• 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.

• Air Warfare

  France conducts first F4-1 Rafale test campaign

  21st May 2021

  The French Directorate General of Armament carried out the first F4-1 Rafale test campaign.

• Defence Helicopter

  French Navy to operate additional H160s

  21st May 2021

  The first H160 is being assembled for French Navy search and rescue missions.

• Air Warfare

  FCAS partners move to next phase

  17th May 2021

  Tripartite agreement sets Phase 1B of NGWS/FCAS in motion.

• Land Warfare

  Jaguar EBRC qualification process includes MMP test-firing

  12th May 2021

  The MBDA-made MMP was fired last month from a retractable pod on the Jaguar EBRC armoured vehicle.

• Uncrewed 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.

• Special Operations

  Arquus VLFS and PLFS take to the road

  27th April 2021

  French SOF await two new vehicle types.

• Military Logistics

  A400M demonstrates air-to-air helicopter refuelling capability

  21st April 2021

  Airbus now aims to complete full certification for helicopter air-to-air refuelling with its A400M by late 2021.

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus receives stimulus order from French government

  16th April 2021

  DGA orders eight H225Ms and a second VSR700 prototype from Airbus Helicopters.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thales and MHI team up for autonomous mine detection

  30th March 2021

  French and Japanese companies to jointly develop a dual-frequency sonar demonstrator for mine countermeasures.

• Digital Battlespace

  French Navy orders SonoFlash

  19th March 2021

  New sonobuoy leverages French sovereign capabilities in acoustic sensing technology.

• Naval Warfare

  Design phase continuation for new French carrier as FDI programme offers mixed bag

  1st April 2021

  A flurry of announcements in recent days have detailed the structure of France’s new carrier programme and progress on the FDI frigate build.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  France explores use of USVs for future hydographic requirements

  10th March 2021

  Future Hydrographic and Oceanographic Capacity programme could employ fusiform and lean-hulled USVs.

• Land Warfare

  Arquus seeks to apply more advanced technologies to vehicle range

  18th March 2021

  Arquus plans to improve the capabilities of its ground vehicles by prioritising enhanced survivability, robotics, digital technology and hybrid energy.

• Digital Battlespace

  France orders more O-NYX goggles

  8th February 2021

  NVG offers improved FOV and greater user comfort, manufacturer Thales claims.

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 ...

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

  SMDM / Aliaca Evo [France]

  Programme 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 ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Système de Drone Aérien pour la Marine (SDAM) [France]

  Programme Background Requirement The requirement for the SDAM programme is a rotary-wing VTOL-capable UAV with a modular configuration capable of hosting a range of payloads. ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-12) [France]

  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 and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale [France]

  Programme Background Rafale F4 is the latest configuration of the Rafale fighter jet family. New functions will also be developed to improve the aircraft’s capabilities ...

• 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, ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Floréal Class Replacement [France]

  The French Navy urges the replacement of the Floréal-class frigates with a new class of vessels that will mainly operate in French overseas territories.  Speaking to ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Floréal Class Replacement [France]

  The French Navy urges the replacement of the Floréal-class frigates with a new class of vessels that will mainly operate in French overseas territories.  Speaking to ...

• Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

  SNLE 3G (1-4) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements Included in the 2019-2025 Military Plan Law is the replacement of the four Le Triomphant-class SSBNs with four third-generation SSBNs (SNLE 3G) beginning ...

• ISR/special mission

  Strategic Intelligence Aircraft [France]

  Programme Background In February 2018, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, announced that the strategic intelligence aircraft program CUGE Universal EW Capability began ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | MQ-25 Stingray [France]

  In a March 2021 presentation, the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) exhibited preliminary designs for the French Navies New Generation Aircraft Carrier (PANG). The presentation, published ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | MQ-25 Stingray [France]

  In a March 2021 presentation, the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) exhibited preliminary designs for the French Navies New Generation Aircraft Carrier (PANG). The presentation, published ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 Special Forces [France]

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

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

  UX11 (Ukraine Aid) [France]

  Programme Background First Batch On 6 September 2023, Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of Defence, announced Delair was providing Ukraine with more than 150 drones. ...

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).

• 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, ...

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

  Aliaca Evo

  The 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. Between ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Manta

  Manta is a laser-based DIRCM system for airborne platforms. Designed to defeat first- and second-generation and imaging IR seekers, it is said to be effective ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

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

  Paseo XLR

  The Paseo XLR (Extra Long Range) is a member of Safran Electronics & Defense’s shipborne sighting system. It is designed for operation in extreme naval environments; ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VBMR-L Serval

  In February 2018, France's DGA defence procurement agency selected Nexter, in partnership with Texelis, to develop and produce the 4x4 Lightweight Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (VBMR-L) lightweight ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  nEUROn

  The nEUROn is an experimental uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed with international cooperation to create a stealthy, autonomous UAV that can function in medium- ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers, Air: Defensive Systems - Laser Warning Receivers, Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  SPECTRA

  Thales’ SPECTRA (Rafale Fire Control Radar Protection and Avoidance System) is the Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) used by the Dassault Rafale series of combat aircraft. ...