France sends patrol aircraft to Romania: what tasks will ATL2 perform

France will strengthen its presence in the Black Sea region by sending maritime patrol aircraft Atlantic 2 (ATL2) to Romania. Despite the age of this equipment, experts believe that they still effectively perform the assigned tasks for monitoring and patrolling. This was reported by 'Glavkom' referring to defence-ua.com.

History of the 'antique' patrol aircraft

The story of the Dassault Atlantic patrol aircraft dates back to the late 1950s when the Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic model was created. This project was the first joint NATO aviation enhancement effort, involving France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Belgium.

The original version of the aircraft was equipped with a radar to detect ships at a distance of up to 75 km, hydroacoustic buoys for searching submarines, and electronic warfare systems. The armament included torpedoes, guided missiles, and depth charges.

Modernization to ATL2

In the 1980s, French engineers developed an upgraded version of the patrol aircraft - Atlantic 2 (ATL2). It received significant updates:

• Equipment: Updated equipment, digital communication systems, and a new radar.
• Armament: Exocet anti-ship missiles.
• Systems: An integrated computer that combined all sensors, significantly improving effectiveness. The aircraft could also perform long-range radar detection (LRRD) tasks.

The serial production of ATL2 began in 1989. France received 28 aircraft of this type and remains the only operator of these planes.

Tasks in the Black Sea

As of today, the French Navy has only 18 ATL2 aircraft, which are undergoing modernization to the Standard 6 standard (with a new radar, electronics, and surveillance systems). In the future, they are planned to be replaced by Airbus A321MPA.

Regarding the mission in the Black Sea, experts believe that ATL2 performs not only regional patrols but can also be engaged as LRRD assets. Specialists believe that even considering their age, these aircraft are still capable of performing their tasks.

The French court has resumed proceedings in the case of the AF447 crash, which occurred 16 years ago and claimed the lives of 228 people.

Ukrainians emphasize that the age of the Atlantic 2 patrol aircraft does not prevent them from effectively performing tasks in the Black Sea region. They also note the ongoing modernization processes of these aircraft and plans to replace them with newer models in the future.