DTN News - FRENCH DEFENSE NEWS: First Rafale With Active Antenna Radar Join French Air Force

DTN News - FRENCH DEFENSE NEWS: First Rafale With Active Antenna Radar Join French Air Force 

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources The Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) 

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - October 3, 2012: The Rafale is the first European combat aircraft in service benefit from technology AESA ( Active Electronically Scanned Array ) has been the subject of studies and demonstrations earlier and reflects the culmination of over 10 years R & D efforts on active antennas. It significantly improves its detection range. Registered C137, and for the Air Force, he will join in the coming days airbase Mont-de-Marsan.

The development of AESA radar RBE2 was decided in the context of a program to improve sensor Rafale, which also includes a missile launch detector and an improved front sector optronics new generation, two systems also equipping the Rafale C137.

The Rafale is the first device omnirole hunting, that is to say, it may, during the same flight and substantially simultaneously, providing different types of missions, such as ground attack and air defense . Totally versatile, the Rafale provides the full range of tasks assigned to a fighter: superiority and air defense, land attack and maritime, close fire support of ground troops, reconnaissance, nuclear strike. It is also the first aircraft designed from the outset to operate both from a land base since an aircraft carrier. It is implemented by the Air Force and Navy.

 To date, 180 series aircraft have been ordered by the DGA and delivered 111 aircraft in its three versions: 36 cars embedded "M" for the Navy, 38 seater "B" and 37 cars "C" for the army of air. The Rafale has been deployed in Afghanistan and Libya.

The main industrial ensuring the delivery of Rafale are Dassault Aviation, Thales, Safran and MBDA.

Press Contacts

DGA / COM

Guy Bertrand

Tel. : 06 84 96 73 54

Email: bertrand.guy @ dga.defense.gouv.fr

* Related Images ~  Dassault Rafale Multirole Fighter Aircraft

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources The Directorate General of Armaments (DGA)
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News: DGA Delivers 200th VBCI To French Army

DTN News: DGA Delivers 200th VBCI To French Army

Source: DTN News / Defense Aerospace

(NSI News Source Info) PARIS, France - June 18, 2010: The French Army, which will receive its 200th VBCI wheeled combat vehicle next week, will deploy a dozen of them to Afghanistan during the summer. (DGA photo)

Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, will deliver the 200th Véhicule Blindé de Combat d’Infanterie (VBCI) to the French Army on June 23. The VBCI is manufactured by an industrial consortium between Nexter Systems and Renault Trucks Defense, and a total of 630 units have been ordered by DGA. The total cost of the VBCI program, including development, pre-production engineering and production, is estimated at 2.86 billion euros.

The first VBCI rolled out of the factory in 2008, and the final production vehicles will be delivered by DGA to the French Army in 2015. The vehicles are built at the Nexter factory in Roanne (Loire district of central France). Overall, the VBCI represents over 8 million man-hours for Nexter Systems, Renault Trucks Defense and their subcontractors.

The VBCI is an armoured vehicle designed to meet the latest military requirements in terms of protection and growth potential. Successor to the AMX-10P tracked infantry combat vehicle, the eight drive-wheeled VBCI is designed for cross-country mobility and is being produced in command post (VPC) and infantry combat vehicle (VCI) versions.

The VCI variant, of which the French Army has ordered 520, is fitted with a 25mm turret and can carry up to 11 soldiers. Weighing about 30 tonnes fully laden, it can reach a top speed of 100 kph. It will be air-transportable by the future European A400M airlifter.

Designed as a true “life base” for infantrymen, the VBCI combines a high degree of protection including an NBC filtering system. Its armour can withstand direct hits by medium-calibre weapons and shrapnel, and also offers good protection against mines and improvised explosive devices. It is also fitted with infra-red decoy flares.

The 35th Infantry Regiment, stationed in Belfort (Eastern France) is the first combat unit to introduce the VBCI, and will deploy two VBCI combat sections to Afghanistan during the course of the summer.