The French Air and Space Force’s fleet of CN-235 twin-turboprop tactical transport and logistics aircraft will be upgraded by a consortium of Sabena technics and Thales. “Thanks to close cooperation between the DGA, Air and Space Force, Sabena technics and...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
The French Air and Space Force’s fleet of CN-235 twin-turboprop tactical transport and logistics aircraft will be upgraded by a consortium of Sabena technics and Thales.
“Thanks to close cooperation between the DGA, Air and Space Force, Sabena technics and Thales teams, the upgrade of the CN-235 avionics will give French forces a new technological edge. The enhanced capabilities, higher fleet availability and a lifetime extension beyond 2040 will bring real operational benefits to the French armed forces.” Yannick Assouad, Executive Vice-President Avionics, Thales.
The consortium will upgrade 27 CN-235s with state-of-the-art avionics to allow integration into general air traffic, significantly enhance capabilities for tactical and public service operations, increase fleet availability and extend service life to 2040 and beyond.
The first upgraded CN-235s will begin operations with the Air and Space Force in 2027. Thales facilities in Bordeaux, Brive, Châtellerault, Toulouse, Valence and Vendôme, and the Sabena technics site in Dinard, will be involved in the upgrade of the French Air and Space Force’s CN-235 fleet.
“This major project to upgrade the avionics of the CN-235 aircraft brings the French Air and Space Force significant operational benefits and Sabena technics is particularly proud to be taking part. The partnership with Thales is the latest illustration of our ability to work together efficiently and make the most of our complementary areas of expertise. This contract consolidates the major role that Sabena technics is playing on the CN-235 programme by combining this major modification with our work as prime contractor for through-life support.” Philippe Rochet, Chairman, Sabena technics.
The CN-235 is used for tactical missions to drop paratroopers or equipment and for public service operations such as medical evacuation and can be deployed rapidly into theatres of operations.
The CN-235’s new state-of-the-art and intuitive avionics will meet the standards of the Single European Sky and enable French forces to integrate into non-segregated airspace with no restrictions and conduct their missions quickly and efficiently. The improved reliability of the new equipment suite will also improve fleet availability and extend the service life of the aircraft.
As consortium leader, Sabena technics will perform the mechanical and electrical modifications and integrate the avionics equipment. In addition to supplying the TopStarC GPS receiver and inertial navigation system, Thales will also provide latest-generation avionics derived from its TopDeck suite used on the ATR 72-600 commercial passenger aircraft.
TopDeck is certified and flight-proven on nearly 800 civil and military platforms. Its simple and intuitive interface reduces pilot workload, enabling air crews to focus on their core tasks.
The upgraded CN-235s will also feature the latest-generation Thales radio altimeter, which is immune to 5G interference, to ensure safe, high-performance navigation.
Embraer has officially begun the structural assembly of the first C-390 Millennium for Austria. An official ceremony was held at…
Türkiye’s defence company ASELSAN will present its latest land and weapon systems to international audiences at IDEX & NAVDEX 2025,…
AMMROC, a provider of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services in the region, will participate in IDEX 2025 to showcase…
ADNEC Group, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and Tawazun Council, announced the launch of the CBRNE Hub at…
Indra, which has formed a joint venture with EDGE, will showcase the AESA Nemus and Nemus-C radars, among with its…
HENSOLDT has secured a contract extension valued at approximately 350 million euros for the development of the Eurofighter Mk1 radar.…
SITA has introduced a new global messaging platform, SITA ATC Connect, designed to facilitate communication between airlines, airports, ground handlers,…
AirAsia has announced the return of its promotional seat sale, offering up to 15 million discounted seats across the airline's…
The T625 GÖKBEY Multirole Utility Helicopter, developed by Turkish Aerospace, has proven its capability to operate in extreme conditions after…
Saab will unveil its locally developed Coast Control Radar at the upcoming IDEX 2025. The system, designed to help safeguard…
The T-7 Advanced Trainer, AH-64 Apache, and CH-47 Chinook are among the defence and security capabilities and services that Boeing…
RT LTA Systems will present the Skystar family of tactical aerostat systems at the upcoming International Defence Exhibition and Conference…
The K9A1 Self-Propelled Howitzer fitted with a domestically-built 1,000-horsepower engine and the Long-Range Surface-to-Air (L-SAM) missile system are among the…
Rumors about Egypt's intention to purchase the Chinese made J-10 CE fighter aircraft, which surfaced last week, are being evaluated…
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) have placed an order for 17 CH-47JA Block II Chinook Extended Range helicopters to replace some…
Rosoboronexport, a subsidiary of Russia's Rostec State Corporation, will showcase a range of defence products at the IDEX 2025 International…
Camero-Tech (Camero), an Israeli company specialising in radar-based imaging systems, will showcase its XAVER series of through-wall imaging radar at…
Sentrycs has been awarded a multi-million-dollar contract to provide counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) for a national defence project in Latin…
Abu Dhabi-based XRANGE, a facility for training, testing, and evaluation (TT&E) in defence, aerospace, and commercial sectors, has expanded its…
Indra has launched the European SMAUG (Smart Maritime and Underwater Guardian) research and development project, aimed at enhancing security at…
The Business Aviation Asia Forum and Expo (BAAFEx) 2025, set to take place from 4–6 March at Singapore’s Changi Exhibition…
Bharat Forge Ltd. and Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS have announced a collaboration to set up a new aerospace manufacturing facility…
Indonesian state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) has signed an agreement with Turkish defence technology firm Havelsan to jointly…
The Indonesian Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday (Feb. 13) that Indo Defence 2024 will take place from 11 to…
The Indian state-owned airframer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has committed to accelerate deliveries of the Tejas Mk-1A fighter jet, which…
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. (Rafael) of Israel is looking to produce two new-generation missile systems in partnership with the…
Indian state-owned airframer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a long-term contract with Safran Aircraft Engines (SAE) for supply of…
The Aerospace business of Godrej & Boyce, a part of Godrej Enterprises Group, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding…
GE Aerospace has inked a five-year Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF). Under the terms…
Collins Aerospace launched its ‘Powered by Collins Initiative 2025’ edition at the ongoing airshow. This year’s opportunities bring focus to…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.