UK Defence Forum

Airbus is a global company and the deal agreed largely protects the status quo from an aviation point of view.

I suspect the french will end up with mpa based on a teaming arrangement between a dassualt
Falcon 8x and the euro male uav. The Germans have gone global express for there signit replacement and the swordfish Saab were offering on the same platform was largely equivalent to what is offered by the atlantique

https://www.defensenews.com/global/euro ... k-missile/

PARIS – European missile group MBDA has successfully hit a test target with its new anti-tank missile, the MMP, using targeting information gathered by a micro-drone, the company said.

The test, undertaken at the Canjuers army testing ground in the south of France, was designed to represent an engagement “beyond line of sight” in the framework of the €6.5 million ($7.9 million) trinational (France, Belgium, Cyprus) LynkEUs program of the European Union.

This program aims for the ability to fire missiles at faraway targets using airborne and land-based robotic observation systems. MBDA leads the program that involves 10 companies and institutions.

SW1 wrote:designed to represent an engagement “beyond line of sight”

Now all APCs do not need to pretend to be direct-fire IFVs, and will again have bragging rights for costing only half as much (+ some, for these missiles )

ArmChairCivvy wrote:

SW1 wrote:designed to represent an engagement “beyond line of sight”

Now all APCs do not need to pretend to be direct-fire IFVs, and will again have bragging rights for costing only half as much (+ some, for these missiles )

It does lead to some very interesting options and refreshment of old Cold War concepts and indeed headaches.

A French Navy SSN Patrolled The South China Sea

A French Navy (Marine Nationale) Rubis-class nuclear powered submarine (SSN) patrolled the South China Sea, the French minister of armed forces announced in a series of tweets.

French minister calls it "a striking proof of the capacity of our French Navy to deploy far and for a long time in connection with our Australian, American and Japanese strategic partners".

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... china-sea/

https://defbrief.com/2021/02/12/france- ... es-airbus/

The 10-year contract will equip the three armed forces branches with a common information system and set of sensors and is designated a high-impact program (PEM1), alongside CONTACT and Scorpion, under France’s defense spending plan.

This new system will consist of a range of sensors that will be able to be combined in the form of modules, adapted to the needs of theaters of operations and the required projection environment, whether land, naval or air.

Referred to as renseignement d’origine électromagnétique (ROEM) in French, the system will equip the electronic support vehicles of the French Army’s 54th Signals Regiment (Scorpion program), the French Navy’s front-line warships and the Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, and could be deployed to protect air bases on military operations overseas. All three services will rely on the same logistics infrastructure to simplify training of specialist operators and optimize through-life support delivery.

The first 160 million euro contract under the program was awarded in 2020, while delivery of the first systems is scheduled for 2023. End of development, and a full operational capability are expected sometime in 2025.

France Launches Third Generation SSBN Program – SNLE 3G

French Minister for the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, on Friday 19 February announced the launch of the full-scale development phase of the SNLE 3G program which calls for the construction of France's third-generation nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs).

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... m-snle-3g/

with a pumpjet " it will be quieter: it will not be noisier than a shoal of shrimp"
... what would that be in decibels? https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nati ... 805224002/

France’s New Submarine Will Be Even Quieter Than The Ocean

The French Navy's new strategic submarine, SNLE-3G is one of a new breed of Western ballistic missile submarines. Together with the U.S. Navy's Columbia-class and the Royal Navy's Dreadnought it will be particularly stealthy. Its noise levels will be lower than the surrounding ocean making it very hard to detect. Combined with a host of new technologies this should ensure its survivability against future threats.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... the-ocean/

xav wrote:

Its noise levels will be lower than the surrounding ocean making it very hard to detect.

Conn, Sonar. It's quiet... too quiet.

It would have been nice if we could have build two or three Batch 3 T-26 with a number of Sylver 8 cell VLS instead of Mk41s to provide a supplementary capability to the T-45, as well a providing AAW to task groups that do not include the Carrier, which will need two T-45. They would have retained the ASW capabilities of the first T-26s, but maybe had a smaller Mission Bay. Pure fantasy I know but they would have been an interim step between the T-45 and its eventual successor as well as increasing the number of Aster 30 vessels in the Navy.

What about an AAW version of the T31 instead. Two or three (Hulls 6-8) for the price of one!

Scimitar54 wrote:What about an AAW version of the T31 instead. Two or three (Hulls 6-8) for the price of one!

Nah, they (the Danes) are upgrading only one in three (?) to ABM - ohh, we could get more out of 8 hulls
... but we need to get back to the right thread to discuss this further

"The SM-2 Block IIIA will be intended for the Royal Danish Navy's Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates. The three 138,9 meters air defence frigates [...] entered service with the Royal Danish Navy in 2012 and 2013. Each frigate can carry up to 32x SM-2 missiles (as well as 24x ESSM).

These ships share their Anti-Air Warfare suite with the Royal Netherlands Navy’s De Zeven Provincien-class frigates and the German Navy’s Sachsen-class frigates. The Thales sensors of this suite include the long range surveillance radar SMART-L and the multi-function radar APAR. At least one ship of the class will be upgraded for Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) and Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) to act as a a BMD sensor and offer this capability to the NATO BMD system."

Two would be v nice; for one to sail with the MTF at short notice.

xav wrote:

Herc dropping assault boats & a combat tanker with air to air refuelled helicopters...shock horror
It does make the UK decision to ditch the Herc look odd.

Especially when it is taking so long for eh A400 to acquire the capabilities needed to cover those lost by retiring the Herc.

Dahedd wrote:

xav wrote:

Herc dropping assault boats & a combat tanker with air to air refuelled helicopters...shock horror
It does make the UK decision to ditch the Herc look odd.

Meh, the French are le stooopid, they have no clue, UK knows best.

I interviewed Naval Group's CEO this week regarding PANG and FDI programs

Interesting article posted by someone call Xav on Navalnews.
The MN are going to relaunch the fire stricken SSN Perle by cutting it in half and then doing the same to the decommissioned SSN Saphir!
That is quite an engineering challenge.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... submarine/

Backstreet Dave the mechanics Cut'n'shut job

Will she then be re-named “Perhir”, or perhaps “Saprle”?

My interview with Emeraude's commanding officer (Blue crew) about the mission to the IndoPac / South China Sea

Interview with the Chief of the French Navy about the Marine Nationale in the Indo Pacific

Admiral Vandier discussed with Naval News French Navy missions in the Indo-Pacific, recent exercises and missions in the area such as ARC 21 with Japan, USA and Australia, Anti-Access Area Denial (A2AD) challenges in the South China Sea, modernisation plans for the French Pacific fleet (POM, AVSIMAR and Surveillance Frigates replacement programs)...