10 Dec 15. France Considered Purchase of UK C-130s. An acquisition of secondhand Super Hercules C-130Js flown by the British Royal Air Force was one of the options considered by France, which seeks to buy four C-130 transport planes to boost support for troops deployed across sub-Saharan Africa, two defense sources said. The Direction Générale de l’Armement procurement office “raised at the start of December” the option, which sparked some surprise, a French defense specialist said. Britain, which was launch customer for the Super Hercules, is looking to sell the first 10 acquired and hold on to the remaining 14 planes.
“The British C-130Js are an option for France,” said US Army Col. John “Walt” Kennedy, chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation, here. The systems, including avionics, on those early models will need to be upgraded.
A DGA spokesman declined comment.
On Tuesday, US officers in Washington briefed DGA officials, who sought clarification on the offer of four C-130Js, announced last month by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The US Air Force has offered an accelerated delivery schedule.
A ministerial decision on the C-130 is expected to be taken in the next two weeks, following the US briefing.
The US technical briefing set out in detail the elements of the offer, which carried a maximum price of $650m. That figure sparked initial French concern as it far exceeded the €330m (US $360.9m) earmarked for the planned C-130 acquisition.
That “top price” of $650m covered clearance for future upgrades and was intended to speed up their delivery to France.
“As was set out in the [strategic defense and security review] last month, the UK will upgrade and extend the life of some of our C-130J Hercules aircraft, ensuring they can continue to support operations around the globe,” said a British Ministry of Defence spokesman.
“Some of the aircraft will be surplus to this and retired from service over the next few years, and we are currently exploring options for their disposal.”
The UK is expected to retire six of the RAF’s short fuselage C-130J Mk5s on Dec. 31, 2016, and a further four on March 31, 2017. That schedule reflects the expected entry into service of the Airbus A400M transport with the RAF.
The RAF plans to retain the 14 long fuselage C-130J Mk4s, extending the operational life to 2030 from 2023.
The French Army is eager to receive the C-130, as troops are deployed at great distance in Sahel sub-Saharan Africa, and the transport planes would fly a full tactical mission, dropping troops and cargo by parachute, the French source said.
Two of the C-130s would be capable of inflight refueling for helicopters, which fly combat search and rescue and support special operations forces.
Airbus Defence & Space is developing a hose and drogue refueling kit for the C-235 and C-295 transports, while looking to resolve aerodynamic problems on the A400M for refueling helicopters. (Source: Defense News)
08 Dec 15. France approves Mirage 2000D upgrade. Key Points:
• France’s Mirage 2000Ds are to be modernised
• In total 55 aircraft will go through the MLU, improving their radar, avionics, and weapons fit
The French Air Force’s Mirage 2000D multirole fighter aircraft have been approved to receive a mid-life update (MLU), a move long awaited by the service.
Proposals for an MLU for the aircraft have been recommended since 2008, but repeatedly deferred as a cost-saving measure.
Although yet to be announced by the French Ministry of Defence, approval for the MLU was granted on 3 December. In total, 55 aircraft will be modernised and will soldier on until at least 2030. The first aircraft to go through the MLU process should be delivered in 2019.
The Mirage 2000D entered service in 1993 France purchased a total of 86. About 60 of these remain in service today and the 2000D community is heavily committed on overseas operations.
The Mirage’s modernisation is seen as an absolute necessity for the French Air