The arrangement is spearheaded by the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA), and the European Union could support it through the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA), adopted in October 2023.听听

According to MBDA, several other countries are strongly interested in joining this cooperation.聽

鈥淭his cooperation is a major step forward in strengthening the defence capabilities of the European Union and its member states, contributing to collective security and sovereignty,鈥� Eric B茅ranger, CEO of MBDA, commented. 鈥淭his agreement will drive efficiencies and enhance the resilience of the European defence industrial base.鈥� 

The Mistral 3, currently in service with the French Army and other forces worldwide, is a short-range air defense (SHORAD) missile featuring a fire-and-forget infrared homing device and advanced image processing capabilities.

It can engage targets at ranges of up to 8,000 meters (about five miles) and altitudes of 6,000 meters (about four miles), traveling at supersonic speeds of 930 meters (3,000 feet) per second.聽

鈥淜nown for its high success rate of over 96% and exceptional reliability, it can engage low thermal signature targets such as drones, turbojet-powered missiles, and fast attack craft from long distances,鈥� MBDA explained. 

Throughout Russia精东影业 invasion of Ukraine, France, Belgium, and Estonia, among others, have supplied Ukraine with Mistral man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS).听听聽

UK and France continue to reinforce Ukraine air defense

• War in Ukraine

byGabriele Petrauskaite

2022-11-24

The change of strategy was announced during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on May 28, 2024, during Macron精东影业 state visit to Germany 

鈥淲e must allow [the Ukrainians] to neutralize the military sites from which the missiles are fired, basically, the military sites from which Ukraine is attacked,鈥� Macron said, as reported by . 鈥淏ut we must not allow other targets in Russia and obviously civilian capabilities to be hit.鈥� 

France and the United Kingdom supplied Ukraine with SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missiles during the summer of 2023. The British-French weapon was developed in the 1990s by Matra and British Aerospace and is now manufactured by the European missile maker MBDA.  

France to deliver 40 new SCALP long-range missiles, hundreds of bombs to Ukraine

• Defense
• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2024-01-17

The SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missile has a maximum range of 560 kilometers (350 miles), but the export models delivered are modified to operate at a reduced range of 250 kilometers (155 miles).听听

The adjustment was in line with the assurances previously provided to the United Kingdom and France by Ukrainian officials, who have affirmed that the missiles would not be employed to target deep into Russian territory and would be used exclusively for operations within Ukraine’s sovereign territory. 

Macron justified the removal of this limitation by noting changes in Russian tactics, highlighting that Moscow is now bombing Kharkiv and its surroundings from its territory rather than from occupied areas.聽

So far, Ukraine has relied on its own capabilities to attack targets in Russia. On April 2, 2024, a strike was carried out on a factory complex in Alabuga, Tatarstan, situated more than 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) away from Ukrainian soil.听听

To do so, the Ukrainian military converted an Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat ultralight aircraft to be remotely controlled and fitted with an explosive charge. The aircraft has a range of about 1,100 km (684 miles), which exceeds the distance from Eastern Ukraine to the Alabuga SEZ. It is unclear where the aircraft was launched from and whether it was modified to increase its range. 

Ukrainian forces strike drone factory 1,200km into Russian territory

• Defense
• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2024-04-02

The ASMPA system, developed by European manufacturer MBDA and inducted in 1986, is a cruise missile with a range of 500 kilometers (310 miles) that can fly at a speed of at least Mach 2 and carry the latest generation of French nuclear charges, named TNA, of 300 kilotons [20 times the yield of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima – ed. note].聽

The renovated missile, launched without its warhead by a Dassault Rafale B fighter from the French Strategic Air Forces during a nuclear strike mission simulation, marks a significant milestone in the DGA’s ASMPA upgrade program.  

鈥淭his operation, simulating a strategic raid, was carried out above the national territory,鈥� the DGA explained in a . 鈥淭he raid included the [Airbus A330 MRTT] Ph茅nix tanker and Rafale B fighters from the Strategic Air Forces, facing threats from both air-to-air and ground-to-air means from the Air Force and the Space.鈥� 

The mission called Operation Durandal [named after a mythical sword in French tradition – ed. note] was tracked by several DGA facilities along the French Atlantic coast.  

The ASMPA-R program is designed to strengthen France’s nuclear deterrent capabilities and ensure the credibility of the air-launched nuclear component in the face of evolving threats until the next-generation nuclear air-to-surface missile (ASN4G) arrives around 2035.  

The ASN4G is a hypersonic nuclear-capable ramjet missile that will first be operated by the Rafale F5 before being used by the next-generation fighter aircraft (NGF) conjointly developed by Dassault Aviation and Airbus. 

Operation Poker, showing the teeth of French nuclear umbrella 

The French Strategic Air Forces, established in 1964, regularly conduct simulated nuclear strikes called Operation Poker.  

This mission, carried out four times a year, spans French territory and encompasses all aspects of a deterrent nuclear mission. It involves a long high-altitude flight with in-flight refueling, followed by low-altitude and high-speed penetration in highly defended areas. It concludes with the firing of an ASMPA missile at a test area at the DGA missile testing center. 

The exercise ensures that France has the operational and technical ability to conduct a nuclear strike. It also demonstrates to the world, particularly potential strategic adversaries, that French deterrence is credible. The air component is one of the two parts of French nuclear deterrence, along with the oceanic deterrent provided by nuclear ballistic missile submarines.聽

First daytime test in 57 years for French nuclear air forces

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2021-04-15

The language of deterrence 

Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, both Russia and the United States have regularly made statements about their respective strategic capabilities and their preparedness.  

On February 27, 2022, four days after the initial assault, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his country精东影业 nuclear forces to move to the heightened alert status of a 鈥渟pecial regime of combat duty.鈥� 

The US Air Force regularly deploys nuclear-capable strategic bombers to Europe as part of Bomber Task Force missions to enhance interoperability and reassurance among the US Joint Force and its allies.   

US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers return home after month-long Europe deployment

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2024-04-25

鈥淭hese contracts involve a financing agreement (Grant Agreement), signed by MBDA as the coordinator of the HYDIS2 consortium, under the European Defence Fund, as well as an acquisition contract involving all member states (Linked Procurement Contract),鈥� the manufacturer explained in a on May 15, 2024. 

In July 2023, the European Commission selected the HYDIS2 project for funding, with financial contributions from France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. 

This three-year concept phase, led by MBDA, aims to select the best hypersonic and antiballistic interceptor concept to meet the needs of European nations. The study involves multiple designs for interceptors with different architectures: one two-stage and two three-stage interceptors. 

The new phase, coordinated by MBDA, will harmonize operational scenarios, define threats, consolidate weapon system requirements, select an interceptor concept, and prepare for deployment by 2035. 

The HYDIS2 consortium, spearheaded by MBDA, unites 19 partners, over 20 subcontractors in 14 European nations, and research centers from several partner countries. 

During a briefing at the 2023 Paris Air Show, Lionel Mazenq, the Group Head of Programme Incubator at MBDA’s Future Systems Directorate, emphasized the European manufacturer’s expertise in creating effective interceptors, drawing on its experience in developing and producing long-range strike missiles.  

鈥淥ur expertise in long-range strike design enhances our understanding of how these threats may develop,鈥� Mazenq explained. 鈥淭his double combination of knowledge allows us to deliver real added value in countering hypersonic challenges.鈥�  

A comprehensive guide to hypersonic weapons: what are they, and why the buzz?

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2023-08-18

During the trial at the MoD Hebrides Range, orchestrated by the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the DragonFire system demonstrated its effectiveness by successfully destroying drones approaching from various directions and several kilometers away. 

With a 拢100 million joint investment from industry and the UK Ministry of Defence, the DragonFire collaboration harnesses the expertise of British defense manufacturers to enhance layered air defense capabilities across land and maritime domains. The system’s success is seen as a pivotal achievement in the evolution of laser-directed energy weapons. Potentially it could revolutionize the battlespace by reducing reliance on costly ammunition and minimizing the risk of collateral damage. 

鈥淭his type of cutting-edge weaponry has the potential to revolutionise the battlespace by reducing the reliance on expensive ammunition, while also lowering the risk of collateral damage,鈥� UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps said. 鈥淚nvestments with industry partners in advanced technologies like DragonFire are crucial in a highly contested world, helping us maintain the battle-winning edge and keep the nation safe.鈥澛�

Affordable defense against attritable threats

Unlike a missile that can destroy a target by detonating nearby, the system uses an intense beam of light to neutralize the capabilities of a drone or subsonic missile by causing structural failure or destroying it completely. 

Observation of current conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine or the attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels against international shipping lanes, convinced British officials of the need to develop a cheap but effective weapon to destroy attritable threats such as loitering munition. For example, the Sea Viper missiles recently fired by the British destroyer HMS Diamond to intercept Houthi drones in the Red Sea cost around 拢1 million (鈧�1.165 million) each, compared to the laser’s operating cost of 拢10 (鈧�11.65) per shot. 

The United Kingdom is one of many nations to have developed such a capability. The US, Israel, France, and Russia among others have also reported the development of laser weapons as an affordable air defense method. 

From June 12 to 14 2023, the French Navy, in collaboration with the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) and the company CILAS conducted a test campaign for the HELMA-P system, another anti-drone laser weapon, aboard the FDA Forbin in the Mediterranean Sea.

In late May 2023, Ukraine requested Taurus cruise missiles from the German government. However, the prospect has since become the focal point of intense political debate in Germany.  

In August 2023, Yegor Chernev, Head of the Ukrainian Parliament delegation to the NATO Assembly, disclosed that he had received information from his German counterparts regarding an apparent positive consensus among the main parliamentary factions of the Bundestag.  

Will Germany deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine?

• Defense
• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2023-08-08

Yet a motion on the delivery, put forth by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) parliamentary group on January 17, 2024, was rejected by a majority vote. The bill received support from 178 votes, and faced opposition from 485 members, with three abstaining. 

Despite calls from various political figures urging Chancellor Olaf Scholz to approve the missile delivery, the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), who advocated sending the missiles to Kyiv, voted against the motion. They justified their refusal by the fact that the CDU/CSU had linked the motion on the delivery to a debate on the report by the military commissioner regarding the state of the Bundeswehr, the German Armed Forces. 

There are also concerns within the German government, which holds the final decision on this delivery, that the cruise missiles might be used to target the Kerch Bridge 鈥� vital to transport Russian military logistics to Crimea and on the southern front. The potential destruction of this bridge is considered one of Vladimir Putin’s red lines. According to reports, Scholz fears the missiles could be employed for this purpose. 

What is the Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile and why is it important for Ukraine? 

The Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile, a product of collaboration between MBDA Deutschland and Saab Bofors Dynamics, boasts stealth characteristics and a range exceeding 500 kilometers (310 miles). Powered by a turbofan engine, it can attain speeds ranging from Mach 0.8 to 0.9, and it is compatible with various aircraft, including the Tornado, JAS 39 Gripen, F/A-18 Hornet, and F-15E Strike Eagle. 

One of its notable features is its dual explosive charges. The missile is equipped with an initial hollow charge designed for penetrating concrete or armor. Additionally, a second charge, strategically placed in a ‘penetrator’ and programmed to detonate later, facilitates precise targeting. This allows for pinpoint accuracy, enabling strikes on specific locations such as a particular floor or the pillar of a bridge after penetrating the deck. 

This dual-explosive warhead is similar to the British-French SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missile, also produced by the European missile maker MBDA. Both France and the UK supplied Ukraine with the latter missile during the summer of 2023, and France recently announced a new delivery batch in January 2024.聽

The key advantage of the Taurus over the SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow lies in its sophisticated technology for managing the double explosive charge in its warhead. Unlike its counterpart which relies on timed secondary explosions, the Taurus features a layer counting and void detection system, ensuring unparalleled accuracy in its strikes.聽

The SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missile is a British-French weapon developed in the 1990s by Matra and British Aerospace and is now manufactured by the European missile maker MBDA. This weapon can strike targets at a radius of up to 560 kilometers (350 miles).   

Both France and the United Kingdom supplied Ukraine with these cruise missiles during the summer of 2023. They have since been used to target several strategic targets, including the Chonhar bridge that connects Crimea with Russian-held parts of the southern Kherson region, and the Sevastopol port, damaging several warships.聽

France will also deliver 鈥渉undreds鈥� of AASM or HAMMER systems, a modular air-ground armament developed by Safran Electronics & Defense that can transform conventional bombs ranging from 250 to 1,000 kilograms (551 to 2,205 pounds) into guided projectiles with a range of up to 70 kilometers (about 43 miles). 

Additionally, Macron disclosed that France is in the final stages of negotiating a security agreement with Ukraine. This decision follows a similar agreement on security cooperation signed between Ukraine and the United Kingdom on January 12, 2024.  

Spanning over 10 years, the UK-Ukraine agreement includes comprehensive assistance for the protection and restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, active deterrence against potential military escalation or aggression by the Russian Federation, and support for Ukraine’s future integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. This support includes endorsing Ukraine’s reform plans and enhancing interoperability with NATO. 

New Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight 

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that it had intercepted 19 Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones launched by Russia overnight on January 17, 2024. The anti-aircraft defense systems were activated in various regions, including Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kirovohrad, as communicated on .听听

In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city situated in the northeast near the border with Russia, a Russian S-300 missile strike resulted in one fatality and 17 injuries according to the morning report by Volodymyr Tymochko, the police chief of the region.聽

Comprising 19 partners and over 20 subcontractors spread across 14 European countries, the consortium submitted a proposal for a concept architecture and technology maturation study of an endo-atmospheric hypersonic interceptor in May 2022.聽

The study involves multiple interceptor designs with different architectures: one two-stage and two three-stage interceptors. The aim is to have a viable interceptor capability ready by 2030. The proposal submitted by MBDA includes testing activities at the technology brick level to ensure the concept精东影业 robustness and viability.聽

The European missile manufacturer MBDA announced on August 2, 2023, that the project has now been recommended for funding by the European Commission under the European Defence Fund 2023. 

The consortium comprises various companies and research centers from several European countries. The French, German, Italian, and Spanish branches of MBDA are joined by other entities, including ROXEL France, ArianeGroup, Lynred, and Thales LAS France representing France. The German participation includes the MBDA subsidiary TDW and Bayern-Chemie. Italy is represented by Avio and the General Electric subsidiary Avio Aero. The Dutch manufacturer GKN Fokker and Thales Netherlands are also involved in the collaboration.  

Furthermore, research centers such as ONERA, DLR, 袨袧袙, CIRA, and TNO will actively participate in the program.聽The project also includes聽partner countries like Sweden, Finland, Romania, Hungary, and Austria.聽

MBDA to lead Hydis2 study on countering hypersonic threats

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2023-06-20

This decision comes following the commitment made by the United Kingdom to provide Storm Shadow long-range missiles to the Ukrainian military on May 11, 2023.

France had previously refrained from delivering such weaponry due to concerns over the risk of their potential use on Russian territory.  

鈥淚 think today what is important for us is to send a message of support to Ukraine, of NATO unity,鈥� Macron said at the summit. 

The Kremlin reacted to the announcement by calling the delivery of French long-range missiles to Ukraine a “mistake.”

“From our point of view, this is a mistaken decision, with serious consequences for the Ukrainian side, because naturally, it will force us to take countermeasures,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

Emmanuel Macron announces that France will train Ukrainian fighter pilots

• Defense
• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2023-05-15

What is the SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow missile?

The SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missile is a British-French weapon developed in the 1990s by Matra and British Aerospace and is now manufactured by the European missile maker MBDA.   

This weapon is capable of striking targets at a radius of 560 kilometers (350 miles). However, the export models have been specifically modified to operate at a reduced range of 250 kilometers (155 miles).   

This modification is in line with assurances previously provided to the United Kingdom by Ukrainian officials, who have stated that the missiles will not be used to target deep into Russian territory. Instead, they will be deployed solely within the borders of Ukraine精东影业 sovereign territory. 

One of these missiles was allegedly used in June 2023 in the destruction of the Chonhar bridge that connects Crimea with Russian-held parts of the southern Kherson region.  

Video shows Russian air defense system failing to intercept Storm Shadow missile

• Defense
• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2023-06-28

In May 2022, a request for solution called LARINAE was emitted by the Agence de l’Innovation de D茅fense (AID, the French defense innovation agency) and the Direction g茅n茅rale de l鈥檃rmement (DGA, the French procurement and technology agency).  

It asked for indigenous 鈥渕edium-range remote-operated ammunition; ammunition capable of neutralizing armored targets within a radius of 50 km with a range of over 60 minutes.鈥� 

On June 22, 2023, the AID announced having selected an MBDA-led consortium and another project developed by Nexter Arrowtech, EOS Technologie, and TRAAK among 16 offers. 

Nexter and MBDA offer two different solutions 

Just before the selection was disclosed, Nexter had presented its bid, a surveillance drone weighing around 10 kilograms (22 pounds) with vertical take-off and landing, and which can evolve in a GPS-denied environment with an autonomy of three hours.  

The solution integrates an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by EOS, an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) supplied by Nexter, and a navigation system capable of operating without GPS provided by TRAAK. 

On June 30, 2023, MBDA presented its own offer based on a “Minimum Viable Product” approach.  

Called Mutant, the remotely controlled ammunition, also weighing around 10 kilograms (22 pounds), features deployable wings for uses “requiring compactness and ease of transport and deployment.” Concept art shared with the statement shows six Mutant drones operating as a swarm. 

MBDA highlighted its experience in developing anti-tank platforms and said the Mutant精东影业 ability to strike beyond the line-of-sight would complement other weapons already in use with the French Army. 

鈥淭his new propelled and guided munition benefits from technologies developed by MBDA over many years, in particular the AKERON family, to ensure very high levels of performance in neutralizing armored and mobile targets, while guaranteeing operational reliability and complete safety,鈥� the manufacturer said. 

The demonstrations for the LARINAE contract are scheduled to take place in 2024.聽

What is a loitering munition? 

A loitering munition, colloquially known as a suicide drone or kamikaze drone, is a type of UAV designed to be directed toward an enemy target and crash into it, detonating in the process.  

These munitions offer a safer and disposable alternative to regular man-portable anti-tank systems (MANPATS) due to their extended range. Additionally, their hovering capability and visual guidance enable greater precision in targeting. 

These systems have gained widespread use in conflicts such as the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and have subsequently garnered interest from several armed forces.聽

Russian loitering munition target Ukrainian IRIS-T air defense system: video

• Defense
• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2023-06-08