Nieuport-Saulnier Aquilon

The Aquilon was introduced to replace the Mystère as primary fleet defense fighter. The primary features of the Aquilon, it's long range radar, two place crew, and variable gemoetry wings make it a distinct aircraft.

Development
Development began at the end of the 1960s to provide future replacement for the then new Mystère fleet defense fighter.

Early Development

The roots of what would become the Aquilon began with experimental projects starting in 1969 to improve or replace the then-new Mystère fleet defense fighter. A series of five prototype series known as Super Mystère I-V laid the groundwork for the Future Fleet Defense Fighter program which was officially begun in June of 1972. The Super Mystère program is discussed in more detail in the Mystère article, but of note here are Super Mystère III and Super Mystère IV which trialed long range missiles that would be employed as the R5, and variable sweep wings. When the Future Fleet Defense Fighter program was launched, range, flight characteristics, and loiter time specifications all but dictated the use of variable sweep wings, and because of this the Super Mystère IV development aircraft was taken as the initial model for development.

Future Fleet Defense Fighter

The Future Fleet Defense Fighter program (Henceforth: FFDF Program) was initiated in 1972 and ran until late 1979 as a development program for concepts and technologies to be used in the replacement for the Mystère fleet defense fighter, which was at this point unnamed. The FFDF Program carried on development under its umbrella of a number of technologies that were seen as vital to achieving the ambitious goals for the next generation fighter. These technologies involved the development of a long range air interception radar in order to utilize the full capability of missiles like the R5, digital fly by wire technology, improved engines, thrust vectoring, and some signature reduction. Not all of the goals would be realized before the end of the FFDF Program in 1979, though most would be implemented into the production aircraft. The FFDF program was closed on November 13th 1979 with the revealing of the final design concept for the next generation fighter, now named Aquilon.

First Flight and teething problems

The prototype Aquilon first took to the air on September 4th, 1983 under the auspices of the FFDF program, with naval test pilot Colonel Jeremy LeBlanc at the controls. Thirty seven prototype aircraft were constructed over the course of 1981-1985 in order to fine tune and fix issues with the engine and wing control systems. The first production model, the Aquilon C1, entered service in June of 1989. The C1 was carrier certified in 1990 and began deploying to sea in mid 1991.

Design
The Aquilon features an automatic sweep variable geometry wing with one rotating hardpoint on each wing to maintain alignment with the fuselage. The large single vertical tail folds down and to the starboard side for carrier storage.

Armament
Armament consists of a single with 180 rounds. Recessed hardpoints for four R5 BVRAAMs are placed along the underside of the fuselage. These recessed hardpoints can also take the older R4 missile, and operate via an ejector system. There are two wing hardpoints on the variable sweep wings which move with the wing in order to maintain aerodynamic efficiency. Both wing pylons are plumbed for drop tanks. In addition a plumbed hardpoint along the centre line of the fuselage is available, though use prevents carriage of missiles in the fuselage recesses. The wing can carry multiple ejector racks for air to ground munitions, or a combination drop tank pylon with "shoulder" rails for two air to air missiles each, allowing an air defense loadout of four R4 or R5 missiles, and four R3 or R8 missiles, plus two 2,250 litre drop tanks. A smaller 1,500 litre drop tank is avalible but is rarely seen in service with the Marine Nationale.

Powerplant
The Future Fleet Defense Fighter program included development of an advanced turbofan engine to improve not only performance but range and reliability over the engines fitted to the Mystère. The Aquilon is fitted with the M35 turbofan engines. These engines provide an increase in thrust and reliability, while also increasing range on existing fuel by more than twenty five percent. The M35 in the C2 underwent two revisions in service increasing reliability and maintenance access features. The C3 recieved a completely revised M35 engine that provides again increased performance and range while also introducing thrust vectoring.

Operational History
The Aquilon C1 entered fleet service in June of 1989 with Escadrille 17F, and deployed to sea in July of 1991 for the first time aboard the carrier SOMETHING on deployment to the Western Tethys.

The Aquilon C2 began to enter service in 1999, with it's first deployment to sea occuring in 2001.

The Aquilon C3 enters service in 2015.

Current
 Chezzetcook
 * L'Aéronavale