France Signs Agreement with Airbus and Naval Group

The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has awarded the third phase of the RIFAN (Réseau IP de la Force Aéronavale) project, the French Navy’s IP-based communications network, to a consortium led by Airbus Defence and Space. The contract, worth €480 million and lasting up to 10 years, will include the development, deployment and operational maintenance of the RIFAN system. The consortium includes Airbus and Naval Group.

Advanced Network Infrastructure for the Navy

Eric Even, Head of Space Digital Solutions at Airbus Defence and Space, stated that Airbus has been involved in the development of network and communication systems for ships belonging to the French Navy for almost 15 years. Even emphasized that RIFAN 3 will make significant contributions to the "network-centric warfare" concept that will increase cooperation between naval elements in the future.

More than 80 Ships to be Equipped with RIFAN 3

The development process of RIFAN 3 will be carried out between 2026 and 2030, and its integration into ships in the navy will be carried out between 2028 and 2032. The new generation communication network will be integrated into more than 80 ships. Aircraft carriers, amphibious helicopter carriers, frigates, command and support ships, patrol ships, minesweepers, submarines and other support ships will benefit from this system.

Stronger Connectivity and Cybersecurity Measures

The new RIFAN 3 contract aims to increase connectivity between naval ships. In this context, high-speed and low-latency data transmission systems will be put into operation. In addition, reconfigurable network mechanisms that can quickly adapt to tactical and operational scenarios will be developed.

The security of the system will also be strengthened against increasing cyber threats. Airbus and its partners aim to guarantee operational continuity and data integrity with advanced cybersecurity solutions.

Developed as a Sequel to RIFAN 2

The previous version, RIFAN 2, was put into service by the French Navy between 2012 and 2016. The system combines the Syracuse IV, Comcept, commercial satellite constellations (LEO, MEO, GEO) and radio communication resources on ships, providing a highly secure IP-based communication infrastructure. The RIFAN network enables secure sharing of data with different confidentiality levels.

With the new RIFAN 3 project, a more powerful, reliable and faster naval communications network will be created, taking the French Navy's digital warfare capabilities to a further level.