Page 22 - Australian Defence Magazine Nov 2018

DEFENCE BUSINESS
FRANCE
He told a questioner that the proposed variant would be more in tune with indi- vidual customer requirements than Boe- ing’s PA-8 Poseidon, and discussions were taking place “with several nations”.
Safran Electronics and Defence con- firmed it hopes to supply its Paseo XLR optronic system to the RAN’s Hunter- class frigates for ultra-long range identifi- cation of surface vessels. The Paseo XLR has already been selected for France’s FTI frigates and includes a high definition tv channel capable of detection at 33km, re- connaissance at 20km, and identification at 13km. A short-wave infrared camera provides crystal clear images in foggy con- ditions, with detection at 30km and identi- fication at 10km.
The company is also bidding its non-hull penetrating masts, selected for the Barracu- da SSN and fitted on South Korea’s recently- launched KSS-3, for the RAN’s Future Sub- marine. The Series 30 optronic mast on the KSS-3 can accommodate up to four electro- optical (EO) payloads as well as electronic warfare (EW) and GPS antennas.
Meanwhile Dr Pierre-Olivier Nouges, Safran’s Vice President Sales and Marketing for Naval Key Accounts, disclosed that de- velopment work was underway to meet “sig- nificantly higher” Sea 1000 inertial naviga- tion requirements.
Safran also produces the propeller-driven Patroller UAV, based on the two-seat Ger- man Stemme ASP S15 motor-glider. The Patroller is capable of carrying a 250 kg multi-sensor ISR payload with realtime data processing and satcom transmission, that can be integrated in the body of the airframe or mounted in pods.
The type has an endurance of 20 hours, a ceiling of 20,000ft, a maximum speed of 200 kph, and can be operated manu- ally or in autonomous mode. Fourteen are currently entering service with the French army as tactical UAVs.
Safran told ADM the company has had several exploratory discussions with NZ concerning Patroller and Wellington’s re- quirement for a maritime surveillance capa- bility complementary to its future acquisi- tion of four P-8A Poseidons.
AIP
A thought-provoking briefing at Naval Group’s propulsion centre at Indret near Nantes detailed the company’s second generation FC2G Air Independent Pro- pulsion (AIP) system in which hydrogen is converted on demand from readily- available diesel oil through a reformer, thus avoiding the constraints and hazards involved in storing the liquefied gases used by other AIP systems.
The company said the FC2G system could allow a submarine to reduce the pos- sibility of detection by being able to spend- ing more than three weeks without snorkel- ling – albeit moving at slow speeds - before running out of battery charge.
Although AIP has not been ruled out for the Barracuda Shortfin Block1A, little en- thusiasm has been shown for the technolo- gy by the RAN; possibly because its weight and size would impinge on the anticipated design space for fuel and batteries.
Disclaimer: Julian Kerr travelled to France as a guest of EuroNaval
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