Naval Warfare
France progresses naval asset protection programme
A dozen speedboats are being built for the French Navy by Ufast to avoid a USS Cole-style attack.
Air Warfare
France bids accelerated adieu to Transalls
Retirement of the nine remaining C-160 aircraft is happening more quickly than the French Air and Space Force wanted.
Naval Warfare
France receives first modernised La Fayette frigate
The service life of three upgraded La Fayette frigates will overlap slightly with new-generation FDI vessels.
Air Warfare
France seeks support solutions for heavily utilised CN235 fleet
French Air Force issues MRO RfP for CN235 transports as high utilisation and harsh operating environments impact expected airframe service life.
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Land Warfare
Nexter ramps up vehicle production under Scorpion programme
6th October 2021
Nexter expects to deliver an initial 20 Jaguar EBRC 6x6 vehicles to the French Army this year, followed by the first Serval VBMR multirole 4x4s in 2022.
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Air Warfare
Enhanced Atlantique 2 approaches IOC
28th September 2021
Standard 6 upgrade for French maritime patrol aircraft includes new AESA radar and improved multispectral imaging.
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Air Warfare
French Navy needs more Rafales, NFH90s
9th September 2021
Attrition and heavy maintenance demands affect French Naval Aviation fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter requirements.
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Air Warfare
France eyes hot-weather operations for upgraded Mirage 2000Ds
3rd September 2021
Mirage 2000D RMV aircraft have been tested in Djibouti, with a view to deploy them on operational missions from Niger in 2022.
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Land Warfare
Tempo continues on VBL Ultima and Hornet production
23rd July 2021
Efforts are stepping up to provide 800 enhanced VBL vehicles for the French Army and new remote weapon stations for vehicles in the Scorpion programme
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Air Warfare
France proceeds alone with enhanced NH90
8th July 2021
SOF variant of NH90 offers a number of improvements but France must still convince other operators to adopt it.
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Air Warfare
Airbus goes further than before in arming C295
7th July 2021
An armed version of the C295 has finally undergone test flights and ground tests in Spain.
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Air Warfare
Spy’Ranger family growth reflects appetite for unmanned ISR
2nd July 2021
A new optronic ball will fly by the end of the year, and Thales is considering other sensors for Spy’Ranger.
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Land Warfare
EOD remains most prominent application for French UGVs
30th June 2021
Dealing with IEDs and mines appears still to be a core focus for French UGV developers, although some progress is being made on fully autonomous systems.
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Air Warfare
French Reapers prepare to add hitting power in Africa
28th June 2021
Change is afoot for the French fleet of MQ-9 Reapers.
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Air Warfare
SOFINS puts UAV innovation on the menu
23rd June 2021
Novel applications to be displayed at an upcoming French SOF exhibition include the integration of acoustic shot detection technology on a mini-UAV.
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Air Warfare
Will the force be with VADER?
22nd June 2021
The first ISTAR aircraft developed by the French Air and Space Force will be sent to Mali in July.
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Naval Warfare
France stays sanguine on Greek frigate prospects despite stiff competition
21st June 2021
Naval Group spearheads French industry efforts to meet Greek future frigate requirements, as the decision day looms.
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Defence Notes
COVID-19 and lack of big-money deals hit French exports in 2020
7th June 2021
Official figures show that French defence equipment export orders took a big hit last year.
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Training
More PC-21s to boost French pilot training
4th June 2021
Up to 13 additional PC-21 aircraft will be used by the French Air and Space Force for Phase IV training.
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Special Operations
France eyes CORVUS as alternative to Skylark
3rd June 2021
French SOF take a do-it-yourself approach to drone development.
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Land Warfare
Arquus upgrades two dozen VABs but eyes a bigger prize
2nd June 2021
Rapid overhaul of some VAB vehicles could be followed by a fleet-wide upgrade for a Middle Eastern customer.
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Special Operations
French SOF operators team with SMEs on innovations
26th May 2021
New equipment for French SOF is based on ideas from the coalface.
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Unmanned Vehicles
France sets its sights on hundreds more small UAVs
18th May 2021
An RfP from the French military calls for 500 nanodrones and microdrones, as part of a broader vision to strengthen its UAV fleet. Responses are due by 25 May.
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Training
ARES bulks up with Mirages
14th May 2021
French red air operator ARES is expanding its fleet with 18 Mirage 2000s but which air force is supplying them?
