclear missile
Avionics


Thales RBE2 radar
Thales SPECTRA electronic warfare system.
Thales/SAGEM OSF (Optronique Secteur Frontal) infrared search and track system.
 

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