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FORBIN

Lieutenant General
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French Navy Rafale M Fighter Launched ASMPA Missile During Simulated Nuclear Strike Mission

The French Ministry of Defence announced that a French Navy (Marine Nationale) Rafale M carrier-borne multirole fighter successfully launched an ASMPA missile during a simulated nuclear strike mission.
...
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Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
google translation of
NH 90. L'hélico qui n'aimait pas le sel
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: "It is beautiful, it is powerful, very versatile ... But it rusts. Even at 40 million euros the unit. The corrosion problem that affects the NH 90 cell used by the French Navy is still unresolved. More than one device out of two remains nailed to the ground for technical reasons.

The Navy has long waited for the replacement of the Super-Frelon. In the course of 2011, the Naval Aviation pilots discovered and taken charge of the NH 90, also known as Caiman, a new high-performance combat aircraft, a large aircraft capable of carrying out military missions (anti-submarine warfare , Transport of troops) and rescue at sea, with unprecedented technological capabilities. We switched from a Super Hornet as rustic as a 4L to the NH 90 with the latest electronic equipment and onboard controls. The helicopter is so sophisticated that it can go on its own at the base without pilot intervention. But how can a 40 M € machine rust?


Politics rise to the niche

The versatility of the machine, through the multiplicity of embedded systems, is not involved. This is a much more basic problem and ultimately much more troublesome that prevents him from improving his employability time. The components used to make the helicopter's cell, its cabin, are subject to corrosion. An attic for a device specializing in anti-submarine fighting and sea rescue! The problem was identified from the first deliveries and fled in 2015. The bad publicity for the manufacturer Airbus has never made the headlines, in a medium as competitive as sensitive. Yet the naval staff and politicians eventually came out of their reserve. And their hinges! "The Minister of Defense has gone out of his mouth with the parliamentary committee of armies," confirms its president Patricia Adam. "Jean-Yves Le Drian is waiting impatiently for the manufacturer's proposals. It is an important industrial program because it is supposed to provide heavy combat helicopters for the next forty years. "
The solution is waiting

Should the defective alloys be treated or changed? Airbus Helicopters is slow to present its solution; The group being composed of the French and German subsidiaries of Airbus Helicopters, the Italian Leornado Helicopters and the Dutch Fokker. Four entities, three different countries: a stumbling block.

On the side of the French Navy, it is confirmed that an industrial plan has been initiated but no more details. The NH 90 also has problems of electronics and especially a slowness of validation of repairs by the manufacturer. In the current times and the multiplicity of theaters involved (including the terrorist threat), it is understandable that the situation is tense with the armed forces, as this problem of corrosion also affects the NH 90s of other military forces. "But no worries about security," says the military authority. "The levels of verification and controls are so stringent to get the green light for take-off."
Three out of seven since Lanvéoc

Of the 18 NH 90s delivered to date to the Navy, their availability is limited to 45%. This is little for a machine put into service for five years now. Rarely more than three NH 90 are therefore operational in Lanvéoc-Poulmic which counts six in addition to a seventh based in Cherbourg. "This problem of corrosion is all the more annoying because the helicopter is fantastic from the point of view of its capabilities," confirmed the pilots. A sacred grain of salt even for a helicopter accustomed to land on board multi-mission frigates and to intervene at sea, along the coast, as in the middle of the Bay of Biscay."

Yes, there is absolutely nothing, and I do mean nothing more maddening than your new toys "rusting". Corrosion is the bane of any collector, I left an older Pontiac engine in my garage under a plastic bag, and with the heating and cooling, and moisture in the air, in less than a month, all machined surfaces had a heavy layer of "surface rust", looked like you had "treated it" it was so uniform on machined surfaces...

For a military helicopter to be flown around salt water, it is just a tragedy, part of the Navy's problems with the F-18, they opted out of corrosion proofing, and are now paying a very heavy price.....no one could have anticipated that we would be continuing to try to maintain these birds at multiple thousand hours..

But every sailor can tell you about corrosion left to do its own thing!
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
FTI Medium-Size Frigates, France

A prototype of the export variant (designated BELH@RRA) of the French Navy's future FTI (Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire) medium-size frigates was unveiled during the Euronaval trade show held in Paris in October.

The French Navy version is being developed by naval shipbuilding company DCNS in collaboration with the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), under the FTI medium-size frigate programme.

Thales has been contracted to supply latest-generation navigation and communications equipment for the frigates.

The heavily armed frigates can be deployed in a wide range of missions such as anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, anti-aircraft warfare, patrol, maritime security, control of exclusive economic zone (EEZ), asymmetric warfare, and special forces activities.

The French Navy plans to order up to five units with deliveries, beginning 2023.

French Navy's FTI frigate design and features
The FTI medium-size frigate will feature modular design with increased self-defence and long-range capabilities.

Overall length and midship beams of the ship are 122m and 17.7m respectively. With a displacement of approximately 4,200t, the frigate will carry up to 150 personnel, including 110 crew and 15 for helicopter detachment.

The ship will incorporate digital technologies for data processing and detection of evolving threats. Its wheelhouse will be positioned in the middle section.

A hangar and flight deck located at the stern will of the frigate will allow for the operation of a single
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rotorcraft system and / or NH-90 medium class military helicopter equipped with FLASH-based dipping sonar and MU90 lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes.

The medium-size frigate will additionally carry rigid hulled inflatable boats for patrolling and transportation.

Anti-aircraft and anti-submarine armament
The FTI will be armed with a variety of anti-aircraft and anti-submarine armament to attack aircraft and submarines and their crew.

An Oto Melara 76mm or 127mm naval gun will be mounted in a gun turret located in the bow deck to fight against enemy aircraft, submarines, missiles and ground-based threats.

Defence against littoral and coastal land threats will be provided by eight Exocet MM40 Block 3 all-weather weapon systems, installed amidships.

The frigate will also be fitted with two eight-cell A-50 type Sylver vertical launch systems for Aster 15 surface-to-air missiles in the bow, two 20mm remotely-operated weapons at the rear, 2x2 deck-mounted torpedo tubes for MU90, and an anti-ship missile
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launching system.

Navigation and communication systems aboard FTI
The frigate will be equipped with efficient countermeasures, navigation and communications equipment manufactured by Thales.

"The heavily armed frigates can be deployed in a wide range of missions such as anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, anti-aircraft warfare, patrol, maritime security, control of exclusive economic zone (EEZ), asymmetric warfare, and special forces activities."
They include Sea Fire 500 multi-function active fixed-array antenna radar, Kingklip Mark II hull-mounted sonar, Aquilon integrated naval communication system, radar and communications electronic support measures for electronic warfare, jammers, and a compact version of the combined active passive towed array sonar (CAPTAS-4).

A non-rotating IFF (identification friend or foe) antenna system will equip the frigate to provide surveillance and monitoring at sea.

Combat management system
The FTI frigate will be equipped with DCNS' ship enhanced tactical information system (SETIS) combat management system, which provides the operator with improved decision-making and battle management capabilities.

Featuring man-machine interface, the SETIS system integrates onboard combat systems, command support modules and planning tools.

Propulsion and performance of French medium-size frigates
Propulsion for the
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will be provided by a 32MW combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion system.

The mid-size frigate will have a maximum speed of 27kts and a range of 5,000nm at a speed of 15kt.

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FTI_Mid-Size_Frigate.jpg
 
google translation of
La France accro à ses Scalp-EG
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La France a consommé plus de missiles de croisière Scalp-EG que la Royal Air Force avec ses Storm
Shadow. Le cap de la centaine est en passe d'être franchi, de ce côté-ci de la Manche (mais cela pourrait être déjà le cas), ce qui ne serait pas le cas côté britannique. C'est en tout cas ce que laisse entendre une formation byzantine du fabricant, MBDA, qui évoque les presque 200 missiles tirés en opérations à neuf clients (pas détaillés mais connus). La RAF avait ouvert le bal en 2003 contre Saddam Hussein, mais la France avait suivi, en 2011, contre Kadhafi. au point qu'à cette époque, le Scalp était en quelque sorte devenu le missile anti-dictateurs (un sacré marché potentiel...). La France a remis le couvert, contre Daech, cette fois, tirant ses Scalp comme des petits pains.
Il est vrai que le Scalp-EG existe à plusieurs centaines (500 avaient été livrés, mais 900 outre-Manche), ce n'est pas le cas, et de loin, pour des armes bien moins stratégiques de l'arsenal français.
Un total de près de 3000 exemplaires ont été commandés par une clientèle séduite par cette arme assez fiable, racée, et qui se porte sous pas mal de porteurs finalement (même le Typhoon se rapproche de l'intégration). Un vrai succès pour cette arme lancée par la commande franco-britannique, au milieu des années 90.
Cette dernière, initiée par un jeune matrassien qui a fait du chemin depuis (Fabrice Brégier, le pilote des avions civils d'Airbus) aura aussi enclenché la logique industrielle (privée) qui a associé les missiliers d'Europe, sous la bannière franco-britannique.
:
France adds to its Scalp-EG
"France has consumed more Scalp-EG cruise missiles than the Royal Air Force with its Storm
Shadow. The hundred course is about to be crossed, on this side of the Channel (but this could be already the case), which would not be the case on the British side. This is in any case what suggests a Byzantine formation of the manufacturer, MBDA, which evokes the almost 200 missiles pulled in operations to nine customers (not detailed but known). The RAF opened the ball in 2003 against Saddam Hussein, but France had followed in 2011 against Gaddafi. To the point that at that time, the Scalp had in a way become the missile anti-dictators (a sacred potential market ...). France handed the cover, against Daech, this time, pulling his Scalp like rolls.
It is true that the Scalp-EG exists at several hundred (500 had been delivered, but 900 across the Channel), this is not the case, and by far, for weapons much less strategic of the French arsenal.
A total of almost 3000 copies were ordered by a clientele seduced by this weapon, which is reliable, racy, and which is carried under a lot of porters finally (even the Typhoon is closer to integration). A real success for this weapon launched by the Franco-British command, in the mid 90s.
The latter, initiated by a young Matrassian who has come a long way since (Fabrice Brégier, pilot of the civil aircraft of Airbus) also initiated the industrial logic (private) which associated the missiles of Europe, under the Franco- British."
 
seeing (Published on Feb 26, 2017)
I recalled Oct 12, 2016
what's the status of the surface version of
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please?
this wiki article says (google translation of "Il est entré en service sur les
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de la
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(FREMM et FREMM DA
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) en 2015"):
"It entered service on the Aquitaine class frigates (FREMM and FREMM DA4) in 2015"

but the article from the post right above says
"Receiving the first batch series of missiles for FREMM is expected in January 2017 (instead of originally 2012)."
("La réception du premier lot de missiles de série pour les FREMM est prévu en janvier 2017 (au lieu initialement de 2012).")
 
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