Euronaval 2024 – Airbus Defense and Space unveiled its new A321 XLR-based ASuW/ASW platform
Airbus Defense and Space has delivered to the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) the future maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) platform architecture study (Patrouille Maritime – PATMAR – futur) based on the Xtra Long Range (XLR) version of the longest-fuselage A321neo member of the single-aisle A320 family, the company unveiled at Euronaval, presenting for the first time the model of the new dedicated platform. The French DGA is expecting to announce a selection between Dassault Aviation and Airbus Defense and Space solutions after Euronaval
In January 2023, the French MoD announced to have awarded respectively Airbus Defense and Space and Dassault Aviation a € 10.9 million and 18-month long contract for studying the architecture and propose a solution for the future ASuW/ASW platform for the Marine Nationale under the PATMAR Future programme. The DGA is expected to launch the procurement programme in 2026 to have the platform in service to replace the Dassault Atlantique 2 in the 2030s. The 2025 budget law has so far allocated € 89 million to the programme.
The aerospace and defence group has chosen to base its solution on its latest member of single-aisle A320neo commercial aircraft family instead of the latter progenitor, which was initially selected for this programme, to fully exploit the latest technologies advancements, performances and spare power, space and conditioning capabilities for future potential mission enhancements. The XLR version of the A321neo model has a 15% range increment, reaching 4,700 nautical miles compared to the 4,000 nautical miles of the A321LR, which range is 15% more than the 3,500 nautical miles of the A320neo.
Although Airbus Defense and Space couldn’t provide specific details of the solution delivered to the DGA due to non-disclosure contract rules, EDR On-Line was able to obtain a general overview of the future MPA.
In order to reduce as far as possible external and internal structural modifications and systems integration to the platform which could add development risks, time and costs to the programme, based on the conducted studies, the most prominent modification seen on the model is the large conformal weapon bay added to the underneath aft section of the aircraft. The latter solution has replaced the combination of the smaller weapon bay and underneath wing pylons for armament of the previous A320neo proposal, maintaining free of structural modifications the wing sections and limiting aerodynamic changes which could alter manoeuvring capabilities and add airframe stress, EDR On-Line understood. The ASuW/ASW or better known as MPA version of the A321 XLR can fly “slow and low” over the sea providing operational benefits, but this will depend on French Navy requirements. The larger underneath aft section weapon bay will be able to accommodate new generation payloads such as the future supersonic anti-ship missile (FMAN, Futur Missile Anti-Navire) as part of the FC/ASW weapon programme.
Reduced extent modifications regard two lateral and an underneath fairing in the forward airframe section, respectively accommodating surveillance and self-protection sensors and an electro-optical/infrared turret, while a MAD (magnetic anomaly detection) boom and an underneath fairing also hosting surveillance and self-protection sensors are positioned in the aircraft tail cone. Panoramic windows and large cargo doors were also visible on the model.
For the mission suite Airbus Defense and Space works mainly in cooperation with Thales: in addition to the ASuW/ASW mission command and control system, the latter is expected to provide the communication package including line-of-sight, data links and beyond line-of-sight systems, identification friend-foe, the anti-submarine warfare suite that exploits sonobuoys and MAD data the latter sensor being provided by a third party, as well as a maritime surveillance package including a new generation AESA radar suite based on Air Master C solution with multiple fixed faces antennas to provide a 360° coverage, electronic support measures/electronic intelligence (ESM/ELINT), automatic identification system (AIS), in addition to the EO/IR turret by Safran, EDR On-Line understood.
Photos courtesy L. Peruzzi
