French Military Technology


Ainsi, on apprend que les « travaux technologiques » relatifs à cet ASN4G ont commencé dès les années 1990, « en parallèle de la prépation de l’ASMPA [A pour amélioré, ndlr] et qu’ils se sont « clairement orientés vers le domaine des très hautes vitesses ».

« Depuis, nous avons avons des moyens nous permettant de tester le missile et de simuler le vol de l’ASN4G en hypervélocité », a affirmé l’amiral de Bonnaventure, avant de précisé que MBDA a mené, en cotraitance avec l’ONERA, des études sur l’hypersonique dès les années 2000-2010, dans le cadre des programmes PROMETHEE 1, 2 et 3.

« Les performances de l’ASN4G sont encore meilleures que celles de l’ASMPA-R [R pour rénové, nldr]. L’ASN4G devrait être opérationnel à horizon 2035 et devra le rester au-delà des années 2050 : il est donc nécessaire d’anticiper les défenses sol/air de l’adversaire à cet horizon », a-t-il ajouté. D’où la mise en place au sein de MBDA d’un bureau d’étude réunissant une « dizaine de collaborateurs », chargés de mener une « continue sur la défense adverse ».

Or, a poursuvi le conseiller du Pdg de MBDA, « il apparaît que la très haute performance en vitesse et en manœuvre est la meilleure méthode pour parvenir à être détecté le plus tardivement possible, et compliquer la tâche de suivi d’un radar, voire, d’accrochage, et, enfin, à désorganiser une attaque d’un missile antimissile ».

Pour rappel, l’ASMPA-R a la particularité de pourvoir suivre plusieurs trajectoires [basse altitude, très basse altitude et haute altitude] afin d’échapper aux radars adverses. A priori, il en ira de même avec l’ASN4G… mais à des vitesses beaucoup plus élevées. « Nous entrons dans le domaine de l’hypersonique. Le facteur de charge sera, lui aussi, multiplié en phase terminale pour leurrer les défenses adverses », a insisté l’amiral de Bonnaventure.

Enfin, a-t-il conclu, « l’ASN4G, grâce à son encombrement et son poids limités, sera compatible avec le Rafale et catapultable par un porte-avions, conformément aux objectifs définis par le Président de la République. C’est une réussite technique unique au monde ».
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Thus, we learn that the "technological research" relating to this ASN4G began in the 1990s, "in parallel with the preparation of the ASMPA [A for improved, editor's note] and that they were "clearly oriented towards the field very high speeds.

"Since then, we have aquired the facilities allowing us to test the missile and to simulate the flight of the ASN4G in hypersonic flight", affirmed Admiral de Bonnaventure, before specifying that MBDA carried out, in co-contracting with ONERA, hypersonic studies from 2000-2010, as part of the PROMETHEE 1, 2 and 3 programs.

“ASN4G performance is even better than ASMPA-R [R for refurbished, nldr]. The ASN4G should be operational by 2035 and will have to remain so beyond the 2050s: it is therefore necessary to anticipate the ground/air defenses of the adversary by this horizon”, he added. Hence the establishment within MBDA of a design office bringing together “ten employees”, responsible for conducting a “continuous on the opposing defense” [a red team].

However, pursued the adviser to the CEO of MBDA, "it appears that very high performance in speed and maneuvering is the best method to achieve detection as late as possible, and to complicate the task of tracking for a radar, or even , achieving a lock, and, finally, to disorganize an attack of an anti-missile missile system”.

As a reminder, the ASMPA-R has the particularity of being able to follow several trajectories [low altitude, very low altitude and high altitude] in order to escape enemy radars. it is understood that it will be the same with the ASN4G… but at a much higher speed. “We are entering the field of hypersonics. The load factor will also be multiplied in the terminal phase to deceive the opposing defenses,” insisted Admiral de Bonnaventure.

Finally, he concluded, “the ASN4G, thanks to its limited size and weight, will be compatible with the Rafale launched from an aircraft carrier, in accordance with the objectives defined by the President of the Republic. It is a unique technical achievement in the world”.
 
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(opex360, mar.28) The European Commission is considering a second hypersonic weapons interceptor project, this time awarded to MBDA

As leader of the European programme [Timely Warning and Interception with Space-based TheatER surveillance] which, financed by the European Union [EU] under the Permanent Structured Cooperation [PSC or PESCO], aims to develop a defence system against hypersonic missiles, MBDA France had all the cards in its hand to be designated coordinator of another related project, namely the European Hypersonic Defence Interceptor [EU HYDEF]. All the more so since the manufacturer had just launched its interceptor missile project, called AQUILA​
However, in July 2022, and to everyone's surprise, the European Commission announced that the management of the 110 million euro EU HYDEF programme would be entrusted to SENER Aeroespacial, a Spanish group with no experience in missile defence and hypersonic flight ... And that Spain, Germany [with Diehl Defence], Belgium, Norway [which is not an EU member], Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden would take part.​
This choice was not only criticised in France [where the press called it a "slap in the face"]. It was also met with incomprehension in Italy, where the Rivista Italiana Difesa [RID] denounced the Commission's policy of industrial "juste retour".​
"But in the case of a programme of such strategic value, it is necessary to look at industrial skills, such as those of MBDA, which to date is the only company in Europe that can boast solid experience in missile defence, thanks to the SAMP/T and SAMP/T NG programmes," the Italian magazine argued.​
MBDA was also said to be planning to challenge the EU executive's decision. Moreover, during the presentation of its 2022 results on 15 March, its CEO, Eric Béranger, assured that there was no question of abandoning AQUILA.​
"We intend to continue working on this project" because "I think we [in Europe] need protection against hypersonic [missiles]," he said, according to comments reported by Aviation Week. He insisted: "We believe in the progress we have made and we must continue.​
Furthermore, Mr Beranger argued that MBDA's work over the past 20 years has resulted in a "good understanding of how to defend against the [hypersonic] threat". "We have something we can put on the table," he insisted. But on the condition that we find the necessary funding, which requires the support of several countries...​
Unless the European Commission reconsiders its position... Which seems to be the case, according to Der Spiegel and the transalpine magazine RID.​
"EU countries have been arguing for months about who will get the funding for a defence system against hypersonic weapons. Now there will be two projects," the German weekly says, confirming a report by RID.​
"The European Commission has decided to launch a second programme within the European Defence Fund for the development of a future endo-atmospheric interceptor to counter hypersonic threats [...] within the framework of the TWISTER project," the Italian magazine had previously written. It added: "This second programme will obviously be carried out by MBDA, in particular MBDA France [...] and will be based on the interceptor currently known as AQUILA.​
However, the amount of investment envisaged for this second programme entrusted to MBDA has not been specified. No doubt it will depend on the progress of the AQUILA project.​
In any case, the European Commission's idea would be to put two approaches to hypersonic missile defence in competition with one another. Thereafter, and provided that this programme is not abandoned along the way, there will be only two possible outcomes: either the best one will be chosen, or they will converge. /deepl
 
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I think it's 275 kg, so the French say 250 and the English 300. :)

How come MdCN and Storm Shadow use turbojets instead of turbofans? Surely it limits range.
 
The diameter of a turbojet is smaller than that of a turbofan, similarly larger air intakes are required for a turbofan.
Yeah, I guess there's that. According to this, it isn't much smaller in the case of the MdCN and the Storm Shadow's is larger.


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HYDIS2 is entering the concept phase with “three multistage interceptor architectures,” Rainer Stockhammer, MBDA’s team leader for Twister, tells journalists on the second day of the Paris Air Show here. Two of the architectures to be studied are three-stage, one of which is air-breathing—possibly a ramjet like the Meteor air-to-air missile. The second is a conventional rocket-powered missile with a large booster, while the third is a two-stage weapon with booster. The program will examine and select one of these options for further development at the end of the study.

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Italy joins the Franco-British FMAN/FMC missile program​

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has decided to join the Franco-British FMAN/FMC program, future anti-ship missiles and cruise missiles. A letter of intent has been signed.
 
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#V-MaX #confirmation

(ouest-france, june27)
In a rather terse press release, the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) explains that it "test-fired a sounding rocket from the DGA missile test site in Biscarosse at 10pm on 26 June 2023. This rocket carried the VMaX hypervelocity glider demonstrator. This first demonstrator contained a number of on-board technological innovations. Its flight test, on a very demanding long-range trajectory, represented an unprecedented technical challenge that will pave the way for the future of our national hypervelocity roadmap".

The DGA points out that "the technical analyses of the numerous data recovered throughout the test are under way to draw lessons for the continuation of the experimental flights. The Chief Executive would like to thank the technical teams involved in this test. Their commitment and expertise enable us to push back the limits of our knowledge every day".

The VMAX hypersonic glider (Experimental Manoeuvring Vehicle) was developed by Ariane Group with the support of Onera (the French public aerospace laboratory). It was launched by a sounding rocket from the DGA missile test centre in Biscarrosse (Landes).

Carried out under the industrial prime contractorship of ArianeGroup, manufacturer of Ariane rockets, the V-Max (Experimental Manoeuvring Vehicle) programme was launched in January 2019. "Many other nations are developing them, and we have all the skills needed to make them a reality: we couldn't wait any longer", said Florence Parly, the French Minister for the Armed Forces at the time. In the absence of a launcher, recent projects, including the VMaX, have fallen behind schedule.

Monday evening's test had been expected for a year and a half. This has put France behind schedule, whereas it was ahead of the game with the MINERVE and VERAS [Véhicule expérimental de recherches aérothermodynamiques et structurales] projects, launched in the 1960s.