• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2022: French Navy to trial directed energy weapon from a ship in 2023

  17th October 2022

  Unlike missiles, decoys, or naval guns, directed energy weapons are not limited by magazine size but rather the ability of a platform to generate electrical power.

• Naval Warfare

  Everything you need to know about France's FDI frigate

  3rd November 2022

  France's first Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention (FDI) ship, Amiral Ronarc'h, is the first of eight being built at Naval Group's Lorient shipyard for the French and Greek navies.

• Land Warfare

  Tests begin for first new French SOF patrol vehicles

  14th September 2022

  French special forces have begun testing the first pair of production 6x6 VOS-APP patrol vehicles that will succeed the VLRA, which has been in service since the 1970s.

• Naval Warfare

  French still considering PANG carrier EMALS fit

  20th September 2022

  Two EMALS or three — that is the question for the French Navy with its next-generation PANG aircraft carrier.

• Defence Notes

  France favours air force in 2023 defence budget

  11th October 2022

  Galvanised by the Russia-Ukraine war, French military spending plans for 2023 focus on fixed-wing aviation.

• Land Warfare

  Nexter contracted for an additional 18 Caesar artillery pieces

  29th July 2022

  French defence manufacturer Nexter will deliver a further 18 Caesar 155mm artillery systems to the French Armed Forces by summer 2024.

• Land Warfare

  France moves forward with Furious schedule

  30th June 2022

  France is ploughing ahead with its 2022 schedule for the Furious UGV development programme, with the DGA procurement agency awarding Safran a second-phase contract.

• Air Warfare

  France receives the first batch of refurbished MICA missiles

  1st July 2022

  Refurbishing the missiles will keep them in service until 2030 with the French Navy and the Air and Space Force.

• Naval Warfare

  New French overseas patrol vessels set for 2023 service entry

  4th August 2022

  The first of six POM overseas patrol boats for use in France's Pacific territories has commenced sea trials and is due to enter service in New Caledonia in January 2023.

• Defence Notes

  Accelerated introduction of new military procurement law reflects changed priorities in France

  15th August 2022

  The French government is bringing a new Military Programming Law into force two years ahead of schedule.

• Defence Helicopter

  Skytrac SATCOM solution climbs aboard French H160Ms

  13th July 2022

  The SDL-700 SATCOM system will equip 169 new H160M helicopters for the French armed forces.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Clouds gather over SDAM rotary-wing drone programme for French Navy

  3rd August 2022

  Is time running out for the SDAM programme to prove its utility to French decision-makers?

• Defence Helicopter

  Eurosatory 2022: NATO allies sign up for Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability concept phase

  20th June 2022

  By their admission, NATO allies' plans to develop a new vertical-lift capability are a few years behind the Future Vertical Lift programme in the US.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DGA missile test unit puts surveillance on a tether

  18th May 2022

  The Orion 2 tethered UAV will be used to enhance observation and security at two French missile test sites.

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2022: Belgium seeks interoperability with new Caesar artillery vehicles

  16th June 2022

  France places order for Caesar 6x6 artillery vehicle to be delivered to the Belgian Armed Forces.

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. ...