DN - Defence Notes

French arms exports halved in 2017

2nd July 2018

French defence exports fell sharply last year in the absence of major deals to sell new Rafale fighter jets, with Middle Eastern clients again making ...

NWI - Naval Warfare

France challenges Beijing in South China Sea

12th June 2018

France is increasing its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, sending warships through the South China Sea and planning air exercises to help counter China's ...

NWI - Naval Warfare

US Navy sees 'period of uncertainty' in Gulf

15th May 2018

Iranian behaviour in the Gulf is entering a ‘period of uncertainty,’ the head of the US Navy said on 14 May following President Donald Trump's ...

DN - Defence Notes

Airbus and Dassault to team up on combat fighter

25th April 2018

Airbus and Dassault Aviation announced on 25 April that they intend to team up on the development of the future French-German combat fighter, a project ...

DN - Defence Notes

Canada to accept bid from Boeing for new fighter jets

23rd February 2018

Canada said on 22 February that it was allowing Boeing to submit a bid to replace the country's aging F-18 fleet, after an earlier trade ...

DB - Digital Battlespace

Qatar to acquire additional Rafale aircraft

13th December 2017

Qatar Emiri Air Force has signed an agreement with Dassault Aviation to acquire an additional 12 Rafale omnirole combat aircraft.The new aircraft will join the ...

DN - Defence Notes

Opinion: Learning the lessons of Gulf defence procurement

17th November 2017

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced at the Dubai Air Show that it is keen to acquire the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This is the ...

DB - Digital Battlespace

Thales to form Indian joint venture

23rd June 2017

India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative has chalked up a new success, with Thales and Reliance Defence Limited announcing their intent to form an Indian Joint ...

Air: fixed-wing flight simulators, Air warfare - flight simulators

Rafale Simulator

Thales, Sogitec and Dassault Aviation have together developed two pilot training centres to support the training of Rafale fighter pilots. The Saint-Dizier Rafale simulation centre ...

EO/IR systems, Aircraft EO pods

AREOS

AREOS (Airborne Recce Observation System) is a stand-off reconnaissance system designed for tactical and strategic missions. Operational on French Air Force and French Navy Rafales. ...

Air: air combat simulators, Air warfare - air combat simulators

CSR

As part of a wider consortium including its parent company Dassault Aviation, Sogitec Industries delivered the two Rafale Simulation Centres (Centres de simulation Rafale/CSR) in ...

Air: maintenance simulators, Air warfare - maintenance simulators

VMT

Virtual Maintenance Trainers (VMTs) present trainees with interactive virtual walkaround lessons, providing views of component locations and inspection areas around the aircraft, along with descriptions ...

Training services

Air combat Training Centers

Training centres and networked simulation devices for collective training in a realistic operational context at various levels (squadron, distant, joint, coalition) – Rafale Simulation Center, ...

Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems, Airborne systems - chaff, flare and decoy systems

Spectra

Internally mounted radar, laser and IR self-protection system in service on French Air Force and French Navy Rafale fighters. Fully integrated internal system featuring techniques ...

Air: integrated self-protection systems, Airborne systems - integrated self-protection systems

Spectra

Internally mounted radar, laser and IR self-protection system in service on French Air Force and French Navy Rafale fighters. Fully integrated internal system featuring techniques ...

Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar, Airborne surveillance systems, Airborne - surveillance and maritime patrol

Searchmaster

The Searchmaster is an airborne multirole surveillance radar that employs an AESA antenna, and is derived from qualified technologies developed for the RBE2 radar of ...

Data links, Data links

MIDS LVT Low Volume Terminal (Link 16)

Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems – Low Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT) provides a Link 16 capability for space- and weight-constrained platforms, including USN F/A-18, USAF F-16, Rafale ...

Air: integrated mission systems - helicopters, civil, Mission management systems

SLPRM

Mission planning and debriefing system used by the French Air Force to program missions for its fighter jets. The SLPRM (Système local de préparation et ...

Air: missile launch detector and approach warning systems, Airborne systems - missile launch detectors and approach warners

DDM-NG

The DDM-NG is a new-generation MWS to replace the DDM. It uses IR technologies such as a large staring FPA IR detector and fisheye optics ...

EO/IR systems, IR search and track systems

Front Sector Optronics

Safran provides the multifunction front sector EO system for Rafale fighters used for air-to-air and air-to-surface missions. Functions: detection, tracking, 2D/3D localisation, identification. Sensors: IRST ...

Air: AEW/fire control radar, Airborne - AEW and fire control

RBE2

The AESA RBE2 is the first AESA radar produced in Europe for combat aircraft. The active phased array, which replaces the passive array in the ...

Air: fixed-wing flight simulators, Air warfare - flight simulators

Fast Jet Training

Thales provides a suite of training products for the life-cycle of military fast jet training. These encompass the design, development and establishment of training services ...

Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

MICA missile

Developed by MBDA, the MICA is a multi-mission air-to-air missile system for the Rafale and the latest versions of the Mirage 2000 combat aircraft. MICA stands ...