Page 57 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

European

Maritime ritime
Ma

Patrol

Aircraft

France
Overworked Atlantique 2

O F THE 28 Atlantique in 2012 declared that 22 ATL synthetic aperture (SAR) radar, missions. Imagery can be sent
2s should be retained and the
first flown in 2016. Developed
2s (ATL 2s) produced
by data link to a command
by Dassault Aviation
operations team in the field.
in the 1980s, 22 remain in remainder used as a source by Thales, it benefits from SAR post or an isolated special
of spares. The withdrawal
technologies developed for the
service. None has been lost of the Transall airlifter will Rafale’s active electronically The tactical suite is being
but the fleet is ageing and the bring some relief as it shares scanned array (AESA) radar. upgraded by DCNS and AIA de
Marine Nationale (French Navy) the same Tyne engine. The MLU also includes an L-3 Cuers, a state-owned facility in
is looking for a replacement. However, only 15 of the 22 Wescam MX-20HD multifunction southern France linked to the
It had been reported that other aircraft will be brought to mid- electro-optical/infrared (EO/ French Air Force. The new aircraft
countries, including Saudi Arabia, life upgrade (MLU) standard, IR) turret system. An initial will continue to fly the ASW
might be interested in buying the others being restricted to three MX-20s were purchased mission, using the current MU90
the old airframes after upgrade, a maritime surveillance role. under an urgent operational lightweight torpedo, and ASuW
but the French defence chiefs Dassault has modified two MLU requirement (UOR) programme with the AM39 Exocet missile.
decided to retain the ATL 2. prototypes, which are now flying and have been used in Mali, France requires an up-to-
The White Paper on Defence from the test centre at Istres. Iraq and Syria, facilitating date ASW fleet to support
and National Security published They have a new Searchmaster ISR, targeting and bombing its submarine-based nuclear
www.airforcesmonthly.com #354 SEPTEMBER 2017 // 57