Page 58 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

SURVEY European MPAs Part 1

deterrent (its core mission), but Force MPA. French assets Against IS to the crew. Although most
the modernisation programme are regularly sent to Scotland Among the first French assets pilots and tactical co-ordinators
has been delayed many times and Norway, but details of the to fight so-called Islamic (TACCOs) are trained for the role,
for budgetary reasons. deployments remain scarce. State (IS), the ATL 2’s initial over Iraq and Syria they needed
The ATL 2 also partners the The Atlantique 2 can now launch missions flew from Al Dhafra to concentrate on their core tasks.
Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. the 500lb (227kg) GBU-12 Paveway in September 2014. Using its electronic support
When the vessel leaves harbour, II and the smaller 250lb (120kg) The US-led coalition then ruled measures (ESM) and
an aircraft is already under way GBU-58 Paveway II laser-guided that bombing should be preceded communications intelligence
to check what it might encounter bombs (LGBs). Current naval air by a complete overview of the (COMINT) suites, the ATL 2 can
over the following days. The arm chief Bruno Thouvenin, a areas around targets – and, be used as an intelligence asset
aircraft uses many bases for former Super Étendard pilot, has with no French UAVs available that can fuse all the data on
this mission: Crete, Djibouti, and championed this capability, and in theatre, it was left to the board, beginning with the ‘Mark
Al Dhafra – the French base in the Marine Nationale also wants ATL 2 to take on the mission. One Eyeballs’ of the aircrew.
the United Arab Emirates. The to integrate the dual-guidance This involved adding a Joint In a bid to reduce the transit
aircraft’s team of 14 aircrew and (GPS/laser) GBU-49 on the ATL 2. Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) time from the UAE for counter-
six mechanics is said to be easy
to deploy to foreign countries.
The type also serves as a
counter-terrorist asset for
missions over land. It was also
used to locate French hostages
in Africa in 2010, when three ATL
2s operated from Niamey, Niger.
A year later they were based in
Italy to help French Mirages and
Rafales find targets in Libya. In
2013 up to six ATL 2s deployed
again in Africa to fight terrorists.
With the fleet heavily engaged,
serviceability has begun to
suffer and some major parts
are no longer produced. The
Aéronautique Navale (French
Navy’s air arm) currently has
between six and eight aircraft
operational. Adding to the
demand has been support Above: A single 250lb GBU-58 Paveway II laser-guided bomb in the stores bay of an ATL 2. The larger 500lb GBU-12 is
of the UK’s Royal Navy in another option and the navy plans to add the dual-mode GBU-49 to the aircraft’s armoury. Note also the MX-20HD
the absence of a Royal Air turret under the rear fuselage. Jean-Marc Tanguy

58 // SEPTEMBER 2017 #354 www.airforcesmonthly.com