Flight International 09Mar2020

DEFENCE

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ACQUISITION DOMINIC PERRY LONDON

Paris steps up interest in Chinook deal

Commitment to purchase tandem-rotor type could follow proposed lease of two examples on trial basis before 2025

F

rance has confirmed its long-

rumoured interest in acquir-

ing heavy-lift helicopters for

special forces missions, with its

air force hoping to first lease a

pair of Boeing CH-47 Chinooks

on a trial basis, while also looking

at other options.

Speaking at Defence IQ’s Inter-

national Military Helicopter con-

ference in London on 25 Febru-

ary, Colonel Bruno Paupy, deputy

chief, plans division of the French

air force, said the Chinooks are re-

quired to plug a “capability gap”.

Paupy says the helicopters

would initially be leased, with any

acquisition coming in the post-

2025 period – such a purchase was

not funded within France’s most

recent military procurement plan.

That timeline would also lead

Paris towards the acquisition of

Boeing’s upgraded Block II

version of the Chinook, which at

present is only confirmed for the

long-range MH-47G variant.

“We want the helicopter capa-

ble of performing missions in

enemy territory – so you may

guess which version we want,”

says Paupy.

Service indicates it is interested in a Block II version of the MH-47G

Boeing

France has already had some

experience of Chinook opera-

tions, with a detachment of three

Royal Air Force examples assist-

ing its army operations in Mali.

Meanwhile, to keep its rough-

ly 10 Airbus Helicopters H225M

Caracals in service until 2040,

the air force is in the early stages

of defining a Standard 2 version

of the 11t-class type, which

would be fielded from around

2028-2030.

“We will have to improve its

systems much more than upgrad-

ing [to tackle] obsolescence,”

Paupy says, identifying avionics,

weapons, self-protection systems

and the addition of a Link 16 da-

talink as key areas.

To meet its requirements be-

yond 2040, the air force has begun

talks with its fellow French ser-

vices about the potential for

launching a joint programme,

similar to the Helicoptere Interar-

mees Leger effort that led to the tri-

service acquisition of the Airbus

Helicopters H160M Guepard.

Paupy says that although high-

speed capability will be one area

of consideration, “I am not sure if

it will interest the army, navy or

even the air force – we are trying

to make the final understanding

of the need”.

However, given the air force’s

concept of operations – long-

range strikes into enemy territory

• and long-standing expertise in
  helicopter aerial refuelling,
  Paupy says: “You may under-
  stand that high velocity... should
  be interesting.”
  He hopes that a joint set of re-
  quirements will have been de-
  fined by the end of 2021.
  In addition, to help accelerate
  the retirement of its more than
  40-year-old SA330 Puma trans-
  port helicopters, Paris is consid-
  ering the acquisition or lease of
  repurposed second-hand H225s
  from the commercial market. ■

K

uala Lumpur looks to be edg-

ing closer to issuing a request

for proposals for new maritime pa-

trol aircraft (MPA), although the 24

February resignation of prime

minister Mahathir Mohamad

could disrupt the process.

According to a source familiar

with the proposed deal, Malaysia

will seek to acquire “five or six”

aircraft capable of performing the

full MPA mission, including the

ability to detect submarines and

attack them with torpedoes.

Candidates for the require-

ment include Airbus Defence &

Space, Indonesian Aerospace

and Leonardo.

Previous attempts to buy a new

MPA fleet were abruptly termi-

nated by the Pakatan Harapan

coalition that took power in 2018.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Aero-

space is to convert a pair of locally

produced CN235 tactical trans-

ports to the maritime surveillance

role for the Royal Malaysian Air

Force. Being funded by the US

government via its Maritime Secu-

rity Initiative and advanced as a

Foreign Military Sales programme

deal, it will involve US company

Integrated Surveillance and De-

fense providing a full mission sys-

tem. This will include operator

consoles, communications equip- Indonesian Aerospace will convert two CN235s for urgent role

AirTeamImages

ment, an electro-optical infrared

sensor and a maritime radar.

Indonesian Aerospace will con-

duct the work at its Bandung site,

with the first twin-turboprop to ar-

rive in April, followed by the other

in May or June. Modifications

should be completed by year-end,

with Kuala Lumpur also having an

option to convert a third CN235. ■

PROCUREMENT GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE

Malaysia advances maritime surveillance project