• Defence Helicopter

  France orders more NH90 TTHs

  8th January 2016

  The French Army Aviation has opted to increase its NH90 tactical troop helicopter (TTH) helicopter fleet to 74 units, with a new order for six …

• Digital Battlespace

  France awards Comsat NG contract

  28th December 2015

  The French defence procurement agency has awarded a contract to a consortium formed by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space to build and deliver …

• Defence Helicopter

  France orders more Tiger HAD helicopters

  24th December 2015

  The French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) has awarded a contract to Airbus Helicopters to supply seven additional Tiger HAD attack helicopters, the company announced on …

• Military Logistics

  France orders more A330 MRTTs

  16th December 2015

  A second batch of A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft have been ordered by the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), Airbus Defence and Space announced …

• Land Warfare

  New VAB vehicle variant qualifies

  20th November 2015

  A new engineer variant of the VAB (Véhicule de l'avant blindé) Ultima APC for the French Army has passed qualification. This variant called the ‘Génie’ is on schedule …

• Naval Warfare

  DCNS starts FREMM Languedoc’s sea trials

  9th October 2015

  DCNS has started the sea trials for the FREMM Languedoc, the third of a series of vessels ordered by OCCAR on behalf of the French …

• Defence Helicopter

  NHI delivers more NH90 NFH

  23rd September 2015

  The 15th NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) has been officially handed over to the French defence procurement agency (DGA) for the French Navy, Airbus Helicopters …

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2015: Saab eyes UK expansion

  9th September 2015

  Swedish company Saab has expressed its desire to expand in the UK, in a possible sign of growing confidence in the British economy and the …

• Military Logistics

  Renault to explore French VBL upgrade

  9th July 2015

  Renault Trucks Defence has been awarded a contract by the French defence procurement agency DGA to explore an upgrade for the French Panhard VBL and …

• Land Warfare

  SBDS receives MMP warhead order

  9th July 2015

  MBDA France has awarded a warhead production contract to Saab Bofors Dynamics Switzerland (SBDS) for MMP medium-range missiles, the company announced on 7 July. Deliveries …

• Military Logistics

  Thales receives FRA-145 certification

  19th June 2015

  Thales has been granted FRA-145 airworthiness certification by French authorities for the maintenance of aircraft operated by the French armed forces and security agencies. The …

• Naval Warfare

  France receives FREMM Provence

  15th June 2015

  The French Navy has received the multi-mission FREMM frigate Provence, the second in a series of frigates ordered from DCNS by OCCAR on behalf of …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  France receives third MQ-9 Reaper

  2nd June 2015

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) has delivered a third Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the French Ministry of Defense, the company …

• Naval Warfare

  FREMM Aquitaine continues verification test firings

  21st May 2015

  The frigate Aquitaine, a part of the multi-mission frigate program (FREMM), fired an Exocet MM40 surface-to-surface missile on 12 May and a naval cruise missile …

• Military Logistics

  Thales TopShield-400 selected for French A330 MRTT

  11th May 2015

  Thales has been awarded a contract to provide its TopShield-400 Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA) system for the future French A330 tanker, the company announced …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Parrot Anafi - Announced Units (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

  Parrot Anafi - Completed Units (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 - 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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

• 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 - 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Sea Fire Multi Function Radar

  The Sea Fire is a four-panel S-band 4D AESA radar developed by Thales and unveiled in 2014. This S-band radar is designed to outfit vessels displacing ...

• 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

  EOMS NG

  The naval EO Multifunction System (EOMS) combines long-range IR search and tracker and gunfire direction to detect and engage shore, surface or airborne targets, particularly sea-skimming ...

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

  nEUROn

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

• APCs/IFVs - 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 ...

• Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  Paseo XLR

  The Paseo XLR (Extra Long Range) is the latest member of Safran Electronics & Defense’s shipborne sighting system, which joins the Vigy Observer/Engage and the ...

• Major networking projects

  COMCEPT

  In February 2013, the French DGA defence procurement agency awarded Astrium (now Airbus Defence & Space), and its partner ACTIA Sodielec (now ACTIA Telecom), a ...

• 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. ...