Airbus Defence and Space has signed a 24-month contract with France’s Defence Procurement Agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement: DGA) to conduct a risk assessment study about the upcoming production of the A321 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) for the French Navy. Airbus talked to Zona Militar about the objectives of this contract and the MPA project.
France aims to replace the fleet of Atlantique 2, operated by the French Navy, out of the Lann-Bihoué naval air base. The successor is the A321 MPA, a militarized version of the Airbus A321XLR aircraft. The development and beginning of production of the MPA are expected to occur by the end of 2026, with the aircraft being operational during the 2030-2040 timeframe. The company has described the A321 as a “flying frigate.”
In response to a question by ZM about how many aircraft will be manufactured, Airbus explained, “it is up to the DGA and the French Navy to define the need. The Atlantique 2 fleet is composed of 22 aircraft.”
Airbus has facilities across France, particularly in Toulouse. ZM asked Airbus where the A321 MPA will be manufactured. The company clarified that the “production will be the result of a conversion of an A321XLR into a MPA.” The company added, “we cannot say yet where the conversion work will be done, as it is part of the perimeter of the feasibility study and needs to be further analysed in the next phase.”
The A321 MPA will have a long-range and high-maneuverability capability and will be equipped with a full range of sensors. The systems onboard will include the latest-generation radar with active antennas, an acoustic system using passive and active sonar buoys, electronic and electro-optical warfare systems, magnetic anomaly detection (MAD), and self-protection systems, the company said in a 4 February statement.
Additionally, the aircraft will also have communications systems, including satellite communications, and weapons systems for anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, including torpedoes and the future anti-ship missile (Futur Missile Anti-Navire: FMAN). The large cargo bay and open architecture will allow the MPA to adapt to different missions and address emerging new threats, the company explained.
There is no datasheet yet with the specifications of the A321 MPA. ZM asked Airbus whether the A321 MPA could control aerial drones like the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton. “This is rather a question of concept of operations than a technical question, so you may ask this to the French Navy,” the company answered.
The study will enable the project to be refined given evolving economic and industrial conditions. Airbus is partnering with Thales to conduct the study.
Speaking of electronic warfare (EW), in January, France’s Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced that a French Atlantique 2 MPA was the subject of an “intimidation attempt.” During a surveillance flight over international airspace in the Baltic Sea, the aircraft was the victim of an “attempted jamming” and was also tracked by the radar of a Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system. “This aggressive Russian action is unacceptable,” said the French official. Given the ongoing global tensions, the future A321 MPA’s defensive EW capabilities will be critically important for future missions in challenging and contested environments.
Until the new A321 aircraft is operational, the French Navy will continue to use its legacy Atlantique 2. The aircraft are receiving a life-extension & modernization program. In April 2023, the DGA announced the arrival of the 11th modernized ATL 2 to the Lann-Bihoué base, a project carried out by Dassault Aviation. The objective is to keep the ATL 2s operational “beyond 2030.”
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