• Military Logistics

  France orders Airbus A330 MRTT refuelling aircraft

  21st November 2014

  The French DGA has confirmed an order for 12 A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space (D&S) on 20 November. The contract …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales unveils Searchmaster ‘5-in-1’ (video)

  5th November 2014

  Thales launched its new Searchmaster multirole surveillance radar with active electronic scanning antenna (AESA) technology at the Euronaval exhibition in Paris. Speaking to Shephard Media, …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval: Thales introduces Sea Fire 500 radar

  31st October 2014

  Thales has developed a new multi-function naval radar designed for use on large surface combatants, called Sea Fire 500. The company introduced the system at …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval: MdCN completes final qualification firing

  29th October 2014

  The final qualification firing of the MdCN missile (Missile de Croisière Naval, also known as NCM or Naval Cruise Missile) has been conducted by the …

• Naval Warfare

  FREMM Provence begins sea trial programme

  3rd October 2014

  Sea trials for the French Navy’s FREMM Provence are underway with the vessel completing its first sea outing on 1 October and trials set to …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales awarded active array radar study contract

  2nd October 2014

  Thales will undertake a technology study for the next generation of active phased array radars under a contract awarded by the French defence procurement agency, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough: Selex ES advances BriteCloud decoy

  17th July 2014

  Selex ES has announced imminent field trials of its BriteCloud Expendable Active Decoy (EAD) technology at the Farnborough International Airshow this week. Flight tests of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  French Air Force proves UAV ‘Reachback’ concept

  27th June 2014

  A French Air Force Harfang unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been successfully controlled during flight in Sahel-Sahara region by crew at the Military Flight Test …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory: RTD représente VAB Mk III pour la première fois

  17th June 2014

  Renault Truck Défense (RTD) à leur Véhicule de l’Avant Blinde (VAB) Mk III en représentation a Eurosatory comme il cherche des nouvelles opportunités d’export.  Un …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory: RTD displays VAB Mk III for first time

  17th June 2014

  Renault Truck Defense (RTD) is showing the Vehicule de l’Avant Blinde (VAB) Mk III at Eurosatory as it eyes new export opportunities. A spokesperson from …

• Land Warfare

  Further MMP validations planned for 2014-15

  9th May 2014

  The Missile Moyenne Portee (MMP) system from MBDA is expected to complete long range testing and missile firings over the next 18 months. A spokesperson …

• Military Logistics

  French interest in Terrier CEV

  1st May 2014

  France is to assess the Terrier Combat Engineer Vehicle (CEV) as part of a COTS submission for its combat engineer requirements, it has emerged. David …

• Defence Helicopter

  Selex ES successfully demonstrates Miysis DIRCM

  7th April 2014

  Selex ES has successfully demonstrated its Miysis Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) system as part of NATO Trial EMBOW XIV. The demonstration took place in March …

• Defence Helicopter

  France, UK finally commit to FASGW(H)/ANL

  28th March 2014

  Some five years after signing a statement of intent to jointly pursue a next-generation helicopter-launched surface attack missile, the UK and France have finally committed …

• Naval Warfare

  French Navy’s Normandie frigate continues sea trials

  12th March 2014

  The second frigate of the French Navy’s FREMM programme, Normandie, has completed its third series of sea trials off the Brittany coast. The vessel returned …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Parrot Anafi [France]

  Programme Background Requriment In February 2020, the French DGA procurement agency released a tender calling for a quadcopter micro UAS to equip all branches of ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Sonora [France]

  Background Aerial Drone Pact At Eurosatory 2024, the Aerial Drone Pact was signed. The Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) is managing the pact with the support of ...

• Loitering munitions

  Chorus (Contracted) [France]

  Background Production start In Janurary 2026, French press, such as L’Usine Nouvelle, reported that Renault, in collaboration with Turgis Gaillard, was to begin low-rate production ...

• Loitering munitions

  Chorus (Uncontracted) [France]

  Background Initial development contract In Janurary 2026, French press, such as L’Usine Nouvelle, reported that Renault, in collaboration with Turgis Gaillard, was to begin low-rate ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Onboard Mini-Drone Systems (SMDM) (1-68) [France]

  Background First Contract In February 2021, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) announced a €19.7 million ($23.30 million) contract it had awarded Survey Copter, a subsidiary of Airbus ...

• Military UAS - small

  Light Tactical Support Intelligence Drone Systems (SDLRAT) (1-30) [France]

  Background Aftermath of SDT To fill the capability void left by the cancellation of the second section of the Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme, the French ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 (Special Forces) [France]

  Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French Army. ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Acquisition of an Initial Depth Support Drone Capacity (ADAPT) [France]

  Background Aftermath of SDT To fill the capability void left by the cancellation of the second section of the Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme, three ...

• Military UAS - small

  Light Tactical Support Intelligence Drone Systems (SDLRAT) (31-140) [France]

  Background Aftermath of SDT To fill the capability void left by the cancellation of the second section of the Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme, the French ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  EDA-S [France]

  Programme Background Following the announcement of the 14-ship contract, the DGA approved the design of the first two standard amphibious landing craft (EDA-S) in October 2019, ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Acquisition of an Initial Depth Support Drone Capacity (ADAPT) [France]

  The Acquisition of an Initial Depth Support Drone Capacity (ADAPT) is a French procurement programme intended to partially replace the now-cancelled second stage of the Tactical Drone ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Acquisition of an Initial Depth Support Drone Capacity (ADAPT) [France]

  The Acquisition of an Initial Depth Support Drone Capacity (ADAPT) is a French procurement programme intended to partially replace the now-cancelled second stage of the Tactical Drone ...

• Maritime patrol

  MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  Background In 2017, Germany and France announced that they would be working towards developing an MPA to replace their current fleets in service. Hoev The ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-12) [France]

  Background In November 2014, The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has confirmed purchase of 12 A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling aircraft from Airbus. The contract will cover the development ...

• Loitering munitions

  Deluge (First batch) [France]

  Background Unveiling MBDA unveiled a scale model of the One-Way Effector (OWE), later named the Deluge, at the Paris Air Show 2025. As Breaking Defence reported at the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - UUVs

  Uncrewed Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV)

  The Uncrewed Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV) is an uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) being developed and built by France's Naval Group for the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA).

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Aliaca Evo

  The U010 Aliaca Evo, or DVF 2000 VT, is an electrically powered mini-UAV designed to perform ISR missions, coastal surveillance, convoy protection and powerline and pipeline monitoring. ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Matrice 600

  The Matrice 600, or M600, is a DJI rotary-wing UAV designed primarily for professional aerial photography and industrial applications. It was designed to closely integrate various ...

• Air: mission management systems

  MPME

  Safran Electronics & Defense has developed the MPME (Module de préparation de mission pour equipages d’hélicoptères) mission planning system for use by French Army Gazelle, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Chorus

  The Chorus is a long-range loitering munition being produced by Renault in collaboration with Turgis Gaillard for the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA). Little ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  ENBATA

  ENBATA is a multi-mission, ITAR-free MALE UAV produced by the French company Aura Aero. The aircraft is under development at the request of the General Directorate ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  AGILE

  The Airborne Gyro-stabilised IR Light Equipment (AGILE) was a dual/tri/quad sensor system for day and night surveillance, observation, border and maritime patrol, law enforcement, and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Repace

  The Repace is a hydrogen-powered drone that the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) unveiled in November 2023. The drone's development was led by reeachers from the Centre de ...

• Land: battle management systems

  COFEUX

  COFEUX is a tactical situation management system developed for French Army helicopters (Tiger and NH90). It includes a digital mapping module with an ‘inter-visibility’ function ...

• Major networking projects

  MOIE SIC Terre

  In January 2005, France’s DGA defence procurement agency awarded Thales (70%), and partner EADS DCS (30%), a $230 million contract for the MOIE SIC Terre ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  EyePulse

  The EyePulse is a demonstrator for a MALE-UAV from Daher. The UAV was developed in response to the French Directorate General of Armaments’ (DGA) effort to acquire ...

• Directed energy weapons

  HELMA-P

  The HELMA-P laser, manufactured by Cilas, is designed to safeguard sensitive locations, military bases, critical infrastructure, and public gatherings. The laser system is able to ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  VFM (Vedettes de Fusiliers Marins) - ITC 15

  In March 2018, the French DGA awarded a contract to Ufast for the construction of 12 VFM (Vedettes de Fusiliers Marins) fast patrol boats. The ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Aliaca VTOL

  Unveiled in April 2025, the U010 Aliaca VTOL is, as its name suggests, a VTOL-capable variant of the Aliaca from Survey Copter, an Airbus Defence & Space subsidiary. As ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  R2-600

  The R2-600 is a MALE UAV manufactured by Fly-R. It is designed to conduct surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence (ISR) missions, and offensive operations. It features a rhomboid wing design and ...