Iran Press/ Middle East: The aircraft, which will operate from the United Arab Emirates, is part of the Flotilla 23F of the French Naval Aviation, based in Lann-Bihoué, western France.
According to Aerotime, the French-initiated, European-led EMASoH mission has been operating in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz since February 2020. “The purpose of this operation is to ease tensions and protect European economic interests by guaranteeing freedom of movement in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,” according to the French Ministry of Armed Forces.
The Dassault-Breguet Atlantique 2 entered service in 1992 in the Marine Nationale, though it is based on the Breguet Atlantic, an airframe developed in the 1960s. Standard 6 brings in a new combat system, a new radar, and new sensors, which provides the crew with the latest generation screens and a more efficient system that allows faster processing of data collected during maritime patrol missions, the Ministry explains.
In 2018, Germany and France agreed to develop a new naval patrol plane, the Maritime Airborne Warfare System (MAWS). The Deutsche Marine needs to replace 8 Lockheed P-3C Orion aircraft, constructed in the 1980s, while the 22 ATL2 of the Marine Nationale also needs replacement.
However, after Germany chose to buy five Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to retire the P-3C early, France is expected to step down from the MAWS program to develop its own solution based on Dassault’s latest business jet, the Falcon 10X.
By expressing its opposition to any presence of foreign forces in the region, the Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly stressed that security in the region can only be ensured with the cooperation of neighboring countries.
Recently, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, a senior diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated that Iran opposes any foreign military presence in the Persian Gulf region, including European forces, and stressed that security in the region must be ensured by regional countries.
The presence of foreign forces will not only not contribute to establishing security but will also increase tensions.
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