O
http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #354 SEPTEMBER 2017 // 57F THE 28 Atlantique
2s (ATL 2s) produced
by Dassault Aviation
in the 1980s, 22 remain in
service. None has been lost
but the fleet is ageing and the
Marine Nationale (French Navy)
is looking for a replacement.
It had been reported that other
countries, including Saudi Arabia,
might be interested in buying
the old airframes after upgrade,
but the French defence chiefs
decided to retain the ATL 2.
The White Paper on Defence
and National Security publishedin 2012 declared that 22 ATL
2s should be retained and the
remainder used as a source
of spares. The withdrawal
of the Transall airlifter will
bring some relief as it shares
the same Tyne engine.
However, only 15 of the 22
aircraft will be brought to mid-
life upgrade (MLU) standard,
the others being restricted to
a maritime surveillance role.
Dassault has modified two MLU
prototypes, which are now flying
from the test centre at Istres.
They have a new Searchmastersynthetic aperture (SAR) radar,
first flown in 2016. Developed
by Thales, it benefits from SAR
technologies developed for the
Rafale’s active electronically
scanned array (AESA) radar.
The MLU also includes an L-3
Wescam MX-20HD multifunction
electro-optical/infrared (EO/
IR) turret system. An initial
three MX-20s were purchased
under an urgent operational
requirement (UOR) programme
and have been used in Mali,
Iraq and Syria, facilitating
ISR, targeting and bombingmissions. Imagery can be sent
by data link to a command
post or an isolated special
operations team in the field.
The tactical suite is being
upgraded by DCNS and AIA de
Cuers, a state-owned facility in
southern France linked to the
French Air Force. The new aircraft
will continue to fly the ASW
mission, using the current MU90
lightweight torpedo, and ASuW
with the AM39 Exocet missile.
France requires an up-to-
date ASW fleet to support
its submarine-based nuclearMaritime
Patrol
Aircraft
Maritime
European
France
Overworked Atlantique 2