France Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
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Miragedriver
Brigadier
French-built Rafael fighter jets fly over the Great Pyramids outside Cairo, Egypt
Picture: Egyptian Army/EPA
Back to bottling my Grenache
For 12/2014 since 2 Mir 2000D lost, new Rafale others for Egypt, now 96
Total AF 240 Fighter-Bomber.
Jura The idiot
General
hey FORBIN listen up
French Navy’s Frigate Forbin Returns Home
says
Jura The idiot
General
French-built Rafael fighter jets fly over the Great Pyramids outside Cairo, Egypt
Picture: Egyptian Army/EPA
Back to bottling my Grenache
Amigo Miragedriver, that's the most bizarre PhotoShopped picture of "Egyptian Rafales" I've seen so far
Miragedriver
Brigadier
Thales To Deliver AESA Radars Soon
By PIERRE TRAN
Published: 6 Jul 2010 16:42
PARIS - Thales will begin deliveries in August of the first production batch of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars for the fourth tranche of Rafale strike fighters, Pierre-Yves Chaltiel, head of electronic combat systems, said July 6.
A relative maturity in production of the AESA sensor allows Thales to launch the Searchmaster range of derivative products, which uses the active array technology. A compact version will be sold for UAVs and helicopters, and a larger model for medium-altitude, long-endurance drones, ground surveillance and maritime patrol aircraft, Chaltiel said.
The delivery of AESA production units marks the culmination of some 12 years' work and more than one billion euros ($1.3 billion) of government and industry investment, he told journalists ahead of the Farnborough airshow, which opens July 19.
It has taken "more than 10 years' effort to get to this stage," he said.
In the world market, only three industrial teams could claim this level of technological maturity, namely Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, Boeing and Raytheon, and Dassault Aviation and Thales, he said.
An AESA radar will significantly boost operational capabilities for the Rafale in terms of range, interception, tracking a multithreat environment and also improve countermeasures.
The technology will allow for the first time the same active array to be used for the radar and countermeasures.
"It will be the only European aircraft with this capability," he said.
The AESA radars will equip the fourth tranche of 60 Rafales ordered by the Direction Générale pour l'Armement (DGA) procurement office at the end of 2009. No financial details were available. A preproduction batch of three AESA radars have flown on the Falcon, Mirage 2000 and Rafale.
The tranche-four Rafales will operate at the F3 standard and the first AESA-equipped squadron is expected to be operational in 2012.
Some five or six countries have shown interest in the Searchmaster concept, which could be delivered in two years for the compact model and five years for the larger version.
The I-Master radar developed for the British Watchkeeper tactical UAV has drawn interest from the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, Chaltiel said.
Chaltiel outlined the technology roadmap for developing the AESA radar, which uses a patented cloud technology receiver module system, intended to allow insertion of new technology over the next 20 years without requiring extensive .
Back to bottling my Grenache
By PIERRE TRAN
Published: 6 Jul 2010 16:42
PARIS - Thales will begin deliveries in August of the first production batch of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars for the fourth tranche of Rafale strike fighters, Pierre-Yves Chaltiel, head of electronic combat systems, said July 6.
A relative maturity in production of the AESA sensor allows Thales to launch the Searchmaster range of derivative products, which uses the active array technology. A compact version will be sold for UAVs and helicopters, and a larger model for medium-altitude, long-endurance drones, ground surveillance and maritime patrol aircraft, Chaltiel said.
The delivery of AESA production units marks the culmination of some 12 years' work and more than one billion euros ($1.3 billion) of government and industry investment, he told journalists ahead of the Farnborough airshow, which opens July 19.
It has taken "more than 10 years' effort to get to this stage," he said.
In the world market, only three industrial teams could claim this level of technological maturity, namely Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, Boeing and Raytheon, and Dassault Aviation and Thales, he said.
An AESA radar will significantly boost operational capabilities for the Rafale in terms of range, interception, tracking a multithreat environment and also improve countermeasures.
The technology will allow for the first time the same active array to be used for the radar and countermeasures.
"It will be the only European aircraft with this capability," he said.
The AESA radars will equip the fourth tranche of 60 Rafales ordered by the Direction Générale pour l'Armement (DGA) procurement office at the end of 2009. No financial details were available. A preproduction batch of three AESA radars have flown on the Falcon, Mirage 2000 and Rafale.
The tranche-four Rafales will operate at the F3 standard and the first AESA-equipped squadron is expected to be operational in 2012.
Some five or six countries have shown interest in the Searchmaster concept, which could be delivered in two years for the compact model and five years for the larger version.
The I-Master radar developed for the British Watchkeeper tactical UAV has drawn interest from the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, Chaltiel said.
Chaltiel outlined the technology roadmap for developing the AESA radar, which uses a patented cloud technology receiver module system, intended to allow insertion of new technology over the next 20 years without requiring extensive .
Back to bottling my Grenache
Miragedriver
Brigadier
Amigo Miragedriver, that's the most bizarre PhotoShopped picture of "Egyptian Rafales" I've seen so far
I guess even the English papers are doing photoshop these days. Can’t trust anyone!
Miragedriver
Brigadier
'Extremely difficult' for France to sell Mistral warships: experts
Paris (AFP) - After cancelling the sale to Russia, France finds itself lumbered with two giant Mistral warships which it will find "extremely difficult" to re-sell and cannot afford to keep, say experts.
The pair of 200-metre (650-foot) amphibious helicopter-carriers were due for delivery to Russia by the end of this year in a deal worth an estimated 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion).
Instead, they are docked in the western French port at St Nazaire after Paris put the deal on ice in response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine last year.
The deal was formally cancelled on Wednesday, and within hours French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said "several" countries had expressed an interest in buying the ships, without giving details.
"It's desirable that we sell them as quickly as possible," he told RTL radio.
But experts say France will have its work cut out in offloading them.
"Selling someone ships these days is extremely difficult," said Ben Moores, a defence analyst for IHS Jane's in London.
"They will have to seriously cut their price to make it attractive to another country. It could take years."
French President Francois Hollande listens to questions after he delivered a speech in front of the …
However, French President Francois Hollande doesn't see it that way.
"There will be no difficulty in finding buyers," Hollande told reporters Thursday about selling the two Mistrals, speaking in Egypt where he attended a ceremony for the extension of the Suez Canal waterway.
Plenty of militaries are in need of new warships -- IHS Jane's estimates there are 13 countries needing a total of 26 amphibious assault vessels over the next decade.
In theory, Moores said, the Mistrals are very re-sellable "because the only big thing Russia changed is they put their own communications system onboard, which is not hard to take out these days."
But most countries with the money and desire to buy boats of that size have their own ship-building industries.
"The problem France will have to overcome is domestic ship-building lobbies. If a country like Turkey decides to buy these ships, that would mean thousands of people would be laid off from a shipyard," said Moores.
"And there's a question of national pride in saying 'we build our own ships'."
- 'Absolutely have to sell' -
Meanwhile, France already has three Mistrals in its fleet, and doesn't have the funds to add two more.
"Keeping them would mean not only paying for them, but also making them run -- creating crews, docking them, maintaining them," said a senior procurement officer in the French military, who was not authorised to give his name.
"We absolutely have to sell them."
But only a handful of countries will be able to make use of them, said Admiral Alain Coldefy, a former inspector general of the French military.
"We need countries that want to intervene in the world... with the resources to buy such sophisticated, top-of-the-line boats. They also need well-trained crews."
He said the ideal situation would be for the European Union to purchase them, but years of effort to bolster Europe's collective defence have made little headway.
An added problem for France will come when Russia comes to dismantle its communications equipment.
"The Russians will no doubt take their time in a bid to steal as much technology as possible, as usual," said Coldefy.
"They say they can make these boats themselves, but really they are far behind."
According to IHS Jane's, the 13 countries needing a warship in the next decade -- and with any hope of buying one from France -- are Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey and Venezuela.
Of those, only India and Turkey need a ship in the next four years, and New Delhi recently said it would stop importing warships and try to make its own, while Ankara aims to become a net exporter of naval vessels.
"Others could come up," said Moores. "Especially associated with tensions in the South China Sea" where China's claim to regional control have raised concerns among its neighbours.
"But only a few of these ships get sold every year, so it's going to be tough."
Back to bottling my Grenache
Paris (AFP) - After cancelling the sale to Russia, France finds itself lumbered with two giant Mistral warships which it will find "extremely difficult" to re-sell and cannot afford to keep, say experts.
The pair of 200-metre (650-foot) amphibious helicopter-carriers were due for delivery to Russia by the end of this year in a deal worth an estimated 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion).
Instead, they are docked in the western French port at St Nazaire after Paris put the deal on ice in response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine last year.
The deal was formally cancelled on Wednesday, and within hours French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said "several" countries had expressed an interest in buying the ships, without giving details.
"It's desirable that we sell them as quickly as possible," he told RTL radio.
But experts say France will have its work cut out in offloading them.
"Selling someone ships these days is extremely difficult," said Ben Moores, a defence analyst for IHS Jane's in London.
"They will have to seriously cut their price to make it attractive to another country. It could take years."
French President Francois Hollande listens to questions after he delivered a speech in front of the …
However, French President Francois Hollande doesn't see it that way.
"There will be no difficulty in finding buyers," Hollande told reporters Thursday about selling the two Mistrals, speaking in Egypt where he attended a ceremony for the extension of the Suez Canal waterway.
Plenty of militaries are in need of new warships -- IHS Jane's estimates there are 13 countries needing a total of 26 amphibious assault vessels over the next decade.
In theory, Moores said, the Mistrals are very re-sellable "because the only big thing Russia changed is they put their own communications system onboard, which is not hard to take out these days."
But most countries with the money and desire to buy boats of that size have their own ship-building industries.
"The problem France will have to overcome is domestic ship-building lobbies. If a country like Turkey decides to buy these ships, that would mean thousands of people would be laid off from a shipyard," said Moores.
"And there's a question of national pride in saying 'we build our own ships'."
- 'Absolutely have to sell' -
Meanwhile, France already has three Mistrals in its fleet, and doesn't have the funds to add two more.
"Keeping them would mean not only paying for them, but also making them run -- creating crews, docking them, maintaining them," said a senior procurement officer in the French military, who was not authorised to give his name.
"We absolutely have to sell them."
But only a handful of countries will be able to make use of them, said Admiral Alain Coldefy, a former inspector general of the French military.
"We need countries that want to intervene in the world... with the resources to buy such sophisticated, top-of-the-line boats. They also need well-trained crews."
He said the ideal situation would be for the European Union to purchase them, but years of effort to bolster Europe's collective defence have made little headway.
An added problem for France will come when Russia comes to dismantle its communications equipment.
"The Russians will no doubt take their time in a bid to steal as much technology as possible, as usual," said Coldefy.
"They say they can make these boats themselves, but really they are far behind."
According to IHS Jane's, the 13 countries needing a warship in the next decade -- and with any hope of buying one from France -- are Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey and Venezuela.
Of those, only India and Turkey need a ship in the next four years, and New Delhi recently said it would stop importing warships and try to make its own, while Ankara aims to become a net exporter of naval vessels.
"Others could come up," said Moores. "Especially associated with tensions in the South China Sea" where China's claim to regional control have raised concerns among its neighbours.
"But only a few of these ships get sold every year, so it's going to be tough."
Back to bottling my Grenache
I think if the price is right, Brazil could take one of them.
Same with India, if the price is right, they could take one or two, despite their desitre to build locally. All depends on the price they could get.
As to the others?
- Australia - Already has the new Canberras. Not a chance at all.
- Belgium - Very low probability. No real need for a ship like this.
- Canada - Very low probability. No real need for them, and too expensive.
- Chile - Had not thought about Chile. They could do one, but it is a low probability.
- Germany - Very low probability. No real need for a ship like this.
- Japan - Already has their Osumis. Not a chance at all.
- Malaysia - Very low probability. No real need for a ship like this
- The Netherlands - They already have their own LPDs. Not a chance IMHO.
- Singapore - They already have their own LPDs. Not a chance IMHO.
- Turkey - Already decided on a Juan Carlos design. Not much of a chance at all.
- Venezuela - I do not think France would sell to them, and they really have no need for one.