{"id":70557,"date":"2025-02-06T01:22:22","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T01:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/aerospace\/france-selects-airbus-a321-mpa-for-new-maritime-patrol-fleet\/"},"modified":"2025-02-06T01:22:22","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T01:22:22","slug":"france-selects-airbus-a321-mpa-for-new-maritime-patrol-fleet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=70557","title":{"rendered":"France selects Airbus A321 MPA for new maritime patrol fleet"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

The French Defense Procurement Agency (Direction G\u00e9n\u00e9rale de l\u2019Armement \u2013 DGA) has awarded a contract to Airbus Defence and Space, with Thales as a key partner, to develop a successor to the Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This agreement marks the start of a 24-month risk-assessment study for the future maritime patrol aircraft (MPA\/Patmar) program, building on the architecture and feasibility study initiated in late 2022. The Patmar program aims to replace France\u2019s fleet of 18 Atlantique 2 (ATL2) aircraft by 2030.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe A321 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) has all the assets to become a true flying frigate capable of responding to the wide range of missions entrusted to the French maritime patrol,\u201d said Jean-Brice Dumont, Executive Vice President, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. \u201cAirbus offers a sovereign solution that provides the autonomy, availability and reliability required to contribute to the oceanic component of the nuclear deterrence.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The newly launched study will refine the economic and industrial parameters essential for the program\u2019s development, paving the way for production launch by the end of 2026. It will build on the initial findings from the previous architectural study, define the integration of technical systems, and conduct wind-tunnel tests.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A321 MPA: Capabilities and mission scope<\/h2>\n

The A321 MPA is based on the Airbus A321XLR platform, which was certified in July 2024 and entered service with Iberia on November 6, 2024. While the commercial A321XLR has an 11-hour flight endurance well-suited for maritime patrols, the airframe must be modified to meet operational requirements for anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, particularly by enhancing its maneuverability, including at low altitudes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The system will feature a range of advanced sensors from Thales, including an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, an acoustic system utilizing both passive and active sonar buoys, and electronic and electro-optical warfare technologies. Additionally, it will be equipped with a magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) sensor and self-protection systems.\u00a0<\/p>\n