French Armed Forces

[Khafee]

French Nuclear Submarine Catches Fire in Mediterranean
Updated 15.06.2020

PARIS (Sputnik) - A Rubis-class French nuclear submarine named Perle has caught fire while anchored on a naval base in the port-city of Toulon on the country's Mediterranean coast, the Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the Mediterranean said on Friday, adding that the incident poses no threat of radioactive pollution.


In a thread of tweets, the prefecture said that local firefighting brigades were pulled to the scene along with support teams from neighbouring Marseilles.

According to the statements, no casualties ensued as a result of the fire.
Perle is one of the six Rubis-class nuclear submarines owned by the French navy, all of them are named after gemstones. It was floated out in 1987 and began operations in 1993. Since January, it has been docked in Toulon for maintenance.
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French submarine burns in ‘unbelievably fierce fire’ for 14 hours
By: Christina Mackenzie  
A few hours ago

PARIS — One of France’s six Rubis-class nuclear-powered submarines, the Perle, burned for more than 14 hours “in an unbelievably fierce fire” June 12 in dry dock while undergoing major renovations by Naval Group, which were due to end in February 2021.

“There was absolutely no nuclear fuel aboard and not a single weapon. In fact the submarine was stripped bare,” French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly added June 13 during a trip to the French naval base of Toulon on the Mediterranean coast to see the damage.

“This was a fire, it was not a nuclear accident,” she added.

The fire broke out at 10:35 a.m. local time at the front of the sub, which was in basin No. 3 in the Missiessy zone of the port. Workmen first noticed smoke on the lower deck.

Sources quoted by French daily Le Monde say the fire seems to have taken in a similar way to that of the Notre Dame Cathedral, with soldering work undertaken a few days before, which may have set something smoldering. The bits of wood and oil inherent to this type of renovation work could have fed the fire.

“Fighting a fire on a submarine is not at all obvious, particularly in very thick smoke,” Parly said after praising the “remarkable work” of both Navy and civilian firefighters who put the fire out in the early hours of June 13.

The French Navy says a fleet of six submarines is necessary so as to have two or three of them permanently at sea to escort the carrier fleet, gather intelligence and deploy personnel. But after this fire, of the six Rubis-class submarines that entered service between 1983 and 1993, only three are available today. The first of class, the Rubis, is also under maintenance, while the Saphir was decommissioned in June 2019. Parts of the Saphir could be made available to repair damage to the Perle.

The Perle has been operational since July 7, 1993, and the ongoing renovations were designed to prolong its life until 2030.

It will take at least a month of investigations to understand whether the steel hull is so damaged as to make the sub unusable, according to Naval Group officials. The steel can withstand the intense heat of a fire for a certain number of hours, but engineers will have to check whether it has maintained the elasticity required to withstand wide variations in pressure when underwater.

The Rubis class will be replaced by six Suffren-class submarines, the first of which was launched July 12, 2019, but is still undergoing tests by the Navy and will not enter service until next year.

The 73.6-meter-long, 2,500-ton Rubis-class subs are the most compact nuclear-powered attack submarines in the world.

 

[Gripen9]

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French submarine burns in ‘unbelievably fierce fire’ for 14 hours
By: Christina Mackenzie  
A few hours ago

PARIS — One of France’s six Rubis-class nuclear-powered submarines, the Perle, burned for more than 14 hours “in an unbelievably fierce fire” June 12 in dry dock while undergoing major renovations by Naval Group, which were due to end in February 2021.

“There was absolutely no nuclear fuel aboard and not a single weapon. In fact the submarine was stripped bare,” French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly added June 13 during a trip to the French naval base of Toulon on the Mediterranean coast to see the damage.

“This was a fire, it was not a nuclear accident,” she added.

The fire broke out at 10:35 a.m. local time at the front of the sub, which was in basin No. 3 in the Missiessy zone of the port. Workmen first noticed smoke on the lower deck.

Sources quoted by French daily Le Monde say the fire seems to have taken in a similar way to that of the Notre Dame Cathedral, with soldering work undertaken a few days before, which may have set something smoldering. The bits of wood and oil inherent to this type of renovation work could have fed the fire.

“Fighting a fire on a submarine is not at all obvious, particularly in very thick smoke,” Parly said after praising the “remarkable work” of both Navy and civilian firefighters who put the fire out in the early hours of June 13.

The French Navy says a fleet of six submarines is necessary so as to have two or three of them permanently at sea to escort the carrier fleet, gather intelligence and deploy personnel. But after this fire, of the six Rubis-class submarines that entered service between 1983 and 1993, only three are available today. The first of class, the Rubis, is also under maintenance, while the Saphir was decommissioned in June 2019. Parts of the Saphir could be made available to repair damage to the Perle.

The Perle has been operational since July 7, 1993, and the ongoing renovations were designed to prolong its life until 2030.

It will take at least a month of investigations to understand whether the steel hull is so damaged as to make the sub unusable, according to Naval Group officials. The steel can withstand the intense heat of a fire for a certain number of hours, but engineers will have to check whether it has maintained the elasticity required to withstand wide variations in pressure when underwater.

The Rubis class will be replaced by six Suffren-class submarines, the first of which was launched July 12, 2019, but is still undergoing tests by the Navy and will not enter service until next year.

The 73.6-meter-long, 2,500-ton Rubis-class subs are the most compact nuclear-powered attack submarines in the world.

Hahaha it seems the frenchies are spending too much time with their chums the Indians

 

[Khafee]

Hahaha it seems the frenchies are spending too much time with their chums the Indians

Wallahi, I was thinking the same

 

[Khafee]

French forces to get new batch of Jaguar, Griffon armored vehicles​

By: Christina Mackenzie  
9 hours ago

The Jaguar is powered by a 500-horsepower engine, allowing the vehicle to reach a maximum speed of 90 kph. (Courtesy of Nexter)

PARIS – The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has announced a firm order for a second tranche of the Jaguar and Griffon armored vehicles that lie at the core of its ambitious Scorpion program to reconfigure how its army wages war.

This second tranche is for 42 Jaguar combat and reconnaissance armored vehicles and 271 Griffon multirole armored vehicles. The first tranche, ordered in 2017, was for 319 Griffons and 20 Jaguars.

So far the Army has received 105 Griffons and earlier this month took two of them to Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa. Forces there are testing them in hot, desert conditions before the first vehicles are deployed to Mali next year in support of France’s Barkhane anti-terrorist operation.

The first four Jaguars are scheduled for delivery to the army before the end of this year.

The Griffon and Jaguar are both manufactured by a conglomerate of three major French defense industries: Nexter, Arquus and Thales.

The latest delivery of 13 Griffons was to the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment which received them in July. The regiment’s Scorpion officer, described in an army video only as “Major Laurent” in keeping with French security protocol for lower-ranking officers, praised the vehicle for its speed, precise firing system and armor. “So far, we have trained 16 pilots and eight instructors. They will then be responsible within the Regiment for training our pilots and our gunners,” the officer said.

Other regiments that have already received the Griffon are the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment, the 13th Battalion of Chasseurs Alpins and the 1st Infantry Regiment.

According to Col. Tugdual Barbarin, commander of the 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (RPIMA), his formation will not be equipped with the Griffon as planned but, instead, will be getting the Serval, the third of the new vehicles being developed in the Scorpion program. This decision, he said, was made by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Thierry Burkhard earlier this month.

France’s 2019-2025 military program law has imposed an acceleration in deliveries of the Scorpion vehicles, establishing that 50 percent of the 1,872 Griffons and 300 Jaguars which the Ministry of the Armed Forces expects to order in total must be delivered by 2025. That means the army will have 936 Griffons and 150 Jaguars by the end of 2024.

 

[Khafee]

French military tests Griffon vehicle in Djibouti​

28th Sep 2020

Two Griffon wheeled armoured combat vehicles have been embedded with the French Army’s 5th Overseas Interarms Regiment, based in Djibouti, for hot weather trials.

French forces in Djibouti received the two vehicles on 10 September for an operational technical assessment in hot weather, the French defence ministry said.

For its first trip to Africa, the Griffon spent ten days traversing Djibouti’s semi-desert terrain. The impact of hot weather and rough terrain was tested on components including chassis, weapon system, cupola and even GPS link.

The tests began during a firing exercise organized by the 5th Overseas Interarms Regiment, a future user, in which the Griffon was embedded for these trials. After the troop embarkation and disembarkation phases were completed, the Griffon, equipped with a 12.7mm machinegun, fired at targets. In addition, various driving sequences have been planned for these machines, marked by their first Galix firing (smoke grenades) or tests of equipment such as straps, cable cutters or even winches.

The first deployment of Griffon to Mali is scheduled for 2022.

Thirteen new Griffon vehicles were delivered in July to the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment (21st RIMa). The Army had already received 92 of these multi-role armoured vehicles in 2019.

 

[Khafee]

Safran to provide optronic systems for French Navy maritime surveillance aircraft

The new Albatros is based on Dassault Aviation Falcon 2000LXS © ERIDIA Studio / Dassault Aviation - V. Almansa

Safran Electronics & Defense has signed a contract with Dassault Aviation to provide new generation Euroflir™410 optronic (electro-optical) systems for two different Falcon-based aircraft: a dozen Albatros, derived from the Falcon 2000LXS, and the eight Falcon 50M Triton models upgraded as part of the French navy’s program to modernize its maritime surveillance and intervention aircraft. 01 Apr 2021

Safran press release

The new-generation EuroflirTM 410, a key part of the SAR suite (Search & Rescue), will deliver unrivaled observation capabilities, even under low-visibility conditions, thanks in particular to a very-long-range telescope and high-performance line-of-sight stabilization. Coupled with a maritime radar and AIS (Automatic Identification System), the EuroflirTM 410 provides ship identification capability, along with precise geolocation. It’s capable of identifying a ship’s registration number or detecting a shipwrecked person at a range of several kilometers. New-generation Euroflir™410 optronic systems allow France’s Maritime Surveillance & Intervention Patrol (PATSIMAR) to enhance its stealthy very-high-altitude observation capabilities, and carry out at-sea search & rescue or zone surveillance missions even under the most extreme conditions.

With this latest contract win, Safran confirms its European leadership in the highly demanding market for airborne optronics on special-mission airplanes and helicopters. The Triton modified Falcon 50M and Falcon 2000 Albatros aircraft will be deployed as from 2023 and 2025, respectively, in line with the French government’s latest defense planning bill, and will gradually replace the current Falcon 50M and Falcon 200 Guardian aircraft in the 24F et 25F fleets, based in mainland France and overseas territories.

Part of the Maritime Patrol force, these aircraft will monitor maritime spaces in France’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) – the world’s second largest – to help safeguard national sovereignty. Assigned missions include ensuring the safety of ships, crews and passengers, monitoring fishing zones, protecting borders, safeguarding the marine environment and the fight against terrorism and trafficking, along with at-sea rescues, since they are fitted with a full SAR equipment suite.

 

[Soldier35]

Unprecedented in scale military exercises Orion23 began in France. Exercise Orion 2023 is the largest for the French army in the last three decades. The purpose of the maneuvers will be to demonstrate the readiness of the French forces for the most difficult situations of modern combat, their efficiency and endurance in a high-intensity conflict. In total, about 20 thousand people will be involved in the exercises, which take place on land, at sea and in the air, and will also affect space and information warfare. According to the scenario, events unfold in an area bordering a powerful state that was a source of tension. Other countries, including the United States, will also take part in the exercises, which will last 2 months. The cost of military maneuvers is estimated at €35 million.

 

[Soldier35]

VBRG armored vehicles were brought out by the French gendarmerie, review. Against the backdrop of unrest in France, the Marseille gendarmerie has already brought Berliet VXB-170 armored vehicles to the streets. The Berliet VXB-170 armored vehicle was developed by Societe des Automobiles Berliet under the brand name BL-12 in 1969. In 1973, 155 serial vehicles were delivered to the French Gendarmerie. Armored vehicles are designed to fight riots and are painted blue by order of the French gendarmerie, the vehicles are equipped with a bulldozer blade. The armored vehicle can be equipped with a 7.62 mm machine gun and a 40 mm grenade launcher. The vehicle is equipped with 7 mm armor and weighs 14 tons when equipped. Armored vehicle VBRG can carry up to 12 gendarmerie men in full gear. The crew of the vehicle consists of a driver and a gunner. The VXB-170 armored vehicle is equipped with a 170 horsepower engine, which allows it to reach speeds of up to 85 km / h on the highway and 4 km / h on the water.

 

[Soldier35]

Since there is no topic about the Armenian army, I am publishing it here. Armenia begins purchasing French weapons. A contract has already been signed for the purchase of three French Ground Master 200 radar stations manufactured by Thales. An agreement of intent was also signed for the purchase of French Mistral MANPADS from MBDA. In addition, France will train the Armenian military to work with air defense. The agreement was signed by the Ministers of Defense of Armenia and France Suren Papikyan and Sebastien Lecornu. Ground Master 200 radar stations were developed in 2008 and are capable of detecting not only conventional air targets but also artillery and mortar shells at a range of up to 250 kilometers and tracking targets at a distance of 100 kilometers. The GM 200 station is serviced by 2 operators. The radars are used in five countries, including Ukraine. The Mistral MANPADS entered service in 1987; the Mistral-2 MANPADS was developed in 2000; it is not reported which version will be purchased. The MANPADS is capable of hitting targets at a range of up to 6,000 meters and an altitude of up to 3,000 meters. Launcher weight 24 kg. There are also stationary versions of Mistral-2 MANPADS.

 

[Soldier35]

I’m posting here because there is no topic about the Armenian army. Armenia received 24 Bastion armored vehicles from France as assistance. It is reported that armored vehicles were previously delivered to Ukraine, but they were abandoned; according to some reports, the armored vehicles remained in Ukraine. Bastion armored vehicles were developed by the French company Acmat in 2010. The armored car was also produced in the USA, including in a medical version. The basic version of the armored personnel carrier is designed to transport a group of 5 people and is equipped with composite armor that protects the crew from 7.62 mm bullets and mine fragments. The armored vehicle can be equipped with 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns or a 40 mm grenade launcher. The armored vehicle weighs 12 tons and is equipped with a 340 hp engine. and can reach speeds of up to 110 km/h. The Bastion armored vehicle is still in production and is primarily in service with African countries.

 

[Soldier35]

France's DT46 Delair UAV may be received by Ukraine. The French Navy and the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) tested the DT46 UAV. The DT46 VTOL type drone was developed by the French company Delair; it was previously reported that the Ukrainian army would also receive drones, the model was not specified. DT46 UAVs can be used at any time of the day, in any weather, they are capable of conducting reconnaissance" for a long time, with a fixed wing the drone can fly up to 7 hours. The VTOL version of the DT46 drone can automatically take off and land within 20 square meters, Useful UAV load is up to 5 kilograms, drone communication range is about 100 km, an encrypted channel is used.The DT46 UAV can carry various sensors, including an optical-electronic ball, LIDAR and a device for collecting data about an international mobile subscriber

 

[Soldier35]

Footage has been released of the French Navy's counter-drone and anti-sea drone exercises. The use of an EBRC Jaguar armoured reconnaissance vehicle is also shown, having been loaded onto a ship. Repurposed motorboats and jet skis were used as sea drones. The drones were attacked with all types of weapons, including ABM airburst projectiles