Breaking news
After Mistral Class LHD, V-22 to be Tested for Interoperability with French Navy Aircraft Carrier.
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Naval
Forces News - France, USA |
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After
Mistral Class LHD, V-22 to be Tested for Interoperability with French
Navy Aircraft Carrier |
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On September 28, 2015, the French Navy Naval Aviation Practical Experimentation
Center (centre d’expérimentations pratiques de l’aéronautique
navale - CEPA) validated during a closing conference the interoperability
between Mistral
class LHDs and the Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft. This
conference embodies the result of two years of investigation and joint
tests. The French Navy announced a similar campaign will be conducted
with V-22 on board nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. |
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 USMC
V-22 Osprey during qualification trials on board French Navy Dixumde
LHD (Mistral Class) in July 2015. V-22 are now fully qualified for operational
missions to and from the Mistral class. Picture: F. de Feydeau / French Navy |
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This conference embodies the result of two years
of investigation and joint tests. The last of these tests took place
in July
this year between the Dixmude LHD and a US Marine Corps V-22
Osprey belonging to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The first
trials started took place back in 2014.
With the CEPA green light, Mistral class LHDs have a new capability: Accomodation and operational mission support of V-22 aircraft. This new capability opens the door to new interactions between the French Navy and the US Navy and Japanese Self Defense Maritime Force (JMSDF), the latter having recently acquired V-22s. CEPA will soon begin similar tests on board aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. |