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Airbus signs study contract to define future maritime patrol aircraft for France

By Gareth Jennings |

A model of the A321 MPA was displayed by Airbus at the Euronaval defence exhibition in Paris in 2024. (Janes/Alex Pape)

Airbus has signed a two-year study contract with the French Defence Procurement Agency (Direction Générale de l'Armement: DGA) to define the requirements of a future maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) for France.

The company announced the award on 4 February, saying it will partner with Thales on the project to define a set of MPA requirements based on its A321XLR (eXtra Long-Range) airliner, building on an architecture and feasibility study contract that was launched in late 2022.

“The aim of this new definition study and risk assessment contract is to prepare for the development and production launch of the maritime patrol aircraft programme at the end of 2026. This study will enable the initial results of the architecture study to be taken further, in order to refine the economic and industrial conditions for carrying out the programme, to guide the technical choices of the systems to be integrated on the aircraft, and to carry out the first wind-tunnel tests,” Airbus said.

News of the award came two years after the DGA said in January 2023 that Airbus 320neo and Dassault Falcon 10X concepts would be studied as potential replacements for the French Navy's (Marine Nationale) fleet of 22 Dassault Atlantique 2 (ATL1) aircraft (18 of which are being refurbished and upgraded).

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