Airbus A320 family ASW / MRA / MPA versions

[Trident]

I can't see any detail of a weapons bay/doors under rear fuselage so left that blank. Also not sure if that ASM is on the model or behind it.

Also surprised that it doesn’t have the A321Neo cockpit glazing.

Chris

The NEO has the same glazing as the CEO, it just adds a painted 'Racoon mask' as standard.

Whats the potential market for this now though? I'm struggling to see beyond a small French buy....

Yup, too late. Yet another of those frustrating cases where there was a real market of appreciable size in Europe, potentially providing an opportunity to launch an economically viable joint programme, but where political indecision led to the acquisitions going out of sync. The countries in question then all proceed to individually buy the US solution off the shelf, leading to the situation where Western Europe now has the largest P-8 fleet outside the US at 22 Bigger than Asia (16), bigger than Oceania (18) and bigger then North America excluding the US (14), and if it had been available in a timely fashion a European alternative might have won a couple of those export contracts, too.

 

[snne]

But who are they though? Most of the countries that have a need for a large ASW platform have already purchased P-8 (or P-1). Of the remainder you've got the Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Chile and Brazil (I'm excluding Pakistan as they've got ATR and France won't risk Indian defence sales...). Brazil is as likely to develop their own based on the C-390 or other Brazilian plane (and ASW isn't really top of their priorities compared to basic MP duties and SAR). Netherlands might want a few...but are more likely to go with P-8 for commonality with Germany and UK. Portugal and Chile are both planning to service life extend their P-3 significantly. Basically outside of Greece I can't see any other potential candidates...and they're surely not going to develop it based on a total buy of 30 aircraft...unless they think there is mileage in a potential Argentinian order....

Turkish Navy has been eyeing the P-8 for over a decade with great interest but they haven't made a move thinking they won't be able get the FMS approval or pass it through the Congress. A purchase of the A320MPA by the Turkish Navy would be nigh impossible considering EU-Turkish relations but it seems like If France & Germany were to keep it cool, this could be the only long ranged MPA option the Navy could demand and the local industry is too busy with current projects at hand to develop an equivalent anyway (and if they were to develop one, it would highly likely be based on the Global 6000 - meaning it doesn't cover the same mission role as the P-8 or A320MPA).

 

[CJGibson]

The NEO has the same glazing as the CEO, it just adds a painted 'Racoon mask' as standard.

Ah...yes. Thanks.

Chris

 

[timmymagic]

I thought I read in one of these threads that Boeing was letting it be known to potential buyers that they were coming up on last call for production of the P-8? I suppose they could have changed their mind, given Boeing’s recent corporate strategy of face-planting into piles of dog crap, but still. Maybe Boeing’s troubles plus a production line on the verge of slowing down are giving airbus ideas. Assuming I’m remembering correctly and the comment I saw was correct to begin with, and Boeing is looking to move on from P-8.

And thats the thing....the market for high end ASW aircraft has essentially been had by the P-8....the only reason for Boeing to cease production would be because there are no further countries out there with the requirement and funds to buy one....and when you look at the remaining countries left with a requirement and funds they're not far wrong....

 

[SK2]

Could be related to their legacy 737 production line, as the mil-spec 737s are the only customers and the sales isn't strong either

 

[CJGibson]

What looks like an ASM under the forward fuselage is actually just a flat section with several blade aerials. Presumably an ELINT pod, or configurable sensor hard point.

Image is a still from the Naval News video.

Fixed.

Thanks

Chris

 

[Deltafan]

The Airbus A-321 MPA would have won the replacement market for 18 French Atlantic 2s.

Avions de patrouille maritime : le ministère choisit Airbus

Le ministère des Armées a sélectionné la proposition d'Airbus Defence & Space au détriment de celle de Dassault Aviation pour le programme d'avions de patrouille maritime (Patmar). Ce programme vise à renouveler après 2030 la flotte constituée par 18 Atlantique 2.

www.latribune.fr

To be confirmed

 

[fightingirish]

Here some pictures of the A320MPA and A321MPA.
Airbus Defence switched from the basic model A320neo to the A320XLR, because the latter one can carry more payload and has a longer range.
Still, neither all requirements nor an official decision have been made public so far.
Source (German):

Ohne Deutschland : Frankreich will die A321XLR als U-Boot-Jäger

Eigentlich wollten Deutschland und Frankreich die nächste Flugzeuggeneration für U-Boot-Jagd und Seefernaufklärung zusammen beauftragen. Doch dann kaufte Deutschland die P-8A Poseidon. Und Frankreich? Zieht es jetzt wohl alleine durch. Mit Airbus.

www.flugrevue.de

 

[Archibald]

The Airbus A-321 MPA would have won the replacement market for 18 French Atlantic 2s.

Avions de patrouille maritime : le ministère choisit Airbus

Le ministère des Armées a sélectionné la proposition d'Airbus Defence & Space au détriment de celle de Dassault Aviation pour le programme d'avions de patrouille maritime (Patmar). Ce programme vise à renouveler après 2030 la flotte constituée par 18 Atlantique 2.

www.latribune.fr

To be confirmed

Makes some sense. Falcons have long been used for "light" PATMAR, since the Falcon 10 days. But "heavy" PATMAR needs something bigger than a bizjet (even a large one) and closer in size from an Atlantic 2.