Airbus Defence and Space has booked a two-year contract to conduct a risk assessment study on modifying an A321XLR twin-engine jet into a maritime patrol aircraft called A321 MPA for the French Navy. The company said the contract from the French defense procurement agency DGA follows an architecture and feasibility study on the conversion launched at the end of 2022.
The new study will lay the groundwork for a development and production program for the aircraft by the end of 2026. It will refine the economic and industrial considerations from the previous study, identify choices on technical systems for aircraft integration, and expedite the first wind tunnel tests.
Atlantique 2 Replacement
The A321 MPA is envisioned to meet all French naval requirements, particularly in anti-submarine and anti-ship operations, as well as intelligence gathering. The modified aircraft is a planned replacement for the navy’s fleet of Atlantique 2, following a 2030-2040 timeframe.
“The A321 MPA has all the assets to become a true flying frigate capable of responding to the wide range of missions entrusted to the French maritime patrol,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, executive vice president and head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. “Airbus offers a sovereign solution that provides the autonomy, availability and reliability required to contribute to the oceanic component of … nuclear deterrence.”
According to Airbus, over 10,000 commercial aircraft of the A320 family are currently in service, logging more than 300 million flight hours.
Aircraft Conversion Capability
The company demonstrated its experience converting commercial planes to military aircraft in the A330 multi-role tanker transport. In 2023, the French government awarded Airbus two contracts worth $1.27 billion to provide capability enhancement and in-service support for the country’s A330 fleet.
Dassault, with its Falcon 10X business jet, was a second participant in the 2022 architecture and feasibility study, and the new contract confirms the A321 as the preferred French MPA platform, Aviation Week reported.