The First Rafale Fighters from France Ready for Delivery to Greek Air Force

The first fighters of this type are expected to be delivered in the summer from France to Greece, but the first aircraft is already technically ready.

According to the French website air-cosmos.com, the two-seater aircraft type B305 is ready for delivery, as all necessary modifications have been made in accordance with Greek specifications. Special equipment of the French Air Force has been removed from the aircraft as Rafale B is used to transport and launch ASMP-A missiles. Transport systems have also been installed as the French do not use full equipment during their missions.

According to the publication, 60 parts and systems were removed from the aircraft after 1,050 operating hours for a total of 45 days. As stated in the agreement, the aircraft must have a balance of flight time of at least two years prior to scheduled maintenance of approximately 360 flight hours.

The website also says that another Rafale C fighter is being prepared for Greece, as 10 fighter jets of this type will be delivered to HAF.

French Army's Inflatable OSA SAM decoy

Inflatable OSA SAM decoy in the CENZUB.

CENZUB (Centre d'entraînement aux actions en zone urbaine) is a purpose-built facility for training French armed forces in urban warfare skills. It is located at Sissonne in north-eastern France. It is the largest training area of its type in Europe. There are two constructed districts - Beausejour and Jeoffrecourt.

Nexter demonstrated new generation 120mm APFSDS

Nexter Munitions demonstrated its new 120mm SHARD APFSDS ammunition. SHARD is the new generation of 120mm anti-tank ammunition of the APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot) type, is compatible with all current and future battle tanks equipped with smooth 120mm guns of NATO standard. The interoperability of SHARD with the armaments of the Leclerc tank, the Leopard 2, the Abrams M1A1 / A2 and the C1 Ariete is ensured thanks to the development in accordance with STANAG 4385, as well as with ICD 120.

The recent test shots carried out in extreme temperature conditions and at long range have confirmed the expected performance in simulation: this ammunition sets a new performance standard, with increased penetration capacity, combined with very high precision. The year 2021 will make it possible to carry out the last architectural optimizations, before entering an industrial qualification phase from 2022.

Thus, SHARD® will be ready for the launch of series production from the end of the year. 2022 to give our customers the technological capabilities to fight effectively against the latest armored threats of the 21st century.

This very high level of performance is made possible thanks to a totally innovative design, defined by the technical teams of Nexter Munitions in Bourges. SHARD® achieves this level of terminal ballistic performance thanks to an optimized shoe, an elongated bar in a new tungsten alloy developed with Plansee Tungsten Alloys, as well as a charge cartridge and a high performance, low erosivity propellant powder developed by EURENCO.

French vision for the MGCS - Future european Combat Vehicles destroying the Russian T-14 Armata tanks

Very interesting video, about French vision for the future battlefield. On video we can see some artist models on the French vision for the MGCS, and its action against Russian T-14 Armata MBT, which one showed twise.

 

Three different versions of MGCS:

• Canon which shows a large caliber coax which seem to can provide indirect fire.

• C² : Command and Control which seem to have a 40mm

• Missile: Same autocanon as a C², 6 missiles ready and no RCWS

The Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project, to be implemented under German leadership, is to replace the German Leopard 2 main battle tanks and the French Leclerc main battle tanks from the mid-2030s.

T-14 Armata MBTs of opposite force.

Véhicule Pommellet - One of the first robotic vehicle

The Pommellet torpedo car, developed by France before the Second World War. He's here on his transport trailer. This remotely controlled machine had the task of clearing a terrain covered with obstacles by the adversary. To do this, the Pommellet embeds a 300kg bomb. This is the camicaze vehicle. In order to guide it at night, it was surmounted by three lights. "As long as we can see the three fires, the torpedo goes straight!". The German invasion in France suspends development. It only resumed for a short time after the war.

Photo credit "Musée des Blindés"

President Macron Announces Start of New French Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Program (PANG, le porte-avions de nouvelle génération)

France will build a new, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to replace its Charles de Gaulle carrier by 2038

French President Emmanuel Macron Tuesday, 8 December, officially green-lighted the construction of a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as part of the PANG program (PANG, le porte-avions de nouvelle génération - the new generation aircraft carrier). The future flagship of the French Navy is intended to replace the existing FS Charles de Gaulle (R91) aircraft carrier around 2038.

The announcement was made during Macron’s visit to French nuclear power company Framatome, which designs and supplies nuclear steam systems and services.

“Charles de Gaulle, as you know, will come to the end of its life in 2038. This is why I have decided that the future aircraft carrier that will equip our country and our navy will be nuclear-powered like the Charles de Gaulle,” Macron said. “Your plant in Le Creusot, which has been producing parts essential to our navy for a long time, will produce, among others, several major parts of the nuclear boiler of the future aircraft carrier by forging and machining them right here. … By these choices, we confirm France’s desire to preserve its strategic autonomy.”

The new French aircraft carrier will be equiped by electro-magnetic catapults, and American-made, and the ship will be designed to accommodate next-generation warplanes and serve until around 2080.

They didn’t provide a price tag but French media estimate it will cost around 7 billion euros ($8.5 billion).

It will have a length of 990 feet, a width of 130 feet and a displacement of 75,000 tons. The first steel cut is set for 2025, while sea trials are slated to begin in 2036 and commissioning with the French Navy in 2038, which matches the expected decommissioning of the Charles de Gaulle.

According the Naval News new aircraft carrier specifications are follow:

• Nuclear-powered (CVN) with two K22 reactors (2 x 220 megawatts thermal)

• Length between 940 and 970 feet

• Full load displacement around 70,000 – 75,000 tons

• Maximum speed: 26 to 27 knots (similar to Charles de Gaulle)

• Propulsive power would be around 80 megawatts delivered to three or four shaft lines

• Total power around 110 megawatts, including the electrical plant

• Future air wing: 32 next-generation fighters with two to three E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes and a yet-to-be-determined number of unmanned carrier air vehicles

• Two side elevators with 40 tons lifting capacity

• Three 300-foot electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) by General Atomics

• Flight deck: 3.9 acres

• Aircraft hangar: 54,000 square feet

• Crew: 900 and 1,080 sailors (not including the air element of 550 to 620 sailors) with higher comfort compared to Charles de Gaulle.

• Thales SeaFire radar

• Principal Anti Air with MBDA Aster surface-to-air missiles for self-defense

Photos (c) Alain BOLLERY

Multinational aeronautical training exercise MEDUSA 2020

The multinational aeronautical training exercise MEDUSA 2020 began on Monday 30 November, running until 06 December 2020, CyprusMail reported.

The multinational interdisciplinary exercise is taking place in the greater Alexandria area of Egypt and the Cairo Flight Information Region.

The Cypriot Defense Ministry said the exercise will take place in three phases that will deal with search and rescue, cyber war, surface drills and marine formations.

The MEDUSA exercise, which has taken place since 2017, is part of the tripartite cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Egypt in Defense and Security.

This year this cooperation is enhanced with the participation of forces from France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The exercise  conducting in the broader region of Alexandria, Egypt, within the Cairo FIR.

Just Nice Pics

French/German Tiger around Le Luc Army base.

 Via Anthony Pecchi

The Talios Multi-function Targeting Pod reached the first operational capability

French Rafale fighter jet equipped with Thales TALIOS multi-function targeting and recce pod. Photo Credit: French Air and Space Force (Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace)

French Air and Space Force announcement the Initial operating capability (Première capacité opérationnelle) for the "Talios" Multi-function Targeting Pod on Rafale F3r fighter jet.

The new pod provides extended capabilities compared to the Damocles electro-optical/laser designation pod, through the increased precision of its optics, improved geolocation of objectives, tracking of moving targets, augmented reality to add markers to the area, and infrared capability.

Thales TALIOS (TArgeting Long-range Identification Optronic System) multi-function targeting and recce pod. Photo Credit: French Air and Space Force (Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace).

TALIOS (TArgeting Long-range Identification Optronic System) combines targeting and tactical recce capabilities in a single pod. It delivers unmatched image quality, including colour imagery, and disruptive capabilities such as Permanent Vision and embedded artificial intelligence (AI) to provide combat aircraft pilots and ground forces with reliable situational awareness in real time.

With its open architecture, the TALIOS pod is designed as a “plug & fight” system for all existing and future fighter jets. Additional functions can be incorporated as and when they are needed to meet the evolving requirements of the armed forces.

Flight-tested for the first time in 2016, TALIOS was successfully qualified by the French defence procurement agency DGA, in 2018 for deployment by Dassault’s Rafale omni-role aircraft.

French Rafale fighter jet equipped with Thales TALIOS multi-function targeting and recce pod. Photo Credit: French Air and Space Force (Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace).

French version of the Ontos M50 anti-tank vehicle

A wooden model of a French concept from the 1950s. It is a "chenillette Lorraine" armed with six 105mm Recoilless anti-tank guns. This vehicle had to ensure the defense ageinst enemy tanks, being as cheap as possible while being as powerful as possible. Two versions were offered in 1954, a single-seater and a two-seater. The guns were preloaded before arriving on the battlefield. Note the tires, Lorraine's trademark, which allowed more flexibility. The principle of this machine will be quickly abandoned for more classic concepts. This model was recently donated to the museum. We thank the generous donor!

Original text in French

Voici une maquette de bois d'un concept français des années 1950. Il s'agit d'une chenillette Lorraine armée de 6 canons antichars sans recul de 105 mm. Ce véhicule devait assurer la défense des intervalles, en étant le moins cher possible tout en étant le plus puissant possible. Deux versions furent proposées en 1954, une monoplace et une biplace. Les canons étaient préchargés avant d'arriver sur le champ de bataille. Notez les pneus, marque de fabrique de Lorraine, qui permettait plus de souplesse. Le principe de cet engin sera rapidement abandonné pour des concepts plus classiques. Cette maquette a été tout récemment offerte au musée. Nous en remercions le généreux donateur !

Photo crfedit - Musée des Blindés