France

A German aviation logistics company is planning to adapt a pair of former C-160 Transall turboprop airlifters into aerial firefighting aircraft for deployment in Europe.

Severe turbulence caused serious injuries to three cabin crew and two passengers in an Air France-operated Airbus A320 as the flight crew was slow to react to indications of convective cells, says the BEA's final accident report.

Airbus has begun deliveries of a new version of the NH90 battlefield transport helicopter to the French military.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said he was upbeat about the outlook for the A400M airlifter.

Positive Aviation advances its ATR 72 amphibian project with the first float delivery, aiming to rival Canadair for aerial firefighting in Europe.

The solar-powered X721 Heliblade high-altitude pseudo satellite (HAPS) has completed its first flight in France.

Aerospace companies including ArianeGroup, Dassault and Thales have had to close sites near Bordeaux in southwest France as wildfires continue to burn in the region.

Days after France said it was working to rapidly press the Airbus A400M airlifter into firefighting duty, the French government said it had commenced those operations over the weekend.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

France Plans A400M Firefighting Missions Soon

Dassault prepares Rafale F5 development featuring AI, UCAV integration and advanced systems despite pending French approval.

France plans to deploy an Airbus A400M for experimental aerial firefighting missions as wildfires intensify nationwide.

After the termination of the trinational New Generation Fighter program, Dassault Aviation is gearing up to work on a Rafale successor on its own.

Germany and France strengthen defense ties with joint nuclear deterrence exercises and cooperation on missile warning systems and advanced technologies.

The French Defense Procurement Agency has begun weapons firing trials with the Airbus H160m Guépard helicopter that it is buying for the country’s air force, army and navy.

The proliferation of sensors in the battlefield will erode the value of stealth and put a premium on the ability to fly at low levels and high speed, the head of the French strategic air forces says.

French President Emmanuel Macron says his government has approved Ukraine to produce Aster 30 air defense missiles under license, as well as AASM standoff munitions and Scalp cruise missiles.

Dassault Aviation’s CEO says the company is open to cooperation on whatever comes after the demise of the New Generation Fighter.

Blue Spirit Aero delays Dragonfly hydrogen-electric aircraft first flight to 2027, citing funding challenges and test organization changes.

When Airbus embarked on the A400M program, one of its selling points was that it could serve as a strategic transport and a tactical aircraft.

The promoters of the Aero Excellence International supplier assessment program, launched in mid-2024, have gathered encouraging results.

Six European countries that have embarked on a joint effort to meet critical deep strike capability gaps have formalized their plans.

Canada has opened negotiations with Italy to acquire Leonardo’s M-346 as the country’s future advanced jet trainer.

The French government has become the launch customer for an Airbus effort to start evolving the A400M airlifter beyond its baseline capabilities.

The French government has named a team of MBDA and Safran as the preferred bidder to develop a 150-km-range rocket artillery system.