France Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

FORBIN said:

I have yet posted here since about a year you can look eventualy.

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FORBIN said:

Egyptian Godwind 2500/Al Fateh to Lorient with French Auvergne
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Bretagne launched
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Malaysia also have 6 Godwind in order but customized same power but more big 3100 t, 111 vs 102 m long.

3 Shipyards in France
- Lorient DCNS build surface combattants up to about 8000 t full max, now Godwind corvettes 1500 or 2500 t full, FFGs Aquitaine 6000 t had build Forbin 7000 t and after normaly 5 new FFGs "FTI "midsize frigate 4500 t about.

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Jeff Head said:

The Godwind is a good FFG design.

I believe numerous countries will end up buying them.

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Jura said:

so I'm searching:

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FORBIN said:

I have yet posted here since about a year you can look eventualy.

Yes 5 but in fact for deployments better 6 ideal 7 or 1 FREMM in more but seems difficult, for have 16 or 17 MSC with 15 as planned possible eventually some missions cancelated for provide to others more importants, Navy deploy MSC in general in 4 areas so 15 is a bit short.

Approx datas ofc nothing sure except do 4000 + t full displ.

Make sense :
A main gun minimum 76 mm, i hope 127 mm, would like a 380 mm but impossible LOL,
1 helo NH-90NFH, two sonars possible better hull + towed

Less sure
Missiles load the more important ! btw 16 and 32 i prefer normaly Aster 15 can be VL Mica or maybe also new LACM ? but i don' t see Aster 30.
MM-40 Bl 3 normaly 8 or possible a new normaly launched from a VLS the Perseus by ex interesting, to see.

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FORBIN said:

... i hope 127 mm, would like a 380 mm but impossible LOL,
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On 19 September 2016, on the tarmac of the naval air base of Landivisiau (Finistère), the "Glorious" combat flotilla 17F admire the launch of its first flight Rafale.

Having bid farewell to Super Etendard Modernized July 12, the flotilla proudly welcomes its new fighter. Several drivers have already succeeded in their transformation Rafale and Lieutenant Commander Vincent Isorce can count on his men to do the 17F quickly becomes operational.

On the occasion of this first flight, the commander of the 17F has gathered all its crews to mark this unique moment for the fleet established in 1958.

The transition to all Rafale is part of a modernization process of naval aviation and 17F now turning an important page in its history.

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French Navy Lafayette Class Frigates Crotale SAM Systems May Be Replaced with SADRAL

During the Euronaval 2016 press tour held last week, an MBDA representative explained that French Navy (Marine Nationale)

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s' existing Crotale SAM system may be replaced with SADRAL launchers. "It is one of the options being considered for the upgrade" the representative said. According to an update to the French Military Planning Law (Loi de Programmation Militaire) released in May 2015, the Lafayette-class is set to receive an upgrade in the near future.

Two SADRAL launchers with 6 x Mistral surface to air missiles each would be fitted on top of the helicopter hangar to replace the existing Crotale laucher (with 8 x missiles). Navy Recognition believes this upgrade would address two major obsolescences: The ageing Crotale missiles (designed in the 70ies and produces in the 80ies) are nearing the end of their shelf life. In addition, according to our information, Crotale's effectiveness against modern sea-skimming anti-ship missiles is limited.

The upgrade would be fairly affordable as the plan is to re-use existing launchers currently fitted aboard the Georges Leygues-class ASW Frigates (as they are being replaced by FREMM Frigates). The Mistral is an infrared homing surface-to-air missile with an effective firing range up to 6 km and a speed of Mach 2.7.

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schenkus said:

How much of an upgrade would the sadral be ?
I always thought putting this kind of MANPAD on a ship is mostly a way of saving money compared to a real SAM. If this system is supposed to be better (at least against sea-skimmers), is this a sign of how outdated crotale is nowadays ?
I would have thought that if you wanted to replace crotale with a modern system in the same class, you would rather use VL Mica. Would this need a new radar ?

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FORBIN said:

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Really better i have read but possible La Fayette can receive in more VLS with 16 Aster 15, a true armament for a FFG.

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Jura said:

some time ago in this thread I called La Fayette Frigates under-armed in comparison with the Formidable-class ...https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/france-military-news-thread.t5867/page-56#post-327621 ... and it was questioned here so I let it be but there's a very interesting article in the most recent issue of a Polish naval journal about the La Fayette and its derivatives and the author (who for example draw the charts of the Chen De; Al Riyadh; Formidable so he did his homework says the La Fayette should've entered service with

• VLS for 16 (not 32) Aster missiles (the space for their fire-control Arabel radar is still available together with an unused (sixth) console in the Combat Information Center)
• sonar and Murene (later developed into MU90) torpedos

but didn't because of ... budget cuts in 1990s (and not of "ships' specialized role" or nothing) ... the author also says the La Fayettes will be replaced in second half of 2020s by FX4 Frigates, but this program is still classified ... do you know anything?

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