France Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Teams from DCNS, the French Navy and defence procurement agency DGA recently completed a new test campaign aboard first-of-class FREMM multimission frigate Aquitaine, the last and most important being the first ever torpedo launch test from a FREMM frigate.

After demonstrating FREMM frigate Aquitaine’s compatibility with a 10-tonne Caïman helicopter (the French version of the Eurocopter/EADS NH90) in March, DCNS specialists spent several weeks putting the vessel’s combat system, which includes the torpedo launch control system, through its paces.

After validating the torpedo tube configuration and performing dry-run tests, the DCNS team conducted the torpedo launch test the 22nd of June. Using an exercise torpedo equipped with sensors and data loggers instead of a warhead, the launch was performed under otherwise operational conditions. The results validated the torpedo tube configuration’s compliance with the relevant specifications. Shipboard observation by DCNS specialists and the data gathered by the torpedo’s onboard sensors confirmed all key parameters including exit speed, angle of impact with the water, and torpedo behaviour and trajectory.

“First-of-class FREMM multimission frigate Aquitaine is designed to face all types of threats,” says Vincent Martinot-Lagarde, FREMM programme manager. “The success of the first torpedo launch test is an important milestone as it confirms the ASW capabilities of the ship and her combat system which was designed, developed and produced by DCNS,” he added. In addition to a leading role in the FREMM design programme, DCNS teams contributed, in cooperation with the DGA, to the design of the MU90 lightweight torpedo, the torpedo launch control system and the launch tubes.

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Successful first qualification firing test of Sagem's Hammer air-to-ground guided weapon with laser terminal guidance
NavyRecognition​

French defense procurement agency DGA has successfully carried out the first qualification firing test of the laser terminal guidance version of the AASM Hammer modular air-to-ground weapon built by Sagem (Safran group).

The test was carried out by the DGA's missile test department at the Cazaux air base on May 31, with the Hammer weapon being fired from a production Rafale fighter. The target, a bridge pier located more than 50 kilometers from the release point, was illuminated by an airborne illuminator that was activated during the last few seconds of the weapon's flight.

The AASM Hammer's guidance was deliberately initialized by offsetting the target's GPS coordinates by over 50 meters. Thanks to its navigation, laser spot detection and terminal guidance algorithms, the AASM hit its target to within a meter. Prior to the impact, the missile steered itself to a glide slope of 20°, preferred for this type of operational scenario.
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The French armed forces will start taking delivery of the AASM SBU-64 at the end of 2012, as part of a contract that provides for the production of several hundred units.

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Gowind® offshore patrol vessel L’Adroit returned to her homeport of Toulon on 29 June 2012 after a two-month mission in the Mediterranean. DCNS has made the ship available to the French Navy for three years. The client Navies, in turn, is using the ship primarily for government missions at sea. During this fisheries protection and maritime safety & security mission, the L’Adroit demonstrated the quality of DCNS’s design and technological innovations.

Thanks largely to key advances – not least aft boat ramps, a panoramic bridge, a single enclosed mast, and the Polaris® smart mission system – OPV L’Adroit carried out her assigned missions, including operation Thon Rouge to police bluefin tuna fisheries.

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Raytheon demonstrates WiPAK® (Wireless Paveway™ Avionics Kit) on French Navy RAFALE aircraft
NavyRecognition​

Raytheon Company successfully demonstrated a wireless method of integrating its combat-proven Enhanced Paveway™ II precision-guided bomb on the French Navy RAFALE aircraft. Called WiPAK®, the avionics kit enables integration of Paveway on a variety of aircraft without any modifications to aircraft wiring or changes to the flight and stores management software.

"With WiPAK, warfighters can easily and quickly provide targeting information, employ Paveway and gain all the benefits of a GPS/INS guided smart weapon for a fraction of what it would cost to integrate weapons through traditional means," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air Warfare Systems. "WiPAK uses wireless connectivity technology similar to what is being used in laptop and tablet computers."

During the test, an Enhanced Paveway II GBU-49 was dropped from the RAFALE aircraft at the Biscarrosse test range in Southwestern France. The weapon system met all requirements during the demonstration and impacted the target well within the requirements.

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navyreco said:

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navyreco said:

French Navy's Air Warfare Destroyers successfully intercept supersonic sea-skimming target

MOD Statement doesn't say if Chevalier Paul was guiding Forbin's Aster 30 SAMs mid-course (just "tracking") but still, this is quite good news to see Aster 30 and PAAMS works according to plan.

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navyreco said:

CMN (Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie) Introduces the new DV15 RWS30 Fast Patrol Boat

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The Marine Nationale's Forbin Air Defence Destroyer (Horizon class) met her Royal Navy counterpart HMS Diamond (Type 45) in the Mediterranean at the end of June. Off the coast of Spain, the two Destroyers carried out various operational maneuver.

The two vessels first simulated fire engagements in the field of anti-surface warfare with the support of Lynx helicopters of both nations. Then together, they jointly trained to repel air attacks by Rafale and Super Etendard fighters from the French carrier battle group.

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French Procurement Agency (DGA) on July 9, 2012 successfully completed the first full sequence test (from launch to target) of a SCALP Naval, French Navy's future naval cruise missile.

This was the third development test firing of the missile, conducted at the DGA site of Biscarrosse (South West France) where the "DGA missile test center" is located. This test is representative of a shot from a frigate. All objectives were met, including the validation of the terminal phase with autonomous guidance by infrared scene recognition, which provides highly accurate impacts. SCALP Naval cruise missiles will be deployed onboard multi-mission frigates (FREMM) in 2014 and Barracuda SSN submarines in 2017.

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The Cassard class guided-missile destroyers (typed by French Navy as frégates antiaériennes type F 70 AA or anti-aircraft frigates) are intended to participate in anti-aircraft operations, escort of capital ships (such as aircraft carriers or large amphibious vessels) as well as air and sea control. Both vessels of the class are homeported in Toulon naval base and are part of the Force d'Action Navale (Naval Action Force).

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