Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1532587
Airbus Unveiled at Euronaval 2024 TEXT: HENRYK SOLIŃSKI The presentation of this aircraft signaled Airbus's readi- ness to execute a program for developing new aircraft of this class for the French Naval Aviation. A feasibility study, funded by the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), has already been conducted. The results informed the DGA's decision on selecting a contractor for the pro- gram. Besides Airbus, Dassault Aviation also competed for the contract, offering a patrol aircraft based on the Falcon 10X business jet. According to unofficial reports in the French press, Airbus has moved on to the next phase of the project. Due to the requirements of the potential customer, speci- fic technical details remain classified. However, it is known that the aircraft's service lifespan has been estimated at 40 years. Thanks to its modular design, it is intended to address future battlefield threats. Two key features stand out in the presented model: the integration of a Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) in the tail and a proposed modi- fication of the lower fuselage section, which would serve as the main mission bay housing weapons bay and spe- cialized equipment. One surprising aspect of Airbus's approach is the use of the A321XLR passenger aircraft as the base platform. This is the latest member of the narrow-body A320 family. The first flight of the civil version prototype took place in June 2022, and the first production units were delivered to commercial customers in October 2024. With additional fuel tanks, its range extends up to 7,500 km. www.fragoutmag.com