Updates from Pierre Tran - Defense.info...An Update on Franco German Programs: UAVs, FCAS, Tanks and...
Transcript of Updates from Pierre Tran - Defense.info...An Update on Franco German Programs: UAVs, FCAS, Tanks and...
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January 20, 2020
Updates from Pierre Tran on French and European Defense
Policies: 2019
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UPDATING EUROPEAN DEFENSE FOR THE 2020S: ESTABLISHING A EUROPEAN DEFENCE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 4
AN UPDATE ON FRANCO GERMAN PROGRAMS: UAVS, FCAS, TANKS AND A400M 7
FRENCH NAVAL GROUP AND THE GREEK NAVY: BUILDING OUT THE FDI FRIGATE 10
THE FIRST RAFALE TRANSFERRED TO THE INDIAN AIR FORCE: OCTOBER 8, 2019 13
FRANCE, GERMANY AND NEW DEFENSE PROJECTS: FRAMING THE CHALLENGE 16
DASSAULT’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE WAY AHEAD ON EUROPEAN DEFENSE PROJECTS 19
THINKING POST-BREXIT: SERCO LOOKS TO EXPAND FOOTPRINT IN THE FRENCH MARKET 22
AN AIRBUS UPDATE: FIRST HALF OF 2019 FINANCIAL RESULTS 25
THE FRENCH MINISTER OF DEFENSE LAYS OUT THE WAY AHEAD FOR FRENCH MILITARY SPACE POLICY 27
THE COMING OF THE BARRACUDA ATTACK SUBMARINE TO THE FRENCH NAVY 30
PUTTING FCAS INTO A BROADER EUROPEAN POLITICAL CONTEXT: THE EU, BREXIT AND SHAPING A WAY AHEAD 33
MBDA AND FCAS: BUILDING WEAPONS FOR THE “COMBAT CLOUD” 34
FRANCE ARMS ITS REAPERS 36
THE EVOLVING DYNAMIC MISSILE THREAT: A EUROPEAN RESPONSE 38
FINCANTIERI AND NAVAL GROUP MOVE FORWARD ON COOPERATION: THE POSEIDON PROJECT 40
THALES AND THE FUTURE COMBAT AIR SYSTEM 42
REWORKING THE FRANCO-GERMAN ARMS EXPORT POLICIES: A CRUCIAL CHALLENGE FACING FCAS 44
FRENCH NAVAL GROUP AND THE AUSTRALIANS: WORKING THE CULTURAL CHALLENGES 47 RESHAPING A WORK CULTURE 48 AUSTRALIAN BARBECUE AS CULTURAL SIGNIFIER 48 PREPARING FRENCH STAFF 49 CULTURAL PLAY OF THREE NATIONS 50 CURRENT FRENCH SUBMARINE BUILDING APPROACH 50
GERMANY’S EMBARGO ON SAUDI ARABIA AND THE LIMITS OF EUROPEAN ARMS COOPERATION (UPDATED) 52
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AN UPDATE ON THE FUTURE COMBAT AIR SYSTEMS PROGRAM: FEBRUARY 2019 54
A LOOK AT THE F-4 RAFALE UPGRADE PROGRAM 56
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Updating European Defense for the 2020s: Establishing a European Defence and Security Council 12/30/2019 Paris–FranceseekstomaintainclosetieswithBritainafterBrexitonabilateralandmultilateralbasis,withtheMacronadministrationproposingaEuropeancouncilforsecurityanddefenseasaninstitutionallink,agovernmentofficialsaid. TheDec.12thelectionresultedintheUKseeingtheConservativepartyreturnedwithacomfortable80-seatparliamentarymajority,allowingprimeministerBorisJohnsonformallytotaketheUKoutoftheEuropeanUnionattheendofJanuary. “Apagewillturn,”theFrenchofficialtoldDec.17theAnglo-AmericanPressAssociation. FranceseestheUKasavaluablepartnerandispromotingcreationofaEuropeansecurityanddefensecouncil,whichwouldworkwiththeEuropeanCouncil,ahigh-levelEUpoliticalinstitution.
“TheEuropeandefenseandsecuritycouncilisnotnecessarilyaninstrumentsolelyofthe27(EUmembers),”theofficialsaid.Thecouncilwouldserveasa“meansofstructuredexchangebetweentheEuropeanpartnersandtheUnitedKingdom.”
“Weneedtoreachagreementonthecouncil’smission,”theofficialsaid.
Theideaofsuchacouncilhasbeenacceptedandtherearetalksonprocedure.
TherearealreadyEuropeaninstitutionscoveringforeignaffairs,defenseandsecuritybutnosuchhigh-levelpoliticalinstitutiondedicatedtodefense.
TheEuropeanCouncilisthepoliticalforumforheadsofstateandheadsofgovernmentoftheEU,whichBritainwillleaveonJan.31.TheEuropeanCouncilsetsthepoliticalagenda,whiletheEuropeanCommissionactsastheexecutivearm.
FranceandGermanyhavefloatedtheideaofasecurityanddefensecouncil,whichhasbeenconsideredbythinktanks,aEuropeansourceinBrusselssaid.Thereisnotaformalproposalanditremainstobeseenhowsuchanorganizationwouldfitintotheinstitutionallandscape.
FrenchpresidentEmmanuelMacronstirredheateddebatebyevokingthe“braindeath”ofNato,inanNov.7interviewwithBritishweekly,TheEconomist,withthatcriticalstatestemmingfromalackofreliablesupportfromtheUS.
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USpresidentDonaldTrumpsaidMacron’scommentwas“very,verynasty,”whenafewweekslaterthepoliticalleadersgatheredfortheNatosummit,heldatGrovehotelonagolfcourseatWatford,northofLondon.Thatmeetingmarkedthe70thanniversaryoftheAtlanticalliance.
HowthecouncilwouldbesetupraisesquestionsastheUKwillhavelefttheEUifandwhentheinstitutionweresetup.
IfBritainwereonthecouncil,whichothernationswouldhaveaplaceatthetable,saidJean-PierreMaulny,deputydirectorofthinktankInstitutdesRelationsInternationalesetStratégique.
OnewayroundthestructuralproblemraisedbyBrexitmightbeaninformalgroup,hesaid.ThereareinformalgroupssuchBritain,FranceandGermanyspeakingasathree-strongEuropeangrouponIran.
“Perhapsitwillbeaninformalsolution,butaninstitutionalone,”hesaid.
“It’sagreatideainprinciple,”saidNickWitney,seniorresearchfellowatEuropeanCouncilforForeignRelations,athinktank.
SuchacouncilmightyieldastrategicoverviewseenasneededinEurope.
“Theneedtore-engageinserious,collectivestrategicthinking,asopposedtowaitingtobetoldwhattodobytheAmericans,maybethesinglemostimportantsteptowardsaEuropethatissignificantlymorecapableofdefendingitself,”WitneysaidinaJune25ECFRreport.
“SuchaEuropeismorelikelytosurvivethetwenty-firstcenturyasaprotagonistratherthanprey.”
TheECFRreportwastitledBuildingEuropeans’CapacitytoBuildThemselves.
MacroninaMarch4speechcalledfora“EuropeansecuritycouncilwiththeUnitedKingdomonboardtoprepareourcollectivedecisions”
Inthatdiscourse,titledForEuropeanRenewal,MacronsoughtaEuropebackedbyadefenseandsecuritytreaty“todefineourfundamentalobligationsinassociationwithNATOandourEuropeanallies.”
Macronalsocalledformoredefensespending.
Onthebilateralfront,therewillbecelebrationinNovemberofthe10thanniversaryoftheLancasterHousetreaty,theFrenchofficialsaid.
AFrenchsenatereportonarmsprocurementonNov.27calledforFrancetoputfreshenergyintheLancasterHouseaccord.
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ThatAnglo-Frenchtreatyisabilateralagreementforoperationalandindustrialcooperation,includingresearchinnuclearweapons,ajointcombinedexpeditionaryforce,andsharingtechnologyforacombatUAV.
Therearealsoplanstocelebratethe80thanniversaryofthecallbythelateFrenchpresident,CharlesdeGaulle,forFrancetofightbackagainsttheNazis.TheBBCbroadcastthatcalltoarmsfromLondononJune181940.
Ontheoperationalfront,theBritishhelpina“verysignificantway”,inthesub-SaharanSahelregion,flyingChinookheavytransporthelicopterssupportingFrenchforces.ThoseChinooksare“ofhighvalue,”theofficialsaid.
Thereismuchscopeforindustrialcooperation,theofficialsaid.
“Weareconfidentwecandeepenthecooperationindefenseandsecurity.”
AskedonwhetherBritaincouldjointheFranco-GermanprojectforaFutureCombatAirSystem,theofficialsaid,“It’sclearlyaFranco-Germanproject,witha“primepartner”and“juniorpartner”ineachsignificantpartoftheaircraft.
ThesepartnershaveFrench,German,andFrench-German-Britishlinks,theofficialsaid,addingthattherewasnoknowledgeofaBritishrequestfordirectpartnershiponFCAS.
Ontheindustrialfront,“obviouslyMBDAisanAnglo-Frenchsuccess,”theofficialsaid.
MBDAisamissilemaker,withjointownershipinBritain,FranceandGermany.
ThereisalsocloseFrenchcooperationwithGermany,withtwoflagshipindustrialprojects,namelyaNewGenerationFighterinFCASandanewtankintheMainGroundCombatSystem,andanagreementforarmsexports.
“Weareworking,andGermanyworkswithus,”theofficialsaid.
ThenewtankisakeyelementinaplannedMGCS,designedasasystemofsystemscomposedofseverallandvehicles,bothmannedandunmanned.
TheFrenchvehicleswillworkintheArmy’sScorpionmodernizationprogram,whiletheGermanvehicleswillplugintotheequivalentnationalsystem.
Ontheinstitutionalfront,theEuropeanCommissionisgearingupforastrongerpresenceindefense,withtheappointmentofThierryBreton,EuropeanCommissionerforinternalmarkets,andcreationofadirectorategeneralfordefense.
BretonisformerCEOofAtos,aFrenchtechnologycompany,andformerfinanceminister.
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TheEUissettinguptheEuropeanDefenseFundwitha2021-2027budgetof€13billiontoco-fundresearchprojectswithindustry.ThatfundispartofabidtoboostEuropeanstrategicautonomyandsovereignty.
MacronpursuesastrongEurope,whichincludesEuropeandefense.Inthepursuitofthelatter,theprojectsforFCASandtheMGCStanksystemwerelaunched.Thereisalsoaplannedmedium-altitudelong-enduranceUAV.
An Update on Franco German Programs: UAVs, FCAS, Tanks and A400M 11/02/2019Paris–ToughtalksbetweenindustryandtheFrenchandGermanauthoritiesondevelopmentcostareholdingupaprogramlaunchofamedium-altitude,long-enduranceunmannedaerialvehicle,theFrenchprocurementchiefsaid.
JoelBarre,headoftheDirectionGénéraledel’Armementprocurementoffice,gaveOct.2anupdateonthestalledUAVproject,alongwithFranco-GermaneffortstolaunchprogramsforaFutureCombatAirSystemandanewtankintheMainGroundCombatSystem.
AirbusDefenceandSpaceisprimecontractor,workingwithpartnerDassaultAviationontheplannedUAV,inaEuropeanattempttoenterakeymarketledbytheU.S.andIsrael.
“Theholduptodayliesindifferencesoverdevelopmentcost,”BarretoldthedefensecommitteeoftheFrenchsenate,accordingtominutesofthemeeting.DevelopmentisoneofthreeelementsintheprospectivecontractfortheUAV,alongwithproductionandservice.
“Ihaveeveryhopeofreachingagreementbytheendoftheyear,becausewewillnotbuildtheMALE(UAV)atanyprice.Discussionsarebeingheld,theconversationofthelastfewdaysseemtoberatherencouraging.Tosumup,Ihavesomehopebutnoguarantees.”
BerlinandPariscalledforarevisedplanfortheEuropeanMALEUAVprojectafterindustryrequestedmorethan€2billion($2.2billion),doubleaninitialestimatedbudget,LaTribunebusinesswebsitereported.
ThatfundingoverspillfromindustrycomparestoaninitialFranco-Germanbudgetof€4billionby2025fordevelopmentofanewgenerationfighterjetintheFCASproject,withFrancecontributing€2.5billion,accordingtotheFrencharmedforcesministry,Reutersreported.
ThefutureEuropeanUAVwouldbearmedandequippedforsignalsintelligence,theAirchiefofstaff,GeneralPhilippeLavigne,toldOct.10thedefensecommitteeofthelowerhouseNationalAssembly.
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TheUAVbudgetrequestreflectstwinenginesand10-tonweight,whichmakestheUAV“tooheavy,tooexpensiveandthereforedifficulttoexport,”ChristianCambon,chairmanoftheSenatedefensecommittee,saidinaJune26parliamentaryreport.ThosespecificationsreflectedGermanrequests,leadingto“obesity,”hesaid.
ThatweightcouldbecomparedtoaRafalefighterjet,whichweighssome10tonswithoutfuelandweapons,andReaperMQ-9,weighingsometwotons,withoutarmsandpayloads.
TheGermanspecificationfortwinenginesreflectsaconceptofoperationscenteredonflyingdomesticsurveillanceandavoidingacrashonaGermancity,Cambonsaid.
FortheFrenchforces,theUAVisforoverseasdeploymentinMaliandAdrardesIfoghas,amountainousrangeneartheMaliborderwithAlgeria.
TherecurringcostforserviceoftheUAVisthefactorclosesttobudgetaryagreement,Barresaid.
“Thequestionofover-specificationisnolongeranissue,”hesaid.Thetwinenginesarea“reality.”
Twoenginesincreasedweightandcost,butFranceacceptedin2017thatconfiguration,hesaid.Whatremainedtoberesolvedwasreachingagreementwithindustryoncost-efficiency.
ItalyandSpainhavesignedupfortheUAVproject.TheFrench2019-25militarybudgetlawforesees18UAVs,onthebasisofsixUAVsystems,withthreeunitspersystem.
OntheFCASproject,Cambonsaidanewfighterprogramwouldcost€25billion,whichcalledforcooperationassuchabudgetwasoutsidethereachofFranceactingonitsown.
Barresaidthereremainedtwofactorstoresolvebeforelaunchingworkonatechnologydemonstratorforthenewgenerationfighter.
“ThefirstelementisorganizingtheentryofSpainintotheprogram,”hesaid.Thatrequiredfindinga“goodcompromise”toavoidadelayintheprototypeandshouldbereachedbeforeanOct.16Franco-Germanministerialcouncilmeetingondefenseandsecurity.
TheSpanishdefenseminister,MargaritaRobles,signedJune17,theopeningdayoftheParisairshow,aframeworkagreementtobringSpainintotheFCASprogram,ledbyFranceandDassault,andpartneredwithGermanyandAirbusD&S.
Thesecond,moresensitive,elementlayinappointingSafranasprimecontractorontheengineprogram,withMTUAeroEnginesasindustrialpartner,Barresaid.
Theindustrialresponsibilitiesshouldbeclearlysetout,incontrasttotheengineontheAirbusA400Mairlifter,hesaid.TherearetalksbetweenSafranandMTUtoaccordprogramleadershiptotheformertoensurebalanceintheworkassignedtothecompanies.
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Therewouldbearesolutionfollowingtalkswiththecompaniesandbetweenthecompanies,hesaid,addingthe“highestpoliticallevel”wouldresolvethesituationifneeded.TheFrenchandGermanministerswouldmeetOct.9todiscussorganizationofengineproductionaheadofthebilateralministerialcouncilmeetingthefollowingweek,hesaid.
InFrance,theDGA,backedbythegovernment,negotiateswithindustry,andtalkstotheGermancounterpart,thejuniordefenseminister,hesaid.InGermany,industryhas“averypowerfulrole”indecision-making.
TheGermanpoliticalsideiscomplex,withthegovernmentseekingconsensusbetweenthreeorfourparties,andpowerfuloversightbytheBundestagparliament,twoFrenchdefenseexecutivessaid.OntheFrenchside,thepresidentholdspoliticalpower.
ProblemsontheTP-400engineswereamongthekeyfactorsinslowingdeliveriesoftheA400M.
Theprogramtobuildanewpowerfulturbopropenginewasbasedonworkshare,reflectingclientordersfortheaircraft.GermanyhadorderedthelargestnumberofA400M,openingthewayforGermanindustrytolearnhowtobuildcoreengineparts.
ThatledtocostlydelaysandaFrenchcommitmenttoavoidfuturelargeindustrialconsortiums.
AirbusandDassaultcalledOct.7,aheadoftheministerialcouncilmeeting,forlaunchoftheprototypefighterjet,backedby“areliablefundingplan.”
“Wecallonourpoliticalleaderstomakeeveryefforttolaunchthesedemonstratorsattheearliestopportunityinwhatwillbeakeystepinmovingthisambitiousprojectforward,”EricTrappier,CEOofDassaultandDirkHoke,CEOofAirbusDSsaidinajointstatement.
OnthebudgetfortheMGCSprojectforanewtank,thereisgovernmentagreementon50:50worksharesplitbetweenFranceandGermany,withNexterleadingtheFrenchside,andKrauss-MaffeiWegmannandRheinmetallsharingtheGermanstake,adefensesourcesaid.
ItwillbeuptothetwoGermanpartnerstonegotiatetheirrespectivesharesoftheprogram,withanequalsplitseenastheideal,thesourcesaid.
Therewillalsobeninesub-projectsforasystemarchitecturestudy,witheachofthethreepartnerstakingleadershipofthreesubprojects,thesourcesaid.
Thatarchitecturestudywillbeginearlynextyearandwilllaunchatechnologydemonstratorforthetank,theElyséepresident’sofficesaidontheOct.16meetingoftheFranco-Germandefenseandsecuritycouncil.ThatmeetingwasheldinToulouse,southwesternFrance.
ThetankprojectwillbeopentootherEuropeannations,theElyséeofficesaid.ParisandBerlinwouldalso“examinestepsforafurtherconsolidationandevolutionoftheirlandsystemsindustries.”
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French Naval Group and the Greek Navy: Building out the FDI Frigate 10/27/2019LORIENT,France–TheGreeknavychiefofstaffwasforeignguestofhonorattheOct.24ceremonyoffirstcuttingofsteelforthefrigatefordefenseandintervention(FDI),signalingNavalGroup’saimtohelpcloseasaleofthenewFrenchwarship.
AdmiralNikolaosTsounissatinthefrontrow,alongwithhisFrenchcounterpartAdmiralChristophePrazuckandarmedforcesministerFlorenceParly,asexecutivechairmanHervéGuillouwelcomedguestsatthecompanyshipyardinnorthwestFrance.
TheGreekdefenseminister,NikosPanagiotopoulos,andParlysignedanon-bindingletterofintentionforprocurementoftwoFDIwarships,theFrenchministertweetedOct.10.
FrancelaunchedtheFDIprogram,worth€3.8billion($4.2billion),inApril2017,consistingoffivefrigatesfortheFrenchnavy.Thatwarship,underthebrandnameofBelharra,willbevitaltoFrencheffortstowinexportsales.
Adeterminationtohelpthegovernment-to-governmentnegotiationscouldbeseeninGuillou’sendinghisspeechinGreek,andNavalGroupflyingtheGreekflagalongwithflagsforFrance,theEuropeanUnionandthecompany.
NavalGroupprovidedtransportandaccommodationforthepresstrip,whichincludedfourGreekreporters,ofwhichthreewerefortelevisionandoneforaweeklymagazine.
Guillouwelcomedtheforeignguests,whichincludedtheNewZealandambassador,andthePolishdefenseattachéanddeputydefenseattaché,pointinguptheprioritysetonexportdealsinatoughworldmarket.
Therearepotentialsalesofatleast40intermediatefrigatesaroundtheworld,aseniorNavalGroupexecutivesaidin2016.
GuillouwasinNewZealandOct.10and11aschairmanoftheFrance-Australiabusinesscouncil,partoftheinternationalofficeofMedef,theFrenchbusinesslobbygroup.Guillouwasco-leaderwithThierryMallet,CEOofTransdevonthattrip,whichincludedAustralia.
Transdevisatransportcompany,
TheinternationaldepartmentoftheDirectionGénéraledel’Armement(DGA)procurementofficeisleadingthenegotiations,whichincludeaGreekrequestforarmingthe4,500-tonwarshipwith16cruisemissiles.
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DGAchiefJoelBarrewasattheceremony,inwhichParlystartedtheautomatedcuttingequipment,whichproducedtheoutlineofFDI.ParlyandGuillouwentontosignthecutout.
TheDGAprogramdirectorforFDI,Gregory,declinedOct.23tocommentonwhetherthecontractforthefirstFDIwasworth€2billion,asreportedbybusinesswebsiteLaTribune.
TheGreeknavy’srequirementsareexpectedtoleadtoaunitpriceof€750-€800million,dependingonthechoiceofarmsandequipment.
Athenswouldmarkastepupintheinternationalarmsarenaifthedealweresealed.
“Thisisapoliticaldecision,asanavalcruisemissileisastrategicweaponwithdeepstrikecapability,”saidEtienneDaum,managerforaeronautics,defenseandsecurityatthink-tankCEIS.SailinganFDIwouldalsoboosttheGreekcapabilitywithinNato,headded.
AnavalcruisemissilewouldaddtotheGreekairforceScalpcruisemissileflownonitsMirage2000-5fighterjet.
ThefirstFDIisduetobedeliveredtotheFrenchnavyin2023,withthelastby2030.IfAthensandParisweretoreachagreement,Greecewouldreceivethesecondship,whiletheFrenchnavywouldreceivethethird,andthesecondGreekshipwouldbethefourthbuilt.TwoFDIshipsareduetobedeliveredby2025.
GreecehaslongsoughtaheavilyarmedFrenchfrigate,withtheGreeknavypreviouslyseekingtheFremmmultimissionfrigatewithcruisemissilesbefore2008.ButthefinancialcrisisinthatyearforcedAthenstoputaholdonapurchaseasdeepspendingcutswereimposedonthefrailGreekeconomy.
ForPoland,thereistheSwordfishprogram,withrequirementforahighlycapablefrigatearmedwithacruisemissile,thePolandInwebsitereported
“TheFrenchnavyalsoneedstheFDI,whichisamorecapableshipthantheLafayettefrigate,asthereisrisingthreatandproliferationofweapons,”Daumsaid.
Theshipisdesignedforanti-submarine,anti-airandanti-shipoperations,capabletomakeupathirdofthe15-strongFrenchfleetoffirst-rankwarships.Thatfleetincludeseight6,000-tonFremmmultimissionfrigates,ofwhichtwoareairdefenseversions,andtwoHorizonairdefensefrigates.
Thecontractforthefirstship–tobechristenedAmiralRonarc’h–includesresearchanddevelopmentaswellasconstruction.Thatship,effectivelytheprototype,willincludeadigitalopenarchitecture,twodatacenters,andThalesSeaFire500,afixed-panelradar.
TherewillbeanexpandedversionoftheSetiscombatmanagementsystemtoweavetogetherthevariousonboardsubsystems,aworkstationforcybersecurity,andcapacitytofightoffasymmetricattacksbyfastsmallvessels.
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Therehasbeenworkonanonboardworkstationtogiveamorecompletetacticalpictureandsharethatwithothervessels.Thenavalcooperativesurveillancesystem,whichhasbeentestedontheCharlesdeGaulleaircraftcarrier,HorizonandFremmfrigates,willbefittedonthefirstFDI.
FortheFrenchnavy,themainweaponswillbeMBDAAster15and30anti-airmissiles,Exocetanti-shipmissile,Leonardo76mmcanon,MU90lighttorpedoes,andtworemotecontrolNarwhale20mmcanons.Lightweaponssuchas12.7mmand7.62mmmachinegunscouldbeusedforattacksfromsmallvessels.
MBDAisworkingonanewlaunchsystemtoaccommodatebothA-50AsterandA-70navalcruisemissile.ThereisnocruisemissilefortheFrenchnavyFDI.
Thereisdeckspaceforan11-tonhelicoptersuchasNH90anda700-tonhelicopterdrone.For360°low-lightvisualcoverage,therewillbebanksofBertincamerasonthesinglemast,andtwoSafranPaseoelectro-opticalinfraredsights.
OtherequipmentincludesaThaleshull-mountedKingKlipMk2sonarandCaptas4towedsonararray.MTUwillsupplythedieselengine,expectedtodeliverspeedof27knots.
Therewilla125-strongcrew,comprising111sailorsand14fortheaircraft.
TheDGA,navyandNavalGroup,theprimecontractorandsystemsintegrator,areworkingoncollaborativedesignoftheFDIonanenhancedversionoftheCatiacomputersystem.
TheFDIfrigatehasgrowninweight.WhenFranceunveiledareducedscalemodelatthe2016Euronavaltradeshow,theshiphadbeenexpectedtoweigh4,250tonsratherthanthepresent4,500ton.
NavalGrouphasinvested€27millionintheLorientshipyard,Guillousaid.
TheshipyardisworkingontheAlsace,thefirstofthetwoFremmairdefenseversions,andhascapacityforbuildingfourwarshipsatthesametime.Theyardisworkingtocutthebuildtime,withtheFremmnowtaking42monthsafter72monthsforthefirstvessel.
ThefirstFDIisscheduledtotake38months,andatargetof30monthshasbeensetforlaterunits.
“Itiscloseto€12billionwhichwillbeinvestedinnavalcombat,anti-submarinewarfareandattacksubmarines,”Parlysaidatthesteelcuttingceremony.
“Thismilitarybudgetlaweffectivelypreparesthefutureforournavy.”
Parlywasreferringtothefundssetasideforthenavyinthe2019-2025militarybudgetlaw,whichrequiresannualconfirmationbythefinanceministry.
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The First Rafale Transferred to the Indian Air Force: October 8, 2019 10/08/2019Paris–DassaultAviationplayedthehostforanOct.8ceremonyforhandoverofthefirstRafalefighterjettoIndia,signalingaclosemilitaryandindustrialtieFranceseekstodeepenamidststiffcompetitionfromIsrael,RussiaandtheU.S.
ThepresenceofIndiandefenseministerRajnathSinghandhisFrenchcounterpart,FlorenceParly,pointedupthepoliticalsignificanceofthedeal,worthsome€7.9billion($8.7billion).ThetwoministerswereduetoholdintheeveningabilateralmeetingandworkingdinneratBrienneHouse,theministerialofficeinthecapital.
IndiawasoneofFrance’s“principlestrategicpartners,”ascouldbeseenbySingh’sattendingthedelivery,theFrencharmedforcesministrysaidinanOct.8statement.TheFrenchandIndiandefenseministerswoulddiscussbilateralcooperationandsecurityintheIndo-Pacificregion.
ThefirstRafalewasdeliveredlastmonth,buttheministersflyingdowntoDassault’splantatMerignac,nearBordeaux,pointupthepoliticalcapitalinvestedintheRafaledeal.
Thatformaleventwillbeheldjust10daysaheadofDiwali,afive-dayHindufestival,whenlamps,lanternsandcandlesarelittomarkvictoryoflightoverdarkness,goodoverevil.IndiawillbeguestnationwhenFranceholdsitsbookfestivalnextMarch.
“Thisisveryimportant,”saidTaraVarma,policyfellowandheadoftheParisofficeofEuropeanCouncilforForeignRelations,athink-tank.Thehandoveristhe“concreterealization”ofadealwhichtookyearstoseal,afterIndiaswitchedin2016toadirectorderfor36Rafaleanddroppingacquisitionof126fightersafterholdingatenderformediummulti-rolecombataircraft(MMRCA).
TherehavebeenallegationsofcorruptionontheRafaledeal,whichIndiaandDassaulthavedenied.
FranceisintalkstosellmoreRafalestoIndia,lookingtoanannouncementtobemadeinJanuarywhenFrenchpresidentEmmanuelMacronvisitsIndia,businesswebsiteLaTribunereportedOct.7.
Macron’svisitwillbehissecondtriptoIndiainthreeyears,pointingupthesignificanceoftiestoNewDelhi,Varmasaid.
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ThatpresidentialvisitmayreflectFrenchhopesbutitisnotcleartheIndianairforcewillmeetthatexpectation,shesaid.Indiaaddedlastyearafurther€5.6billiontothedefensebudget,reflectingtheneedforanti-submarinewarfareandcombathelicopters,aswellasmorefighterjets,
TheIndiannavyseekstoacquire57carrier-basedfighters,whiletheairforceseeksafurther110fighters.
FrancewantstobeclosetoIndia,whileNewDelhihedgesitsbetsbybuyingarmsfromIsrael,RussiaandtheU.S.
IsraelisactiveinIndiaandwillsupplyequipment,includingmissiles,Varmasaid.TheIndianairforcewillbearmedwithotherweaponsbesidestheScalpcruiseandMeteorlong-rangemissile,shesaid.
RussiahassuppliedMiGandSukhoifighterstoIndiaandhassignedadealforitsS-400surface-to-airmissile.
TheU.S.hasshippedP-8maritimepatrolaircraft,andApacheattackandChinooktransporthelicopterstoequiptheIndiaservices.
TheRafalewillbefittedforflyingnuclearweapons,IndianbusinessdailyEconomicTimeshasreported.
ThedeliveryoftheRafalecomesafterPakistanshootingdowninFebruaryanIndianF-16andcapturingthepilot.ThereleaseandhandoveroftheIndianpilothelpedcalmsomeofthetensionbetweenthetwonationslonglockedinregionaldispute.
ThatarmedclashraisedPakistantothesamehighlevelofthreattoIndiapreviouslyheldbyChina,Varmasaid.
IndiaandFrancefostercloserelations,includingculturalties.MacronmetModiinAugustatprestige-ladenChantillycastleforbilateraltalksjustaheadoftheG-7summit,towhichtheFrenchpresidenthadinvitedtheIndianpoliticalleader.
Thosemovessignala“strategicpartnership”of21years,anIndianofficialsaid.
Dassaulthasgiven“significantsupport”toIndia’seducationandsciencepolicybysettingupanengineeringcenter,aDassaultskillacademy,andavocationaltrainingprogramdubbedAeronauticalStructureandEquipmentFitter,thecompanysaidinastatement.
DassaulthasalsosetupanassemblyplantatNagpur,centralIndia,withitsIndianjointventurepartnerReliance.ThatsitewillbuildpartsfortheDassaultFalconbusinessjetandcouldallowfinalassemblyfortheRafale,ifadealwerestruck.
ThoseinvestmentsarepartoftheoffsetdealsrequiredbytheMakeinIndiaandSkillIndiaprogramssetbyNewDelhi,seekingtoboostthedomesticeconomy.
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IndiaisamajormarketforweaponsfromthewestandRussia.
TheIndiannavalmarketcontinuestogrow,asthere-electionofModiinMayledtoearlystepsofacompetitionforsixmorediesel-electricboats,withchallengingrequirements.
FrenchshipbuilderNavalGrouphasrepliedtoIndia’sexpressionofinterestinselectingaStrategicPartnertobuildsixmoresubmarinesundertheProject-75(I)project.
NavalGroupsoldsixScorpenesubmarinesin2005inadealreportedtobeworth$3.5billion.
TheFrenchcompanyfileda“fullycompliantandadaptedresponse,”SoumyajyotiBasu,NavalGroup’scountrysalesdirectorforIndia,saidOct.2.IndianshipyardshavealsosubmittedresponsetotheexpressionofinteresttobealocalStrategicPartner.
IndiahassetrequirementsforastealthysubmarinelargerthantheScorpene,capableoflandattackmissiles,andextensivetechnologytransferforlocalassembly,hesaid.
TheIndiangovernmentsaidinaJune20statementthenavywouldhaveanoptionforsixmoresubmarinesundertheP-75(I)project.
IndiawilllikelyattractbidsfromGermany,SouthKorea,SpainandRussia,alongwiththeFrenchoffer.TheIndiandefenseministryandnavywillreviewthesubmissions,drawupashortlistandsendoutaRequestforProposal.
NavalGroupwillpitchitsF-21weaponinanIndiantenderfor98heavytorpedoes,withacompetitionexpectedtobelaunchedbytheendoftheyear.
Theshipbuilderisalsoofferingextensiveservicepackages.
TheIndianNavycommissionedSept.28itssecondScorpeneclasssubmarine,theKhanderi,whichfollowsthefirstofclassKalveri,commissionedinDecember2017.
TheKalveriwasdeliveredlate,reflectingtheneedtoregainexpertiseafteradecade-longgapinbuildingsubmarines.Therewasalsotardysupplyofsubsystemsandsteel.
DeliveryoftheremainingfourScorpeneboatsisexpectedtobeeverynineto12monthsasfromlastmonth.TheIndiannavywillsetthedateforformaldeliveryandcommissioning,asmuchdependsonthemonsoon,whichhitsthegulfoffMumbaiontheArabiansea.
IndiaflieseightPoseidonP-8anti-submarinewarfareaircraftandorderedin2016fourmoreunits.Anacquisitionofafurther10unitshasbeenapproved.
EuropeanmissilemakerMBDAwillsupplymissilesfortheIndianRafaleandMirage2000Hfighterjets,inadealworth€710million.
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TheRafalewillbearmedwithMicaair-to-air,ScalpcruiseandMeteorlong-range,air-to-airmissiles.TheMicawillalsoarmtheupgradedMirage.
TheIndianjointventurebetweenMBDAandLarsen&Toubrowillbuildthosemissiles.
“TheMBDAmissilewarningsystemisbasedonaninfrareddetectorfromLynred,”saidDavidBillon-Lanfrey,strategydirectoratthespecialistininfraredtechnology.
IntheIndiandriveforlocaloffset,theEuropeanmissilebuildersignedSept.12amemorandumofunderstandingwithBharatDynamicsLtd,withtheIndianpartnertakingupfinalassembly,integrationandtestoftheMistralandanadvancedshort-range,air-to-airmissile.Thelatter,dubbednewgenerationclosecombatmissile,willarmtheJaguarfighter.
HindustanAeronauticsLtdwillintegratetheMistralontheDhruvhelicopterandthelightcombathelicopter.
Inlandweapons,anIsraelicompany,Elbit,anditslocalpartnerBharatwonacontractestimatedtobeworthmorethan$1billionintheTrajanprojectfortowedartillery,beatingarivalofferfromNexter,aFrenchfirm.
NexterawaitslaunchofacompetitionforIndia’smountedgunsystem,arequirementsetin2010.TheFrenchstate-ownedcompanyhasteamedwithAshokLeylandtopitchitsCaesartruck-mounted155mm/52caliberartilleryforthatprospectivetender.
India’smilitaryacquisitionispartofitsdrivetofosterdomesticindustry.
“Theoverallaimwouldbetoprogressivelybuildindigenouscapabilitiesintheprivatesectortodesign,developandmanufacturecomplexweaponsystemsforthefutureneedsoftheArmedForces,”theIndiangovernmentsaidJune20.
“Thiswillbeanimportantsteptowardsmeetingbroadernationalobjectives,encouragingselfrelianceandaligningthedefensesectorwiththe‘MakeinIndia’initiativeofthegovernment.”
France, Germany and New Defense Projects: Framing the Challenge 09/18/2019 BOURGES/AVORDAIRBASE,France
FranceandGermanyneedtoresolvepolitical,industrialandoperationaldifferenceshangingoverprojectsforanewfighterjetandanewtank,aFrenchsenatorsaidSept.13.
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ANewGenerationFighteriskeytotheplannedFutureCombatAirSystem,backedbyFrance,GermanyandSpain,whileBerlinandParisarealsolookingtodevelopandbuildanewtankintheMainGroundCombatSystem.
Frenchparliamentarians,chiefsofstaffandtopindustryexecutivesataplenarysessionofaSept.12-13conferenceheardasummaryofproblemshangingoverthetwoarmsprojectsseenascornerstonesforfutureEuropeandefense.
Theconference,dubbedsummerdefenseuniversity,wasorganizedbyCEIS,aconsultancy,andbackedbyDassaultAviation.TheeventwasheldatBourgesandAvordairbase,centralFrance.
TheconferenceisrunonChathamHousereportingruleswhichaskforanonymityofspeakers.
“Today,thereisconcernoverFCAS,”saidthesenator,pointingoutthatFrancewantstopursue“operationalcapabilities,”whileGermanyseeksindustrialcontentforitscompaniesinadriveforeconomicgain.
ThereisalsoaGermancallforcloseparliamentaryoversightoftheFCASprogramthroughareleaseoffundinginsmalltranches.FranceleadsonFCAS,withDassaultAviationasprimecontractor,whileGermanysteerstheMGCStankprojectandaplannedEuropeanmedium-altitude,long-enduranceunmannedaerialvehicle.
FCASandMGCSmaybeseparateprojectsbuttheyhavebecomecloselyrelated,asGermanparliamentarianshavelinkedsupervisoryapprovalofonetotheother.
ProgressonFCASdependsonBerlinfindingworktobeassignedtoRheinmetallinGermany’s50percentinMGCS,thesenatorsaid.AUSpensionfundholdsalargestakeinRheinmetall,thesenatoradded.
TheassumptionhadbeenfamilyownedKrauss-MaffeiWegmannwouldholdtheGermanstakeinMGCS,withstate-ownedNexterholdingtheFrench50percent.
TalksarestillgoingonforhowtoshareouttheworkbetweenKMWandRheinmetall,anditcannotbeassumedtherewillbea25percentstakeforeachcompany,aEuropeanofficialsaidonthesidelinesoftheconference.
Rheinmetallsuppliestheturret,whileKMWworksonthechassisontheLeopard2heavytank.
AseniorFrenchexecutive,alsospeakingonthesidelines,madeitclearitwasonly“certainparliamentarians”whichwereholdingupFCASratherthanthefullGermanBundestagparliament.
AnoperationalissuetoberesolvedishowthenewfighterjetwillbeabletocarrytheFrenchnuclearmissileandNatoatomicbomb,astheGermanairforcefliesthelatter,suppliedbytheUS,thesenatorsaid.
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AfurtherconcernisneedforanagreementbetweenBerlinandParisonarmsexports,asFCASwillneedforeignsalestohelpfunditsprogram,thesenatorsaid.
Anexportagreementwillsoonbereached,aseniorFrenchofficialsaidattheplenarysession,decliningfurthercomment.
PresidentEmmanuelMacronandchancellorAngelaMerkelreachedanagreementattheG-7summitatBiarritzonFranco-Germanarmsexportpolicy,withBerlinforegoingarightofapprovaliftherewerelessthan20percentofGermancontentinvalueinaFrenchweaponbeingsoldabroad,afternoondailyLeMondereported.
FrancewantedalowerlevelofGermancontent,asthatwouldhavegivenParismorelatitudeinpitchingFrencharmsinoverseasmarkets.
That20percentthresholdalsoappliedforFrenchoversightofGermanarmsexports.
“Whenthereisabigdeal,likeafighterjet,ithastobediscussed,”saidFrançoisLureauofEuroFLconsult.“Thereshouldberules,butitishardtogeneralizeandforeseethesituationin30year’stime,”headded.
Thereshouldbediscussionandcompromise,hesaid,addingthattheDebré-Schmidtagreementonforeignarmssaleshadneverbeenobserved.ThatwasaFranco-Germanpactdatingbacktothe1970s.
Lureauisaformerprocurementchief.
ThearmsexportdealwasincludedinaFranco-GermantreatysignedJan.22atAix-la-Chapelle,magazineDerSpeigelreportedFeb.15.
FrenchexecutivespointupatardinessofGermandeliveryofcomponents,seenasabidtoslowsalesofFrenchweapons.FranceandGermanycompeteintheworldarmsmarket.
TherewasadeafeningsilenceattheconferenceontheUK’spursuitofitsTempestproject,despitetheSept.11announcementBritishcompanieshadsignedastatementofintentwithItalianpartnersoncooperationforanewfighter.
TheseniorFrenchofficial,however,didpredicttherewouldbecooperationwiththeBritishonthenewfighterprograms.
ItmadenosensetohavetwonewEuropeanfighterprogramsanditwaslikelytherewouldbeamergingoftheprojects,aBritishexecutivesaid.
BAESystems,Rolls-Royce,andtheBritishunitsofLeonardoandMBDAsignedstatementsofintentwithAvioAero,Elettronica,LeonardoandMBDAinItalytoworkona“conceptandpartnership
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model,”seekingtoshareknowledge,productdefinitionandtechnologydevelopmentfordevelopmentofafuturecombatairsystem
ThatindustrialagreementfollowedItalyandtheUKcommittingtoworktogethercloselyoncombataircapabilitiesincludingTyphoon,F-35andTempest.
TherewasnosurpriseItalyteamedupwiththeUKasbothnationsoperatetheF-35,aFrenchexecutivesaid.ItremainedtobeseenwhethertherewouldbefundsforTempestinviewoftheacquisitionofF-35.
ItalyhadshownnointerestinjoiningFCAS,andthereisdoubtwhetherRomehadsufficientfunds,aFrenchofficersaidonthesidelinesoftheconference.
OntheproposalfortheEuropeanMALEUAV,thereisavastdifferencebetweenindustry’sofferandwhatthegovernmentsarewillingtopay,theofficersaid.
ArmedforcesministerFlorenceParlysaidinherJune17speechattheParisairshowthatindustryneededtocutthepriceoftheUAV.
“Isaytothem—andthecompaniesknowit—thatthisprogramwillnotgetoffthegroundunlessthedronetheyareproposingiscompetitive,”shesaid.
Thatpricingwasnotjustforthelaunchnations—France,Germany,ItalyandSpain—butprospectiveexportclients,shesaid.Anintensivenegotiationwasopeningup,whichshehopedwouldleadtoannouncementofalaunchcontractthisyear.
AirbusandDassaultareindustrialpartners,withtheformerintheleadontheUAV.
TheFrenchairforcestagedanextensiveflyingdisplayofRafalefighter,A400MtransportplaneandPumahelicopterattheairbaseontheopeningday.Therewasadisplayofgroundtroopsattackinginsurgents,supportedbyalowpassbyRafaleandhelicopterevacuationofawoundedsoldier.
Ontheground,therewasdisplayofarmoredvehiclesincludingJaguartroopcarrier,highmobilityvehicle,AMX10RCfightingvehicleandLeclerctank.TheairbasesupportsthefleetofAwacsspyplane.
Inavasthanger,alongsideanAwacsplane,thereweremanystandsshowingmilitaryprogramsandequipment.
Parlyattendedtheconference.
Dassault’s Perspective on the Way Ahead on European Defense Projects
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09/06/2019
EuropeanindustryneedsmuchpatienceaskeynationshaveyettoagreeonrequirementsandbudgetsforaplannedFutureCombatAirSystem(FCAS)andamedium-altitude,long-endurancedrone,DassaultAviationCEOEricTrappiersaidSept4.
France,GermanyandSpainhaveyettosigncontractsfortechnologydemonstratorsforthetheNewGenerationFighter(NGF),akeyelementinFCASwhichincludesremotecarrierdronesandacommandandcontrolnetwork.
“Weareveryimpatient,”Trappiertoldapressconferenceonthecompany’sfirsthalffinancialresults.ThepartnernationsneedtoagreeonspecificationsandbudgetsfortheFCAS,inwhichtheindustrialpartnershaveagreedtheirrespectiveroles,headded.
“Weareready,”hesaid.“Wesubmittedouroffer.”
TherehadbeenhopesforacontracttobeannouncedattheParisairshow,whichranJune17-23,withprospectsslippingtoSeptemberandtheendoftheyear,hesaid.Engineersarekeentoworkonaprototyperatherthanproposals,andneedtodeveloptheirskills.
Aprototypeisduetoflyin2026,sotheprogramneedstobelaunched,hesaid.Trappierdeclinedtogivedetailsofthebudget.
FranceandGermanyplantoinvestaninitial€4billion($4.4billion)inthenewfighterjetby2025,with€2.5billionfromParis,SkyNewsreportedJune17.
FranceisleadnationontheFCASproject,withDassaultprimecontractorforthenewfighter,whichwillreplacetheFrenchRafale,GermanTyphoonandSpanishF-18.
ItwasimportantforFCASandaplanforanewFranco-Germantanktobekeptentirelyseparate,Trappiersaid,addingDassaultisworkingwithAirbusontheformer.
“Wewouldreallylikethetwosubjectstobefirmlykeptapart,”hesaid.
TrappierhaspreviouslyexpressedconcernoverapotentialspilloverofarowoverGermanindustrialleadershiponthetankproject,dubbedMainGroundCombatSystem(MGCS).
“Progressisdifficult,”hetoldMay22parliamentariansofthedefensecommitteeofthelowerhouseNationalAssembly.
AirbusandDassaultareworkingontheFCASaeronauticalproject,whileRheinmetallisthenewentrantinthetankdeal,inwhichKMWandNexterarepartners,hesaid.
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Rheinmetallobjectstoaproposed25percentshareinthetankproject,equaltothestakeforKrauss-MaffeiWegmann,withtheformerseekingagreaterrole,financialwebsiteLaTribunereportedMay15.
TheFrenchandGermanauthoritiesproposedthe25/25percentshareforRheinmetallandKMWforGermany,withNexterholding50percentforFrance.
Trappierpointeduptoparliamentarians“theslightlysymmetricalnatureoftheFCASprojectandtheMainGroundCombatSystemintermsoforganization,”adding“thedifficultiesofonecouldflowintotheotherasthesametwoprocurementofficesareinvolved.”
TheFrenchprocurementoffice,DirectionGénéraledel’Armement,representsFranceinnegotiationswithGermany,wheretheparliamenthasastrongsupervisoryrole.
Alongsidethenewtank,FranceandGermanyarealsopursingplannednewartillery,dubbedCommonIndirectFireSystem(CIFS).
Meanwhile,Airbus,DassaultandLeonardo,arealsowaitingforcontractsontheproposedEuropeanMALEUAV.ThosearethethreekeycompaniesontheprojectbackedbyFrance,Germany,ItalyandSpain.
Occar,theEuropeanprocurementoffice,wouldmanagethatprogramifthefourpartnernationsreachagreementonrequirementandbudget.
“Youhavetoberesilient;youhavetobepatientonalargedefenseprogram,”evenmoresowhenthereiscooperationwithseveralcountriesandothercompanies,hesaid,addingthattheMALEUAVprojectwillapplyforfinancialbackingfromtheEuropeanDefenseFund.Trappierexpressedconfidencetheprojectwouldwinthecontract.
AirbusisprimecontractorontheEuropeanMALEUAV.
GermanyisleadpartneronthetankandEuropeanUAVcooperativeprojects,whileFranceleadsonFCAS.TheseprojectsarepartofthepursuitofEuropeandefenseasevokedbyFrenchpresidentEmmanuelMacron.
Inexports,Dassaultwilldeliverthefirstof36RafaletoIndiathismonth,Trappiersaid.NowtheelectionsareoverinIndia,talkswillresumeforfurthersalesofthefighter.
TheIndianairforceiskeentoacquireafurther110fighters,whilethenavyseeks57,financialdailyLesEchosreportedJuly22.MacroninvitedIndianPrimeMinisterNarendraModitodinneradaybeforetheopeningoftheG7summit,heldAug.24-26atBiarritz,southwestFrance.
DassaultcontinuestotakepartinfightercompetitionsheldbyFinlandandSwitzerland,Trappiersaid,addingthathewassurprisedittooksolongforAirbustopulloutoftheCanadiancompetitionfor88fighters.
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Dassaultdroppedoutofthattenderlastyear,asthetermswereseenasunreasonable,particularlysecurityrequirementssetbytheNorthAmericanAerospaceDefenseCommand(NORAD),hesaid.
Onthenewgenerationfighter,TrappiercalledforBerlinandParistoagreeontermsforexportcontrolsasforeignsaleswouldbeneededtosupporttheprogram.
AskedaboutBritainbuildingitsTempestfighterandcompetingwiththeFranco-Germancombatjet,hesaid.“Itisbettertohavetwothannothing.”
Frenchofficialsseethatindustrialcapabilityasunderpinningastrategicautonomyandnationalsovereignty.
The2010LancasterHousedefensetreatybetweenFranceandtheUKwillweathertheplannedBrexitmove,ascooperationwillcontinue,hesaid.Britain’spullingoutofcooperationonatechnologydemonstratorforanunmannedcombataerialvehicle(UCAV)mayhavebeenforanumberofreasons,suchasBrexitorbudgetaryconstraint,hesaid.
Franceisexpectedtoplaceanorderfor10Falconjets,comprisingthreeFalcon8X,dubbedArcangel,forelectronicwarfare,andsevenFalcon2000LS,dubbedAlbatros,formaritimepatrol.Theformerwillreplaceanagingtwo-strongfleetofC-160Gabriel.
Dassaultreportedadjustednetprofitof€286millioninthefirsthalf,up54percentfromayearago.Netsalesroseto€3.1billionfrom€1.71billion.
Ordersroseto€2.9billionfrom€2.8billion,helpedbya10-yearservicecontractwithFranceontheRafale,basedonDassault’sactingassingleprimecontractorformaintenanceofequipment,exceptforenginesandejectorseats.
Adjustedoperatingincomeroseto€250millionfrom€111million.Theorderbookeasedto€19.2billionfrom€19.4billion.
Thecashholdingslippedto€4.8billionfrom€5.2billion,withthecompanyforecastingafurtherfallduetospendingonexportRafales,developmentoftwoFalconjetprogramsandnewbuildingsaspartofamodernizationplan.
KMWhaspartneredwithNexterinaFranco-Germanjointventure,KNDS,whichhadbeenassignedasprimecontractorforthenewtank.NexterisaFrenchstate-ownedmakeroflandweapons,includingtheLeclerctankandCaesarartillery.
Thinking Post-Brexit: Serco Looks to Expand Footprint in the French Market 08/04/2019
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Paris–SercoisseekingtobreakintotheFrenchdefensemarketwithoffersofsupportservicestomilitarycommanders,partoftheBritishcompany’sbidtotriplesalesinContinentalEuropeinthenextfouryears,twodirectorssaid.
ThatdrivetowinFrenchoutsourcingdealsfollowsawininSeptemberofaBelgian10-yearcontractworth€40million($44.4million)forfacilitiesmanagementofHeverleeandMeerdaalarmybases,atLeuvennearBrussels.Thereare31morebases,seenasscopeforfurthercontracts.
Theconceptofsupportservicestartswithawardingacontractforacompanytomaintainbuildings,takingcareofmundanetaskssuchascatering,supplyingbedlinen,andmowingthelawn,allowingcommanderstoreleasepersonnelformilitaryduties.
“Theycanfocusonsoldiersbeingsoldiers,”saidMarkVarney,SercodefensebusinessdevelopmentdirectorforEurope.
ApursuitofoutsourcingdealscomesaspresidentEmmanuelMacron,leadingacenter-rightadministration,seekstoprivatizestate-ownedcompaniesandliberalizethemarket.Thatincludesaplantosellallorpartofthegovernment’s50.6percentstakeinADP,anairportoperator.Thatprospectivedealhassparkedstrongpoliticalprotestandcallforareferendum.
“Franceisoneofthemostun-privatizedmarkets,alongwithGermany,”saidSashTusa,analystatwithequityresearchfirmAgencyPartners.“TheUKhasoutsourcedmorethananyothercountry,exceptfortheUS,andthatcutsthecostbase.”
Varneyislookingtopitchtheofferoffacilitiesmanagement(FM)andothersupportservicestoFrenchcommandersandprocurementofficials.
Beyondmanagingmilitarybases,Serco’scoreoffersaremaintenancerepairsfornavalfleetsandrunningtrainingacademies,hesaid.Intheformer,thecompanyrunsdockyardsatPortsmouth,southernEngland,andClydebankinScotland.ThecompanymanagesAustralian,BritishandQataritrainingacademies.
Varney,whoreliesonintroductionsthroughtheBritishembassy,attendedathoughtfulpresentationofpaintingsandsketchesbyArabellaDorman,awarartist,attheambassador’sofficialresidenceonJuly9.
TheBritishexecutiveisalsoworkingthroughtheUKdepartmentofinternationaltrade,asheseekshighlevelaccesstoproposeservicesupportfromtheprivatesector.
Thatisa“matureapproach”intheUK,USandAustralia,hesaid.Belgium’soptingforanoutsourcingdealcouldserveasamodelforpresentationsinFrance.Thecompanycouldtailoritssupporttothesome44basesinFrance,includingtheEcoleMilitaire,whichhousesthewarcollege,andhasstablesandswimmingpooltomaintain,hesaid.
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SercocompeteswithBabcock,aBritishrival,whichwonin2016acontracttosupportaFrenchairforceprogram,dubbedFOMEDEC,totrainfighterpilots.Babcocksupplied17PC-21single-enginetrainersandteamedupwithDassaultAviationonthatlandmarkdeal.
“Flyingtrainingisnotabouttheplatform,butthecompletetrainingsystem,}Tusasaid.“BabcockandtheFrenchairforce,totheircredit,confirmedthat.”
Serco’splantotriplesalesontheContinentisbasedongrowthandacquisition,withanoptionofbuyingasmallormediumcompanytoboostlocalcontactwithdefenseministries,saidGaetanDesclée,managingdirectorforEurope.
“Doweneedtomakeanacquisition?”hesaid.“Withourknowledge,practices,resource,wecanhelpthemdevelopmuchfasterandaccesstobiggermarket.Weactasaglobalcompanyandweareconvincedthatweneedtohavelocalrootsineverycountry,developingourservices.”
Sercoseesitselfasaglobalcompany,listedontheLondonstockexchangewithinternationalshareholders,whileactinglocally,hesaid.
Thecompanyhasbeenonanacquisitivestreak,havingboughtaUScompanyspecializinginnavalsystemsandmadeanunsolicitedofferforBabcock,whichwasrejected.
“Theyweretryingiton,”Tusasaid,referringtotheBabcockbid.
Thatpursuitofacquisitionmayreflectthecompany’seffortstocounteraslowdowninthecoreBritishmarket,whichaccountedin2018forsome40percentofSerco’ssales.
Thedefensesectoraccountsfor€1.1billion,some30percentofofannualsales.
ThecompanystrikeslocalpartnershipswithcompaniesincludingLockheedMartin,Airbus,Thales,Dassault,Engie,andAirLiquidto”customizesolutions,”Descléesaid.SercoteamedwithAirbusinthespacesectorandworkswithLockheedintheUK.
SpaceisseenasagrowthprospectasMacronhassaidhewantstheCNESFrenchnationalspaceagencytoworkmorecloselywithdefense,hesaid.
SercoworkswithSodexo,aFrenchcateringcompany,toprovidemealsin16Britishhospitals,Varneysaid.
ActivitiesontheContinentgeneratemorethan€100millioninannualsales,andtheaimistoriseabove€300millioninlessthanfouryears,Descléesaid.TheBelgiancontractgeneratesannualsalesofsome€4millionandthecompanyseekstoliftannualsalesinthatcountryto€12million.
“IwouldbeveryhappyifIgothalfofthatinFrance,”saidVarney,addingthathehopedtosecurea“decentsizedportfolio”oftwoorthreecontractsgeneratingestimatedannualsalesof€2million.
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AskedabouttheimpactofBrexit,Descléesaid,“ThereisabemusedcuriosityaboutwhatisgoingonintheUK.”TheEuropeanunitofSerco“standsonitsown”andisrelativelyautonomous.Ontheprograms,thereisalocalmanager,withtheskillsfromContinentalEurope,nottheUK.
SercoannouncedMay23acquisitionofthenavalsystemsbusinessunitofAlionScience&Technologyfor$225million.Theunitreported2018salesof$336millionandordersworthsome$600million.Serco’sbusinessinNorthAmericageneratedsalesof$453million.
Thatbusinessunitspecializesindesignofshipsandsubmarines,engineering,andsupportservicesfortheUSArmyandNavy,andCanadianNavy.
RupertSoames,agrandsonofWinstonChurchill,ischiefexecutiveofSerco.HisbrotherisNicholasSoames,aparliamentarianoftheConservativeParty,whichpickedBorisJohnsonasprimeminister.
SercoreportedJuly31reportedfirst-halfoperatingprofitfellto£17.2millionfrom£31.9million.Thatfallinoperatingprofitstemmedfromachargeforexceptionalitems,whichincluded£22.9milliontiedtotheUKSeriousFraudOffice(SFO)closinganinquiry,thecompanysaid.
Sercohadaccepteda£19.2millionfineforthreechargesoffraudandtwooffalseaccountingwhenthecompanyhadprovidedelectronictaggingtotheUKMinistryofJusticebetween2010and2013,Reutersreported.Thatfinewashalvedasthecompanyhadreportedtheoffencesandcooperatedwiththeinquiry.AnagreementhadbeenreachedwiththeSFO.
First-halfunderlingtradeprofitroseto£50.2millionfrom£37.6millionayearago.
Serco’sflagshipFMdealintheUKistomaintainFylingdales,theRAFbasepluggedintotheUSballisticmissileearlywarningsystem.Thatcontractdatesbackto1964.
ThecompanyalsoservicesaircraftintheUK,includingBAE146jets,whichflytheroyalfamily,primeministerandseniorofficials.
An Airbus Update: First Half of 2019 Financial Results 08/01/2019 Paris,France
Germany’ssuspensionofarmsexportstoSaudiArabialedtoacontinuedfinancialhitforAirbus,whichreportedJuly31achargeof€208million($232million)infirst-halfresults.
Thatchargecomprisedachargeof€18millioninthesecondquarterafterachargeof€190millioninthefirstquarter,theEuropeanaircraftbuildersaidinfinancialresults.
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BerlinearlierthisyearextendedtoSeptemberitssix-monthbanonweaponsexportstoRiyad,toprotestagainsttheslayingofSaudijournalistJamalKhashoggi.
LondonandParishavecriticizedthatGermansanction,astheBerlinbanhasheldupdeliveryofBritishandFrenchweaponswhichrelyonGermanparts.
Meanwhile,theAirbusDefenceandSpace(ADS)divisionsaidJulianWhiteheadwouldtakeupthepostofexecutivevicepresidentforglobalbusinessandstrategicprogramsonOct.1.WhiteheadisexecutiveVPforfinanceandsitsontheexecutivecommitteeatthedivision.
ThatappointmentwassignificantinviewoftheworkontheFutureCombatAirSystemandaEuropeanmedium-altitude,long-endurancedrone,DirkHoke,AirbusDSchiefexecutive,saidinastatement.
Thefirst-halfchargeof€208millionontheGermanarmsfreezewaswhatAirbusdubbedan“adjustment”andledtoanadjustedoperatingprofitof€2.5billion,up118percentfromayearago.
Otherchargesincluded€138millionforclosingdownproductionoftheA380superjumboand€90millionofothercosts,includingcompliance.Thelattercoversaninternalinquiryintotheuseofmiddlemenforaircraftandothersales,Reutersreported.
AirbusDefenceandSpacereporteda25percentfallinadjustedoperatingprofitto€233millionfrom€309million,reflectinginvestmentinsalescampaigns.Salesofthedivisionroseeightpercentto€5billion,boostedbymilitaryaircraft.
ThatcomparestototalAirbusrevenueof€30.9billion,up24percent,helpedbyairlinersales.
ADSwona33percentriseinordersworth€4.2billioncomparedto€3.2billion,includingacontractsignedwiththeOCCARprocurementagencyforserviceoftheA400Mairlifteringlobalsupportstep2,andanext-generationcommunicationssatelliteontheKa-band.
OrdersforthehelicopterdivisionincludedSpanishprocurementof23NH90militarytransporthelicopters.Thatdealledtonetordersof123units,downfrom143ayearago.
Thehelicopterdivisionreportedadjustedoperatingprofitof€125million,downsevenpercent,onsalesof€2.4billion,downonepercent.
OntheA400Mmilitaryairlifter,AirbussignedinthesecondquarteracontractamendmentwithOCCAR,adealwhichtooktwoyearsofnegotiations.Airbuslastyearbookedafurther€436millionofcharge,followingatotalof€7.2billionofpreviouschargesontheA400M.
TheA400Mcontractagreement,dubbedglobalrebaselining,setnewtermsforadevelopmentplanforcapabilities,newproductiondeliveryschedule,newtimetableforretrofitandnewfinancialterms.
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Inthefinancialterms,AirbusandOCCARagreed“significantcompensationinproductsandservices”inexchangefordroppingpenaltiesforlatedelivery,thecompanysaidJune14.
Incomparison,BoeingreportedJuly24alossof$2.9billioninthesecondquarter,comparedtoprofitof$2.2billionayearago.Thatlosswasduetoagroundingofthe737Maxairlineraftertwodeadlycrashes.
Thatquarterlylossfollowedachargeof$4.9billionduetoslowerproductionofthetroubledpassengerjet,delayeddeliveryandrelatedcosts.
The French Minister of Defense Lays Out the Way Ahead for French Military Space Policy 07/26/2019
Paris–ArmedforcesministerFlorenceParlysetoutJuly25astrategyforboostingmilitarycapabilityinspace,backedbyafundingboostof€700million($780million)andplanstofieldlaserstodisablespace-bornethreatstoFrenchsatellites.
ParlyalsosaidaspacecommandwillbestooduponSept.1andplacedundertheordersoftheairforce,whichwillbecometheairandspaceforce.
“Yes,wewilldeveloppowerfullasers,”shesaidinakeynotespeechatLyonairbase,centralFrance.Francemayhavelaggedbehindothernationsbutfullyintendedtocatchupinthisarea,withthelaunchofanarmsprogramdubbed“masteryofspace,”sheadded.
”Ihopewecanassoonaspossibleequipourvaluablesatellitesandspynano-satellitestokeepatadistanceand,ifnecessary,blindthosewhichhaveatendencytocometooclose,”shesaid.
Thiswasanambitiousplan,butFrancewouldhavethefirstcapabilitiesinthepresentmilitarybudgetlaw,withafullcapacityby2030,shesaid.
Anextra€700millionwillbeearmarkedforacquiringspacecapabilities,ontopofthe€3.6billionsetasideinthepresentmilitarybudgetlaw,shesaid,addingthatthespendingincreaseforspacewillcomefromtheoverallbudget,whichremainsunchanged.
Thatbidtoincreaseandarmspaceassetsmeansspendingcutsinotherprograms,whichwillcallfortalkswiththearmedforcesandprocurementofficials.
Tounderlinetheperceivedneedtobolstermilitaryspace,ParlysaidtheRussiansatelliteLuchOlymphadapproachedeightsatellitesofvariousnationssincesherevealedayearagothespacecrafthadclosedintolistentoAthena-Fidus,aFranco-Italianspacecraftusedformilitarycommunications.
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Therearealreadymeans—whicharebeingdeveloped—to“neutralize”ordestroysatellites,shesaid.
“Weknowit;theshadowofthreatisreal,”shesaid.
Thespacecommandwillbeinitiallystaffedby220personnelandbebasedinToulouse,southernFrance.
TheoperationscenterwillbebackedupbyaspacelabwhichwillhaveclosetiestotheDGAprocurementofficeandCNEScivilspaceagency.Therewillalsoaspaceacademytotrainstaff.
Francewillrevisethelawtoallowmilitaryspaceoperations,Parlysaid,suchastheUSandFinlandhavealreadydone.
Alongsideworkonspaceweaponsforan“activedefense.”Francewillincreasesurveillancecapabilities,shesaid.ParlymadeacalltoBerlintocooperatewithParisinaEuropeandrive,alongwithRome.
“IparticularlycountonGermanytomakeupthebeatingheartofspacesurveillance,”shesaid.
FrancehastherarecapabilitytodetectandtracksatelliteswithitsGravesandSatamradars,alongwithtelescopesoperatedbyCNRSandArianegroup,shesaid.Thereareplanstorefinethose,withthesuccessortotheground-basedGravessystemexpectedtodetectsatellitesassmallasashoeboxatadistanceof1,500km.
CNRSisaresearchinstitute,whileArianeisanAirbus-SafranjointventurewhichbuildstheArianecommercialspacerocket.
ResearchagencyOneraisworkingonincreasingthepowerofGraves,aground-basedradar.
FrancewillsupportCNRS’splantoincreaseitsTarottelescopeandAriane’sGeotrackersystem,shesaid,addingthattheministrywillaskforAirbustoprovidegreaterearthobservation.
Tarotconsistsoftworoboticobservatories,whileAirbushastrackedsatellitesfortheFrenchjointspacecommandonitsGeotrackeropticalsystemsinceautumn2017.
TheministryaskedinSeptemberthatcamerasbefittedforself-defenseontheSyracusemilitarytelecommunicationssatellite,andthatcapabilityisbeingfitted,shesaid.
ThalesAleniaSpaceandAirbusDefenceandSpacearebuildingtwoSyracuse4satellites,andathirdistobeaddedtotheconstellation.
Franceexpectstohavenano-satellites—smallsatellitesbetweenoneand10kg—in2023,whichwillbe«patrol»craftprovidingeyesinspace,shesaid.Thalesplanstobuildaprivateconstellationforearthobservation,whichFranceisfollowingwithcloseinterest.
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Therearealsostudiesonaverylong-rangeradar,whichwouldbeusefulduetothegrowingmissilethreat,shesaid.
Besidesprimecontractors,theauthoritiesarecountingoncompaniessuchasHemeria,Sodern,Cilasandothers,inthedriveforastrongermilitaryspace,shesaid.
“Wearecountingonyou,”shesaid.
PresidentEmmanuelMacronsaidJuly13theFrenchairforcewouldsetupinSeptemberaspacecommand,seenasneededtoensure“nationalsecurity.”
“Wewillincreaseourknowledgeofthesituationinspace,wewillbetterprotectoursatellites,includingintheactivesense,”Macrontoldseniorofficers,industrychiefsandpersonnelatthetraditionalgardenpartyontheeveoftheBastilleDayparade.ParliamentariansOlivierBechtandStéphaneTrompilledeliveredinJanuaryareporttoParly,layingoutthekeyissuesforaspaceforce.
Therearemorethan15nationscapableofspacelaunch,withover65countriesusingsatellites,thelegislatorssaidinaJuly24statement.Therearesome1,500satellites—withhalfofthoseAmerican—andthetotalnumberisexpectedtoriseabove8,000bytheendofthenextdecade,theysaid.
NationalandEuropeansovereigntywereatstake,withstepsneededtobetakentoprotectcivilandmilitarysatellitesastheseallowedFrancetosee,avoid,respondand“neutralize”threats,theysaid.Transport,communicationsandbankingcouldbeatriskfromattacksonFrenchsatellites.
Suchthreatsmadeit“indispensable”forFrancetohaveamilitaryspacestrategyandthefundsneededtomakeitcredible,theysaid.
Toaddressthoseconcerns,theparliamentaryreportcalledforboostingspacesurveillancebothbysatellitesandground-basedequipment,includingnewradarsfortheGraveandSatamsystems,telescopes,andasecondCosmosbasetotrackspaceassets.
Theaimistoknowwhatobjectsareinspace,theirlocation,owner,trajectoryandpurpose.SpacesurveillancecallsforFrenchsatellitestocarrysensorswhichsoundthealarmanotherspacecraftclosesin,“satellitewatchdogs”namelysmallsatelliteskeepingwatchonFrenchspaceassets.
Franceshouldacquiremeanstodisablespacethreats,saidtheparliamentaryreport,whichrecommended”non-kinetic”meansratherthananti-satellitemissiles.Thelatterwouldscatterhundredsofthousandsofspacedebris,whichwouldaddtotherisktoothersatellitesandleadto“collateraldamage.”
Theremayonedaybe”highintensity”warinspace,withFrenchsatellitesbeingknockedouttemporarilyorpermanently.
Thatriskcalledforthemeanstopursuemissionsdespiteadisablesatellite,theparliamentarianssaid.TherearealreadycasesofaforeignsatelliteapproachinginanattempttoeavesdroponaFrenchspacecraft.
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ThescaleofthetaskandfinancialneedcallonFrancetoworkwithEuropeanalliesratherthancompete.
Thereportcitesthe“sterilecompetition”betweenBerlinandParisonradarandopticalsurveillancesatellites.
“FrancecannotexistinspacewithoutEurope,”theauthorssaid.
Lookingfurtherahead,thereportseestheprospectofminingondistantplanets,withgreaterinterestinotherworldresourcesasnaturalresourcesdwindleonearthandthecostoflaunchfall.
“Theinterestinspace-basedresourceswillgrow,”theparliamentarianssaid.
Accesstoresourcesonearthandinspaceareeconomicinterestswhichshouldbeprotectedbymilitarymeans,theysaid.
The Coming of the Barracuda Attack Submarine to the French Navy 07/19/2019 Paris–TherewillbemuchnationalprideandhonorwhenFrenchindustryhandsoverJuly12totheNavythefirstnuclear-poweredBarracudaattacksubmarine,anew-generationboatthreeyearslateandgeneratinganinitiallossinthecontractworth€9.1billion($10.2billion)forsixunits.
PresidentEmmanuelMacronandarmedforcesministerFlorenceParlyareduetogotoCherbourg,northernFrance,fortheformalhandover,pointingupthepoliticalsignificanceoftheBarracudaprogram.
ThefirstBarracudaboatwillbechristenedSuffren,namedafterPierreAndrédeSuffren,anadmiralwhofoughttheBritishonthehighseasinthe18thcenturyandhighlyregardedbytheFrenchNavy.
Adelayofdeliverywastobeexpectedinviewofprogramcomplexityandthetimeneededtotrainalaborforcetobuildanuclearsubmarine,anexecutivesaid.
“Thisisoneofmostcomplexprogramsintheworld,”VincentMartinotLagarde,NavalGroupprogramdirector,toldaJuly9pressconference.TherewasaconcurrentdevelopmentandbuildingofthefirstboatoftheBarracudaseries,whichmeantthiswasa“difficult”project,whichtooktimetomaster.
“What’simportantisdeliveringahighqualitysystemwhichmeetstherequirementsofoperationalcapability,”hesaid.TimewasalsoneededasthenuclearballisticmissilesubmarineTerriblewasbuilt11yearsagoandthepersonnelneededtimetolearnhowtobuildanatomicboat.
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NavalGroupisprimecontractor,withCEAoverseeingworkonthenuclearreactor,arevisedversionoftheK15enginewhichpowersthenuclearballisticmissileboatandCharlesdeGaulleaircraftcarrier.TechnicAtomebuiltthenuclearpropulsionreactor.
FrancelaunchedtheBarracudaprogramin2006withacontractworth€9.1billionforsixboats,saidEmmanuelleTR,programdirectoratDirectionGénéraledel’Armement,theprocurementoffice.Thatbudgetincludeddevelopment,manufactureandspares,whileexcludingmodificationoftheports,mainlyatBrestandToulon.
Thisisan“ambitiousandchallenging”program,shesaid.Anorderforthesixthandlastattacksubmarineisduelaterthisyear,assetoutinthemilitarybudgetlaw.
Seatrialsareduetobegininthefirstquarternextyear.
ThearmedforcesministrylastyearorderedafifthBarracudaandsetaside€2.3billionfortheboat,thefinancialannexofthe2018defensebudgetshows.Theministryspentsome€612milliononthesubmarineprogramlastyear,thebudgetannexshows.
Thelatedeliveryleadstopenaltypaymentsunderthecontract,soindustrywillmakealossonthefirstboat,aseniorexecutivesaid.Lessonslearntonbuildingthefirstofseries,whichisalsoaprototype,helpsindustryspeedupproductiononthefollowingsubmarines,allowingarecoveryofprofit.Industrycanalsoaskforrefundonpenaltypaymentsandthereismoneytobemadeontheservicecontract.
Deliveryin1997ofthefirstTriomphantballisticmissileboatwassometwoto2-1/2yearslate,theexecutivesaid.
TheBarracudacarriesnewcapabilitiesincludinglongrangestrikewithacruisemissile,wire-guidedF21heavytorpedo,ExocetSM39anti-shipmissile,andaminisubmarineforspecialforces.Thelatterishousedinadrydeckshelterfittedonthehull.Thesubmarinecanalsolaymines.
Theboatisequippedwithanelectro-opticalperiscopewhichprojectspicturesonadigitalscreen,replacingconventionaltechnology.FranceconsideredaperiscopefromPilkington,basedinGlasgow,Scotland,beforeselectingSafranassupplier,theseniorexecutivesaid.
PilkingtonisaBritishunitoftheFrenchThalesgroup.
The2018militarybudgetshows50navalcruisemissilesaretobeordered.
Thereisaquieterandfastersubmarine,drawingonamixofelectricandturbineengines,withgreaterautomation,saidNavalGroup.
IncreasedautomationallowsaBarracudatobecrewedby65comparedto75onthepresentRubisclass.Thenewboatcansailfor70daysatseacomparedto45daysonRubis.
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ABarracudacancarrya10-15strongspecialforcesunit.
Thereisanationalsovereigntyissueonthenewsubmarine,adefenseanalystsaid.ThereareonlythreeNatonationswithanuclearattacksubmarine,namelyBritain,FranceandtheUS.
OwnershipofthatcapabilitykeepsFranceinthe“clubofdecisionmakers,”theanalystsaid.FrancedeployeditsAmethystnuclearattacksubmarineintheAdriaticin1999,undertheNatomissioninKosovo.
TheattackboatoperatesasescortfortheCharlesdeGaullecarriernavaltaskforce,offersacapabilityforspecialforces,intelligencegathering,andworkswiththeballisticmissileboats.WorkonthestealthqualitiesofBarracudahullplatescanhelpdevelopmentofthenext-generationballisticmissilesubmarines.
TheBarracudacanalsobeseenaspartofbroadacquisitionpolicy,includinganacceleratedorderofA330MRTTinflightrefuelingjets,RafaleF4upgradeandtheArmy’sScorpionmodernization.TheseorderssignalapursuitofFrenchindependenceofcapability.
WorkontheBarracudahelpedFrancewintheA$50billionAustraliancontractfor12ocean-going,diesel-electricboats,whichstrengthensbilateralties,theanalystsaid.
Thelatedeliveryreflectsthecomplexityoftheprogram,saidparliamentarianFrançoisCornut-Gentille,whositsonthefinancecommitteeoftheNationalAssembly.
“Itistheprogramitself,”hesaid.TheFrenchNavy,DGAandindustrywerecaughtupincomplexitywhicharisesfromtheconceptoftheprogram.
FrancelaunchedtheprogramwithanorderinDecember2006forthefirstBarracudaboat,followedbyanordersinJune2009forthesecond,June2011forthethird,andJuly2014forthefourth.Asixthorderremainstobeplaced.
ThefirstBarracudaboatwouldenterservicein2020insteadof2017,theNavychiefofstafftoldJuly26,2017thedefensecommitteeofthelowerhouseNationalAssembly.
“Thisisnotascooterbutasystemhardtobuild,andmistakesweremade,whichhavetobeidentified,fixedandcaughtupon,”Adm.ChristophePrazucksaid.TheNavyhasbeentrainingitsfirstcrewonsimulators,awaitingdeliveryofthefirstboat.
ThatdelayindeliveryhasforcedtheNavytostretchouttheoperationallifeoftheRubisclassofsubmarines,toensureasix-strongfleetofsubmarines,hesaid.
ThatfleetsizemettheNavy’soperationalrequirement,hesaid,asonewillbeundergoingamajoroverhaulover1-1/2totwoyears,asecondwillbeindockforroutineservice,athirdwillusedfortraining,afourthdeployedintheAtlantic,afifthintheMediterranean,andthesixthwillsailingintheAtlantic,orMediterranean,orIndianOcean,hesaid.TheBritishRoyalNavysailssevenattacksubmarines,headded.
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IntheUK,theAstutehunter-killersubmarinewas£2billionoverbudgetandfouryearslate.
Therewillbeaheavybudgetaryimpactafter2020,withthedeliveryoftheBarracuda,a2018reportoftheparliamentaryfinancecommitteesaid.TherehasalreadybeenanoperationalhitduetodelayeddeliveryoftheBarracuda,thereportsaid.TheNavyretiredthefirstoftheRubisclassboatsinJanuary2017,leavingonlyfivesubmarinesinservice.
DuetothegreaterlengthandweightoftheBarracudacomparedtoRubis,thesubmarinedocksintheToulonnavalbase,southernFrance,aswellthoseatBrestandCherbourg,willneedtobeadapted,theparliamentarycommitteereportsaid.Some€524.3millionwasearmarkedlastyearforadaptingthedocks,with€170.5milliondisbursed.
FundswillbeneededfordismantlingtheretiredRubis,with€2.8millionclearedlastyear,thereportsaid.NGandArevaTAarebreakinguptheRubisatCherbourg.
Putting FCAS Into a Broader European Political Context: The EU, Brexit and Shaping a Way Ahead 06/20/2019
Paris–FrenchandGermandefenseministersattendedanunveilingofamock-upofanewfighterjetattheParisairshow,evenasthetwocountriescompetetofilltopjobsintheEuropeanUnion,andtheUKConservativepartylimpstowardselectinganewprimeministertosteeranexitfromtheEU.
FrenchpresidentEmmanuelMacronandGermanchancellorAngelaMerkelareattendingJune20anEUsummitoftheEuropeanCouncilinBrussels,seekingtoagreeonaseriesofkeyappointmentsinleadingEUinstitutions.
Previously,FranceandGermanyagreedtosupportthesamecandidates,butMacronandMerkelarejostlingtofieldtheirrespectivecandidates.
Thereismuchtoplayfor,astheseseniorpostswillsteerfutureEUpolicy,whichincludesEuropeandefense.
ThiswillbethelastEUsummitforTheresaMay,whoissteppingdownasBritishprimeministerandhandingoverthetaskofnegotiatingBrexittohersuccessor.
ThepoliticalappointmentiswidelyexpectedtobeBorisJohnson,whohasgarneredthemostvotesinasecretballotbyConservativepartylegislators.Paid-upmembersoftheConservativeparty,estimatedat160,000,willthengettovoteonthetwocandidates.
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ThatraisestheprospectofJohnsonmovinginto10DowningStreetasthenextprimeminister,andbecomingthepoliticaldecideronissuessuchaswhethertocooperatewithEuropeanmilitaryprojectspursuedacrosstheEnglishChannel.
JohnsonhascampaignedasaferventsupporterofBrexit,insistingonleavingtheEUonOct.31,whetherthereisanegotiateddealornot.
Thenagain,Johnsonhasalso,inateleviseddebatewithConservativepartycontenders,fudgedonwhetherhewouldindeedobservethatdeadlinefordeparture.
JohnsonmightonedaybeaskedtoconsiderwhetherLondonwillbringtheBritishTempestfuturefighterjetprojectclosertothefuturecombatairsystem(FCAS),inwhichBerlin,ParisandMadridhavesigneduptobuildanewEuropeanfighter.
ThecompetitionbetweenFranceandGermanytoappointseniorEUofficialsincludespresidentsoftheEuropeanCommission,theexecutivearm;EuropeanCouncil,thepoliticalforum;EuropeanCentralBank;andEuropeanparliament.
TherearealsotopjobstobefilledattheEUforeignpolicyunitandtheEU’srecommendationforthenextNATOsecretarygeneral.
TheEUisgearinguptotakeanactiveroleindefenseandsecurity,withthecreationoftheEuropeanDefenseFund,intendedasameanstochannelinvestmentintoresearchanddevelopmentofmilitarytechnology.
TheEuropeanParliamentwillhaveawordtosayastheEuropeanmembersofparliament,freshfromelectionslastmonthacrossthe28memberstates,havetotherighttoendorsetheselectionoftheEuropeanCommissionpresident.ThatendorsementgrantspoliticalpowertotheEP,inabidtorespondtocriticismofa“democracydeficit.”
BritishvoterstookpartintheEuropeanparliamentaryelectionslastmonth,andtheUKisduetoleaveonthedatewhichcoincideswithHalloween.
MBDA and FCAS: Building Weapons for the “Combat Cloud” 06/19/2019ParisAirShow2019
MBDA,amissilebuilder,displayedattheParisairshowlife-sizemodelsofconceptsforcruisemissilesandtacticalsmartweaponsasoptionsfortheFutureCombatAirSystem,aEuropeanplanforanewfighterjetandotherweapons.
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ASpearmissilewasalsoonshowattheMBDAexhibitionchalet,signalingtheEuropeancompany’stargetingsalestooperatorsoftheF-35fighter.
TheUK’sdevelopmentcontractfortheair-to-groundweaponopenedupaglobalmarketonthejointstrikefighterandprospectsontheBritishTempestnewaircombatsystemsproject.
Thesedisplaysgiveaglimpseofweaponswhichmightbeusedtooutsmarttheanti-access,areadenialsystemsdeployedbyenemyforces.
Foralliesplanningadeepstrikemission,therearemockupsofconceptsforsubsonicandsupersoniccruisemissiles,potentialreplacementstotheStormShadow/ScalpBritishandFrenchweapons.
Theformerwouldweigharoundoneton,flymorethan1,000kmtohithardtargetssuchasconcretebunkersandcommandcenters.
ThelatterwouldhavespeedofMach2andmoreandofferagilityinflight.
Fortacticalstrike,therearemodelsofSmartGliderandapoweredversion,SmartCruiser.
Theformerwouldnothaveanengineandwouldbeguidedbyatargetingsystemofinfrared,laserandGPS.Thelatterwouldhaveamotorandrangeofsome200km.
BoththesewouldbepartoftheFCAScombatcloud,connectedtofighterpilotsandgroundcontrol,loadedwithartificialintelligenceforatargetdesignator,withtheirusesetbyrulesofengagement.
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Theseweaponscouldbeusedasa“swarm”tosaturateairdefensesystemssuchastheS300orS400missile.
Thedestructivepowerofwarheadscouldbescaledupordownaccordingtooperationalneed,withtheweaponssmallenoughtofitsixunitsonacontactpoint.Thatwouldallowupto18weaponsonaRafale,orfourunitsineachoftheinternalweaponsbayontheFCASfighter.
MBDAinvestedcompanyfundsonstudiesfortheSmartGlider,andacoupleofcountriesareinterestedinorderingtheweapon,anexecutivesaid.
Therearealsotwotypesofsmalldronesweighing150kgand250kg,dubbedremotecarriers.ThesearederivedfromSmartGlideranddesignedtocarrysensorsand“effectors”suchaselectronicwarfarepayloadstoconfuseorhitanintegratedairdefensesystem.
Suchapowered,low-costdronemightemulateaRafale,trickingthedefensesystemandactasdecoy.SpeedsofMach0.75to0.9onasmallturbojetareenvisaged.
Anothertypeofconceptweaponconsistsofasmallanti-missilemissile,alastchance“ultimatedefense”apilotwouldfireagainstanapproachingmissile.
Thiscouldbea“hardkill”weaponworkingonkineticstrikeandwouldbeacomplementtoself-defensetoolssuchaschaff,flaresandelectronicjamming.
Therecouldbeatleastfouroftheseweapons,eachweighinglessthan10kgandlessthanonemeterlong.MBDAispitchingtheconcepttoAirbusandDassaultAviationfortheFCASfighter.
TheMeteormissileisalsoonshow,andthereachofthislong-rangeweaponcouldbeextended.Therearestudiesforanupgradewithamultimodeseekerforfuturemodels.
MBDAsignedupasapartnerontheFCASjointconceptstudyledbyAirbusandDassault.
France Arms Its Reapers 06/18/2019Paris–FranceisdueinNovembertoarmitsReapermedium-altitude,long-endurancedronewiththeGBU-12smartbomb,withtheHellfiremissiletobefittednextyear,adefensesourcesaid.
TheFrenchAirForcearmstheMirage2000fighterjetwiththeGBU-12,saidthesource,adding,“ThenextstepistheHellfireattheendof2020.”
TheGBU-12isalaser-guidedbomb.
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AdeliveryofsixarmedReaperUAVstotheAirForceisinthe2019-2025militarybudgetlaw,allowingFrancetofollowtheBritishandUSinflyingweaponsontheReaperfleets.
“TheGBU-12capabilitywillbeavailablefromtheendof2019,”saidaspokesmanfortheDirectionGénéraledel’Armement(DGA)procurementoffice.ThecapacityfortheHellfirewillbeavailableattheendof2020,headded.
ThethirdbatchofReapersisduetobedeliveredthisyear,withthefourthandfinalsettobeshippednextyear,hesaid.
FranceorderedinDecember2016thefourthbatchofReapersfordeliveryin2019.Thatsystem,whichwillbeshippedayearlater,willbedeliveredintheBlock5version,aswillthethirdbatch.
ThefirsttwobatchesoftheUAVwillbeupgradedfromBlock1.
Eachbatchcomprisesthreeunits.
AddingweaponswillroughlyhalvetheReaper’sflighttimetosome10hours,asthebombsormissilesincreasethedrageffectonthedrone,thesourcesaid.
Thatshorterflighttimebooststheimportanceofpreparing,or“shaping,”thestrikemissionwhenflyingacriticalreconnaissancemission,thedaybefore.
TheFrenchforcesexpecttoflyatleast10Reapersnextyear,andthereismuchthoughtonwheretodeploythedrones.
TheAirForcehasbeenflyingtheReaperfromanairbaseinNiamey,thecapitalofNiger,tosupportFrenchandalliedtroopsintheBarkhanemilitarymissionacrossthesub-SaharanSahelregion.
PotentialdeploymentsincludeDjibouti,IraqandSyria.
Oneofthefactorsindecidingthatdispatchis“co-deployment”withtheUS,withsharedlogistics,trainingandequipmentinthe“USReaperfootprint,”thesourcesaid.
ThatwouldmaintainclosetiesforgedinoperationsinNiger.
ThereareFrenchspecialforcesalongsideBritishandUSunitsfightingIslamicState(ISIS)insurgentsthreateningKurdishcommunitiesinnortheastSyria.
USReapersarebasedinthatregion,withtheconsentofSyrianpresidentBasharal-Assad,soadespatchofFrenchReaperscoulddrawonmutualsupport.
TheFrenchforcescontinuetorelyonGeneralAtomics,themanufacturerofReaper,fortake-offandlandingtheUAVinNiger.
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ThereareonlyfourorfiveFrenchpilots“ontheground”toflytheReaper,sotherearetoofewtosendtotheUSforthetwoorthreemonthsneededtotrainfortake-offandlanding.
IntheBarkhaneoperation,FranceisalliedwiththeG5SahelgroupcomprisingMauritania,Niger,Mali,BurkinaFasoandChad.
Thatmilitaryallianceseekstofightagainstfundamentalistjihadistforces.
FranceisalsoactiveintheMiddleEastLevant,spanningIraqandSyria.
The Evolving Dynamic Missile Threat: A European Response 06/17/2019 Paris–WesternalliesfacethethreatofawiderangeofChineseandRussianballisticmissilesandcruiseweapons,whileNorthKoreaandIranlooktotheirmissilecapabilitytobackupclaimstoregionalpower.
ThenatureofthedevelopmentofChineseandRussianmissilecapacityisseenbysomeinEuropeanindustryasthreateningWesternparity,byshiftingthegeostrategicandoperationalbalance.
Ballisticmissilestippedwithconventionalwarheadsanddesignedtoflyinanevasiveterminalflightcanbeusedaspoliticalandstrategictoolsasafactoraffectingcrisismanagementevenwithoutbeingfired.
Besidesmissilestohittargetsonlandandatsea,Moscowhasinvestedheavilyinanti-accessareadenial(A2AD)ordefenseindepth,designedtohinderWesterncombataircraftlookingtostrikeRussiantargets.
TherearesomeinEuropewhoconsiderthatenemyairdefensesshouldbeconsideredasakeychallengetobedealtwithwhenFranceannouncesattheParisairshowaprojectforatechnologydemonstratorforaFutureCombatAirSystem,whichincludesanewfighterjet.
TheParisAirShowisduetoopenJune17.
TheWestredeployeditscombataircraftinSyriaoutofharm’swaywhenRussiasentitsS400surface-to-airmissiletotheMiddleEasterncountry.ThatwasseenbysomeasashiftinthebalanceofpowerinSyria,withRussiawinningtheadvantagepoint.
MoscowdispatcheditsadvancedTriumphweaponsystemtoSyriainresponsetoTurkey,aNATOally,downingin2016aRussianfighterjet.
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ChinaandRussiaarebothseekingtoboostballisticstrikecapabilitieswithdevelopmentoffastermissileswithgreaterrangeandmaneuverabilitytooverwhelmairdefensesystemsandhittargets.
Thoseweaponscanbelaunchedfromwarships,submarinesandfighterjets,intendedtohitcommandcentersandairbases.
AChineseballisticanti-shipmissile,dubbedDongFeng-21Dcouldbefiredagainstkeynavaltargetssuchasaircraftcarriers.
Russiaisworkingtoboostanti-accessareadenial(A2AD),withgreaternetworksofdetectionandtrackingtoenlargethegeographicalcoverageofanti-missiledefense.
SuchamissiledefenseconceptcanbelikenedtotheChinaWallorHadrian’sWall,builttoprotectthehometerritoryfromoutsideencroachment.BuildingupthatRussianA2ADmakesithardertomountasurpriseattackbystealthyenemyaircraft.
MeanwhileinEurope,FranceandItalyareupgradingtheAster30,aland-based,surface-to-airmissile,totheBlock1NTversion,todeliveragreaterrangeofinterception.
OtherEuropeanairdefenseprojectsareunderstoodtobeplanned.
Onthestrikeside,RussianpresidentVladimirPutinsaidMarchlastyearthatRussiawasworkingonanuclear-powered,hypersonicmissile.
CNBCreportedMarch22thatRussiahasbeenworkingondevelopmentofthatweapon,dubbedSkyfall,sincetheearly2000s,drawingonagasoline-poweredmotorfortake-offandanuclear-poweredengineforflight.
Butthatmissilewillneedworkforanotherdecadetobe“combatready,”accordingtoaUSintelligencereport,CNBCreported.
Forcountriesseekingtosecureregionalpower,ballisticmissilesofshort,mediumandintermediaterangeareanaffordablealternativetodevelopingajetfightertocounterWesternairsuperiority.
Oneofthedevelopmentswhichhasraisedthethreatistheshifttosolidfuelfromliquidpropellant,asthatmakesitfastertoprepareandlaunchthemissile.
Theshort-rangeSS-26missileusessolidfuelandiscompatiblewiththeintermediate-rangenuclearforce(INF)treaty.
Russiadeclaredthe4-tonSS-26,dubbedIskander,operationalin2007.Thatdomesticversioncanfly480km,whiletheexportmodelhasarangeof280km.VariantsoftheSS-26armChina,IranandPakistan.
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Thatmissileisabletochangecoursesome20-30kmfromtargettoavoidinterceptors,flyingbyitsbuilt-inguidancesystems.
TheSM3hasbeendeployedinPoland,withthatUSmissiledeemedtobecapableofinterceptingtheSS-26incertainpartsofthecountry.
Meanwhile,FrenchAirchiefofstaffGen.PhilippeLavigneMay15toldthedefensecommitteeofthelowerhouseNationalAssemblythatFrancehas“holesinitsracquet”asitsairdefensesystemlackedcapabilityagainstdronesandothernewthreats.
TheNatoprogramforanintegratedAirCommandandControlSystem(ACCS)islate,hesaid.
Aplan,backedbyFranceanditsAirForce,hasbeendrawnuptotackletheproblems.
ButthosecountrieswhichoptedfortheF-35jointstrikefighterhavenotbackedthatplan,headded.
NatohasaskeditsAlliedCommandTransformationofficetodrawupoptions,soadecisionontheACCSprogramcouldbemadebythemiddleof2019.
ACCSisintendedtolinkupintoonenetworkthevariousnationalcommandandcontrolsystemsofsomeNatomembersinEurope.
Fincantieri and Naval Group Move Forward on Cooperation: The Poseidon Project 06/17/2019 Paris–FincantieriandNavalGroup(NG)signedJune14anagreementsettingoutcooperationontheirPoseidonproject,ajointventureaimedatboostingItalianandFrenchcollaborationinbuildingandsellingwarshipsfornaviesathomeandabroad.
“Followingtheannouncementmadeon23October2018,todayFincantieriandNavalGroupsignedinRometheAllianceCooperationAgreement,whichsetsouttheoperationaltermsfortheincorporationofa50/50ownedjointventure,”NGsaidinJune14statement.
“Therewasgoodsupportfromtheministers,”NGchiefexecutiveGuillousaid.
“Perhapstherewillbeasharecapitaldeallater,”headded.
ThecreationofajointlyownedsubsidiaryisacooperativestepbutrealconsolidationinEuropeandefenseindustryrequireschangeofownershipintheparentcompanies.
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Previously,therehadbeenaplanforacross-shareholdingoffiveto10percentbetweenFincantieriandNG,buttheFrenchauthoritiesdroppedthatasconcernroseovertheanti-EuropeansentimentoftheItaliangovernment,afragilecoalitionbetweenthefar-rightLeagueandanti-establishmentFiveStarMovement.
Theallianceagreementaimstosharebestpracticesbetweenthepartnercompanies,workonselectedresearchanddevelopment(R&D),trimprocurementcosts,andmakejointoffersforFrenchandItalianprogramsandexportdeals.
Submarinesareexcludedfromthedeal,whichcoverssurfacewarships.
Thejointventureisexpectedoverthenext10yearstowinordersworthupto€5billion($billion),build10-15warshipsandachievesynergiesof10-15percent,Reutersreported.
Thales,whichbuildsnavalcombatsystems,holdsa35percentstakeinNG,withtheFrenchstateowningmostofthesharecapital.
Thereisneedfor“criticalmass,”tobecompetitive,GuillousaidJune14atParisAirForum,abusinessconferenceorganizedbyfinancialwebsiteLaTribune.
TheFrenchNavydependsonexportstogeneratea“supplementary”€400millionayear,headded.
“Withoutexports,themilitarybudgetlawisbeyondexecution,”hesaid.
Thereis“complementarity”betweenFincantieriandNavalGroupintheworldmarket,astheformerispresentin15countries,whilethelatterisin10,withnooverlap,hesaid.
ThatbilateralcooperationisessentialinviewofseverecompetitionfromChinaandRussia,andshipbuildersinKorea,UkraineandIndia.
AEuropeancooperativelinkisneededduetoagreaterburdenofresearchandtechnology,andR&D,hesaid.
Twentyyearsago,awarshipwouldsailwithtwogenerationsoftechnology,buttheFrenchintermediatefrigatebeingbuiltisexpectedtosupportsixgenerationsinitsoperationallife.ThatrequiredsharingthecostofR&TandR&D.
Therewillbesixexecutivesontheboardofthejointventure,withthreefromeachpartnercompany.Fincantieriwillnamethechairmanandchiefoperationalofficerforthefirstthree-yearterm,withNGappointingCEOandchieffinancialofficer.
Bonowillbeboardchairman,andGuillouwillalsositontheboard.
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Thejointventurecompanywillbelegallysetupbytheendoftheyear,followingauthorizationfromtheauthorities,withheadquartersinGenoa,northernItaly,andasubsidiaryatOllioules,justoutsidetheToulonnavalbase,southernFrance,theFrenchshipbuildersaid.
“ThealliancerepresentsagreatopportunityforbothgroupsandtheirecosystemstoenhancetheirabilitytobetterservetheFrenchandItaliannavies,tocapturenewexportcontracts,todevelopnewtechnologiesand,ultimately,toimprovethecompetitivenessofthenavalsectorsofbothcountries,”NGsaid.
FranceandItaly“supportthekeyinitiativessetbyFincantieriandNavalGroupwhichintendtoswiftlyputinplace,notablysettingupin2019,ajointventureofequalparts,forwhichtheaimistoreachcommercialandindustrialsynergies,”thetwogovernmentssaidinanOct.23statement.
TheEuropeanUnion’santitrustarmisexaminingFincantieri’sacquisitionof50percentofChantiersdel’Atlantique,aFrenchshipbuilder.ThatcompanyisacivilshipbuilderwiththesoleyardinFrancebigenoughtobuildafutureaircraftcarrier,sodeemedtobeofstrategicimportance.
GiuseppeBono,chiefexecutiveofFincantieri,andGuillousignedtheallianceagreementontheFedericoMartinengo,anItalianFremmmultimissionfrigateatLaSpezianavalbase.
TheFremmfrigatewasdevelopedandbuiltinaFranco-Italianprogram,withalowerlevelofjointprocurementcomparedtotheHorizonairdefensefrigate,alsoaprojectbetweenthetwocountries.
Thales and the Future Combat Air System 06/14/2019 Paris–FrenchelectronicscompanyThalesexpectstobringgreaternetworkconnectionandspeededupresponsesascontributionstotheFutureCombatAirSystem,aprojectkeytotheconceptofEuropeandefensebackedbypresidentEmmanuelMacron.
“Clearlytherolethatweintendtoplay,inwhateverconfigurationultimatelytheprojecthas,isaround…thenotionsofaugmented,connected,collaborativecombat,”AlexCresswell,executivevicepresidentforlandandairsystems,toldjournalistsJune12.
Thatconceptofanintegratedapproachtocombatwasbasedon“allthethingsthatenabletheimmenseamountofdatathatthesesensorsandsystemswillcollecttobeabletobeusedtomakesmarter,fasterdecisionswithregardtotheapplicationofmilitaryforceandtheorganizationofmilitarycapabilities,”hesaid.
ItwastooearlytosayexactlywhatThales’scontributionwillbetoFCASbutthecompanyhasinvestedheavilyintechnologywhichaimedto“flattencommandstructuresandmaketheseassetsmoreuseful,”hesaid.
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“Soweexpecttoplayarole,andwiththelevelofdefinitionoftheprojecteitherinFranceorGermany,orinFranceandGermany.”
Thecompanyhasinvestedheavilyastheconceptofaugmented,connected,collaborativecombatisseenasimportant.
ThaleswillbedisplayingattheParisairshowsystemswhichseektodeliverincreasedsmartsandspeed,includinganupgradedTaliosairbornetargetdesignationpodandGroundForce300land-basedradar.
MacronisduetovisittheairshowJune17,thefirstdayoftheshowcaseforglobalaerospace,andtheheadofstateisexpectedtomakeannouncementsonatechnologydemonstratorforanext-generationfighterjet,andresearchandtechnologyforanewengine,criticalpartsoftheFCASprojectbackedbyFranceandGermany,withParisastheleader.Spainisjoiningthatpartnership.
AirbusandDassaultAviationareworkingonthejointstudycontractforFCAS,withtheformerassystemsarchitectwhilethelatterfocusesonthenewfighter.
Negotiationsonwho-does-whatintheFCASprojecthavebeentough,andannouncementofindustrialcontractsmightbemadeattheendofsummer,financialwebsiteLaTribunereportedJune12.
Dassault,meanwhile,willputondisplayattheairshowconceptsforthedemonstrator.
“The2019Parisairshowwillhighlighthowwearepreparingforthefuture:extendingtheFalconfamily(6X),reinforcingoursupportservices,presentingwhatcouldbeademonstratorforthenextgenerationfighter(NGF)underthefuturecombatairsystem(FCAS)andtheagreementsbetweenDassaultAviationandAirbus,”DassaultCEOEricTrappiersaidinaJune4statement.
Airbushasthecapabilitiestotakeuptheroleofsystemsarchitect,anAirbusspokesmansaid.
Thoseskillsaretobefoundinitsdefenseandspaceunit,whichworksonmilitaryaircraftincludingA400M,A330MRTTandEurofighterTyphoon;dronetechnology;spaceincludingSyracuseandSkynetmilitarysatellites;andcommunications,intelligenceandsecurity,whichworksonC4ISRandsystemsofsystems.
Some2,000staffattheElancourtoffice,justoutsideParis,workoncybersecurity,artificialintelligenceandstudiesonthecombatcloud.Airbuscompletedaflightdemonstrationofa“connectedairbornebattlespacescenario,centredon(an)MRTTaircraft,”thecompanysaidJune13.ThetestwaspartofthedevelopmentofAirbus’networkforthesky(NFTS)program.
Thatflightdemonstrationsimulatedwidebandcommunicationlinksbetweengroundforces,fighterjet,amultiroletransport/transportaircraft,andacombinedairoperationscenterontheground,thecompanysaid.
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“Thisuniquedemonstrationisasignificantmilestoneinrealizingourvisionofsecureconnectivity,whichwillenablethefutureaircombatcloudandenhancerealtimeexecutionofmilitarymissions,”saidEvertDudok,headofcommunications,intelligence&securityatAirbusDefenceandSpace.
Airbus,partneredwithNavalGroupandRohde&Schwarz,wonlastyearacontracttoupdatetheFrenchNavy’sRifan2broadbandcommunicationsnetworktoa2.1level.
Lastyear,Airbus,partneredwithAtos,wonasix-yeardealtoprovidecybersecurityfor17EuropeanUnioninstitutionsandagencies.
Meanwhile,ThaleswillshowcasecombatsystemswhichdrawontechnologydeemedtobeessentialtoFCAS.
AnupgradedTaliospodwillequiptheplannedRafaleF4fighterwithacapabilitydubbedneuralprocessimagery.
Thatcapacitywillallowthepodtoprocesstheimagerypickedupinflightanddelivertargetdetectiontothepilotinrealtime,whileinflight.
ThepresentTaliossystemcollectsandstoreshighresolutionvisualdatainthepodwhileinflight.
Afterthepilotlandsanddataistransferred,imageanalysts’poreoverthepictures.
Thenewpodaimstospeedupoperations,withtheequipmentseenasreplacingsevenoreightimageanalystsworkingforaweektofindatargetforastrike.
ThaleswillalsodisplayGF300,alandradarbasedonSeaFire500,adigitalsensordevelopedfortheintermediatefrigatefortheFrenchNavy.
TheDGA,whichfundeddevelopmentofGF300,isintalkswithThalesforaselectionofanewradartoequipthenext-generationSAMP/T,anupdateforaFranco-ItalianairdefensesystemwiththeAstermissile.
GF300ispitchedashavinglongerrangethanthepresentArabelsystemandofferedatasimilarpriceasthelatter,withgreaterreliability.
Adecisionontheradarisduebytheendoftheyear,Thalessaid.
Reworking the Franco-German Arms Export Policies: A Crucial Challenge Facing FCAS 04/19/2019
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Paris,France
FranceandGermanyneedtoupdatea1972jointagreementonarmsexports,abilateralpactwhichhaseconomicbearingonaplannedEuropeanfighterjet,thefuturecombatairsystemorFCAS.
EricTrappier,chairmanofGIFAS,highlightedthechallengeattheGIFASpressconferenceheldonApril18,2019.
TheFrenchandGermanclearancefortheforeignsaleofweaponsshouldbe“harmonized,”hesaidatanewsconferenceonthe2018resultsofGIFAS.
“FrenchcompaniesarecallingforarevisionoftheDebré-Schmidttreaty,”hesaid.
ThatupdatewouldaddresstheexportoutlookofthefighterjetintheFutureCombatAerialSystem,anambitiousFranco-Germanproject.
Thatbilateraltreatyreferstoanagreementsignedin1972bythethenFrenchdefenseministerMichelDebréandhisGermancounterpartHelmutSchmidt,adoptingacooperativeapproachtosellingarmsabroad.
Despitethataccord,FrenchconcernshaveriseninrecentyearsoverareluctanceinBerlintoclearthesaleofGermanequipmentforFrenchweapons,holdingupexportsforFrance.
The“Germanproblem”onexportsstemsfromdifferencesbetweenthecoalitionpartners,Trappiersaid.
BritainandFrancearerelyingonGermanclearancesforequipment,headded.
InFrance,thereisbroadpoliticalconsensusonbackingarmsexports,withdefenseministersandpresidentspromotingFrenchweaponswhenabroad.
“Atacertaintime,atthestartofdevelopment,theissueofexportsarises,”Trappiersaid.
“Thereisaneconomicreality.”
The“internal”EuropeanmarketisnotbigenoughforEuropeancompaniestorecoverinvestment,unliketheU.S.market,whichislargeenoughforAmericanfirmsworkingontheF-35fightertomakemoney,hesaid.
“Thereneedtoberulesofthegameifwearetocooperate,”hesaid.
Theruleswillcoveroperationalrequirements,whichwillincludesomespecificcapabilities,andalsoexports.
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Francebansallforeignarmssales,socompaniesmustapplyforgovernmentclearancefromaninter-ministerialcommittee,dubbedCommissionInterministériellepourl’EtudedesExportationsdeMatérielsdeGuerre(CIEEMG).
“It’scomplicated,”hesaid.
Butdespitetheneed,itwasunlikelyFranceandGermanywillcometoacommonexportagreementinthenearfuture,accordingtoThomasGassilloud,deputyoftheLaRépubliqueEnMarche(LREM),acenterrightpartylaunchedbyFrenchpresidentEmmanuelMacron.
Perhapsthetwocountriescouldforma“commonconsultativegovernancebody,”GassilloudarguedinaFeb.2interviewwithLaTribune,abusinesswebsite.
ThatorganizationwoulddeliveradviceonwhetherornottoapproveFrenchandGermanarmssales.
FrancetakesintoaccounttheGerman“interestandopinion”onexportsandtheplannedFranco-Germantank,dubbedMainGroundCombatSystem,hesaid.
OntheprospectsforBritainlaterjoiningtheFCASproject,Trappiersaid,“Itisaquestionoftiming.”
BritainistiedupintalksonBrexit,onwhetherornottoleavetheEuropeanUnion,whetheronhardorsoftBrexitterms,duringoraftersummer,hesaid.
WhethertheUKleavestheEU,thecountryhasitsroleinEuropeandefense.
BritishcompaniesaremembersofAeroSpaceandDefenceIndustries(ASD),hesaid.
ASDisaEuropeantradeassociationinBrussels,lobbyingonbehalfofaeronautics,space,defenseandsecuritycompanies.
ThoseBritishcompaniesareconsideredEuropean,hesaid.
“Wehavetoldthosefirms:evenifBritainleavestheEU,youwillstillbeconsideredEuropean,”hesaid.
“ThehandofFrenchandEuropeancompaniesabsolutelywillbeheldouttoyou.”
ItisuptotheBritishandFrenchgovernmentstopursuethe2010LancasterHousedefensecooperationtreaty.
“ItistheresponsibilityofFranceandGreatBritaintocontinuetocooperate”hesaid.
BritainhasannounceditsprojectforTempest,apotentialBritishrivaltotheFranco-GermanfighterintheFCASproject.
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DassaultwillbeprimecontractorforthenewEuropeancombataircraft.
FranceplanstoannouncecontractsforafightertechnologydemonstratorattheParisairshow,whichopensJune17.
AirbusandDassaultareequalpartnersonastudyonconceptandarchitectureofthedemonstrator.
Thales,anelectronicscompany,willhaveakeyroleinthedemonstratorproject,FrenchdefenseministerFlorenceParlyhasaddedaswell.
“Ihaveplanstosigncontractsbetweennowandthemiddleofsummeronthisdemonstrator:inthissystemofsystems,Thales,thankstoitscapabilitiesasanintegrator,willplayafullroleinbuildingthedialoguebetweentheobjectsconnectedinthissystemofcollaborativecombat,”shesaidApril15.
ParlywasvisitingaThalesradarfactoryatLimours,justoutsidethecapital.
Gifasreporteda1.2percentrisein2018salesto€65.4billion($billion),ofwhich23percentwasindefense.Thatcomparestosalesof€64.2billioninthepreviousyear.
Exportsaccountedfor85percentofsales.
Ordersfell17percentto€58.2billion,ofwhichmilitaryaccountedfor28percent.
Gifasbookedordersworth€68.2billioninthepreviousyear.
Some4,000jobswerecreatedlastyear,with15,000newpostsexpectedthisyear.
French Naval Group and the Australians: Working the Cultural Challenges 04/17/2019 Paris
NavalGroup(NG)isimplementingachangeinemployeecommunicationsandbehavior,inabidtosmoothoutculturaldifferencesbetweenFrenchandAustralianstaffworkingonaUS$34billion(A$50billion)programtobuildsubmarinesfortheAustralianNavy,seniorexecutivessaid.
Thatdrivetoimprove“intercultural”relationsstemsfromAustralians’difficultiesinunderstandingtheFrenchwayofworksoonafterNGwonathree-waycompetitionin2016tobuild12ocean-goingboats,dubbedtheAttacksubmarineclass.
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TheseunderseavesselsforAustralia’sSea1000FutureSubmarineProjectwillbeadiesel-electricadaptationoftheBarracuda,anuclear-poweredsubmarineNGisbuildingfortheFrenchNavy.
TheFrenchcompanyhassoldScorpenesubmarinesandGowindcorvettesaroundtheworld,withatransferoftechnologytoallowlocalassembly.Amongthese,BrazilandIndiaarebuildingtheirScorpeneboats,whileEgypthasassembleditsfirstoffourGowindwarships.
Butthisisthefirsttimethecompanyhasbeenaskedtorethinkitsculturalapproach,asAustralian-Frenchteamswereformedandproblemsofcommunicationsunfolded.
Reshaping a Work Culture TheaimistodevelopacommonworkingculturebuiltfromAustraliaandFrance,allowingthesesubmarinestobebuiltontimeandonbudget.
“NoteveryonethinksliketheFrench,”saidJean-MichelBillig,NGprogramdirectorfortheAttacksubmarine.
“WehavetomakeanecessaryefforttounderstandthatanAustraliandoesnotthinklikeaFrenchperson,andthatit’snotbetterorworse,it’sjustAustralian.”
ThereisaneedtoorganizetheAttackprogramaccordingly,hesaid.ThatincludestranslatingFrenchnotjustintoEnglishbutAustralianEnglish.
Thereisneedtogobeyondthat,“tospeakacommonlanguageinculturalterms,”headded.
TheimportanceofAustraliaasadistinctandimportantregioncanbeseenbyTheGuardian,aBritishdaily,publishingUK,US,InternationalandAustraliaeditionsofitsnewswebsite.
“Basedondiscussions,thereisawillingnesstoknowthequalitiesandfaultsofeachother,nottousethembuttoconverge,tofindcommonpointssowecanworktogether,sowecandeliver.”saidYvanGoalou,NGinstitutionalrelationshipmanager.
“Thereissearchforopennessandsharing.”
Thereisneedforlisteningandhumility,hesaid.GoalouisaformerFrenchNavycommanderofboththenuclear-missileandnuclear-poweredattacksubmarine.
Australian Barbecue as Cultural Signifier AnexampleofAustraliancultureisthebarbecue,animportantpartoffosteringgoodworkrelations,Billigsaid.
ThereisareciprocalneedforAustralianstounderstandtheFrenchsanctityofthelunchbreak,notjustasandwichsnatchedatthescreen.
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AnotherbidbyNGtoboostitsopennessto“Anglo-Saxonculture”ispublishingitsinhousemagazineinFrenchandEnglish,seeninternallyasaradicalmove.
BigcompaniessuchasAirbusandThalesmayhavelongpublishedinhousemagazinesinEnglishandFrench,butanNGexecutivesaidthosefirmslacka400-yearhistoryasastatearsenal.
AnotherneedtobridgeaculturalgapcouldbeseeninthelettertostafffromCEOHervéGuillou,whoreferredtoinitiativestobeadoptedafter“larentrée.”
IthadtobeexplainedtoAustralianslarentréethatreferstostaffgoingbacktoworkinSeptemberafterthecompanycloseddownforthemonthofAugustforthetraditionalFrenchholiday.Aone-monthholidaystunnedAustralianswhothoughtofashort“summerbreak.”
OntheFrenchside,therewassurprisetoseeanAustralianinsistenceonpunctuality,thatameetingscheduledforanhourmeantjustthat,notanextra15minutes.SowhenAustraliansgotupandleftameetingwhetheranagreementhadbeenreachedornot,thatstartledFrenchcounterparts.
InFrance,thereistheconceptofa“diplomatic15minutes,”indicatingthatoneisnotconsideredtobelateifthetardinessisaquarterofanhour.
NGpursuesa“multidomestic”approachasitseeksdealswithcountrieswithdistinctculturaldifferencesuchasMalaysia,BrazilorIndia,saidArnaudGénin,strategiccommunicationsdirector.
“OnewouldthinkAustraliawouldberelativelyeasybecauseofeaseoflanguage,buttheculturaldifferencegoesdeeper,”hesaid.“Wehavetoworkonthat.”
Preparing French Staff NGistrainingsome20AustraliansondesignandmanufactureoftheAttackboatatCherbourg,northernFrance,andthatisduetorisetomorethan150keystaff.SomepersonnelareaccompaniedbytheirfamilyandthoseAustraliansneedtoadapttolifeinFrance.
Meanwhile,FrenchstaffarepreparingtoflytotheothersideoftheworldandworkintheAustraliansubsidiaryinAdelaide,southAustralia,wheretheboatswillbebuilt.
Therearesome350staffworkingontheprograminFrance,with100inAustralia.
InFrance,thatstafftallywillclimbtoapeakof700around2021/22beforefallingto200by2030,astheworkmovestoAdelaide,Billigsaid.InAustralia,thestaffwillrise“smoothly”to1,500infivetosixyearswhenthemanufacturinghitsfullpace.
Thecompanyisdevelopingtoolsfortheinterculturalcourses,whichincludetwo-hourseminarsandone-dayworkshops,MarionAccary,globalhumanresourcesbusinesspartnersaid.
TheseaimtoprepareFrenchexpatriatesandtheirfamilies“howtobehave,howtounderstandanddecode,”shesaid.“Thestaffwilllearnhowtocommunicate,holdmeetingsandworkinFrench-
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Australianteams.Personnelwillalsobeencouragedtotakedistancefromsituationswhichmightseemtobeconflictualduetomisunderstanding.”
ThereisalsoworkinAustraliatodeveloptrainingandcommunications.
SeparateseminarsforFrenchNGstaffandAustraliansstartedlastMayinCherbourg.TheformerincludesthehistoryofAustraliaasawaytoexplainthebehaviorofAustralians,importanceofdefense,andstrategicsignificanceoftheSouthPacificfortheCommonwealthofAustralia.
InFrance,thereisstrongstaffdemandforEnglishlanguagecourses.ThereisinterestinlearningFrenchinAustraliabutitishardertofindteachers.
ThewillingnessofFrenchteamstotakepartintheinterculturalprogramisanindirectindicatorofakeennesstoovercomeculturalproblems,Billigsaid.Iftherewerean“evaporation”ofthatreadiness,thatwouldunderminetheprogram.
Cultural play of Three Nations NGwillworkwithLockheedMartin,whichwillsupplythecombatmanagementsystemfortheAttackboat.NGdoesnotexpectproblemsinworkingwiththeUScompany,astheFrenchfirmhasworkedwithpartnersonothervessels.
“WewilllearnbyworkingwithLockheedMartinonthisprogram,”hesaid.“Itwillbeathree-wayprocessofculturallearning.”
NGwillworkwithitslocalpartner,state-ownedASC,formerlyknownasAustralianSubmarineCorporation,aswellasworkingwiththeAustralianauthorities.
Askedifthereisachangeofbusinessculture,BilligsaidtheAustralianprogram“haspushedNavalGroup’sambitionacoupleofrankshigherinthedriveforamultidomesticapproach.”
Thatinterculturalapproachispartofthetechnologytransfer,asAustralianswanttoextendknow-howtoknow-why.
Thatrequiresagreatdealmorethanhandingoverasheetofpaperandsay,“Voilà,Ihavetransferredtechnology,”Billigsaid.ItisaboutexplainingtheFrenchapproachtobuildingasubmarine.TheFrenchwayisnottheGermanorJapaneseway.
Current French Submarine Building Approach TheculturalfactoristheFrenchintellectualapproachtobuildingthesubmarine,hesaid.ThatreasoningledtheFrenchtoadoptcertainmethods,allowingtheFrenchNavytodeployasubmarinepermanentlyatseafor47years.
“ThatFrenchmethodisaconcentrationofhistory,competence,training,andtheFrenchecosystem,”hesaid.“Partofthetechnologytransferbaggageishavingtoexplainwhatwedo,whywedoitthis
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way,anditisnotgoodenoughtosayyouhavetodoitthisway.Ifyousaidthat,partoftheknow-howwouldhaveevaporated.”
ThatapproachisofferedtoexplainwhytheFrenchaimtousewaterratherthanlasertocutsteelanduseFrenchratherthanAustraliansteel.
“TheFrenchhaveaweldingmethod,Americanshavetheirown,”hesaid.
NG’sdedicationtotheAttackprogramreflectsthecompany’sneedtowin—andretain—foreigndeals,asthecompanycannotrelysolelyonthedomesticmarket.AustraliapickedtheFrenchfirminacompetitionwhichdrewrivaloffersfromGermanshipbuilderThyssenKruppMarineSystemsandMitsubishiHeavyIndustries,whichledaJapanesegroup,backedbytheJapanesegovernment.
ItisclearNGintendstodeliverontheinterculturalapproachastheCommonwealthofAustralia,buyeroftheAttacksubmarine,sawtheneedtoimprovecommunications.
“Theclientaskedforthiseffort,”Billigsaid.
“Thisisakeyfactorforsuccess.ItisnotforustobeAustralian,forthemtobecomeFrench.Wekeepourroots.Welearnthecultureoftheother.”
Editor’sNote:ThisistheinitiallookatthisdynamicbetweenFranceandAustralia.
Tobeclear,thisisnotatechnologytransferprogramofanexistingsubmarine.
Thisisaco-developmentofanewbuildsubmarine.
Assuch,theopportunityontheFrenchsideistoredo,evensignificantly,howtheybuildnewclassesofsubmarinesgoingforward.
AndattheheartofthechallengeofworkingthroughtheprogramisthattheAustraliansintendinthisprogramandinthefrigatetobuildamanufacturinglinearounddigitalproductionofthesortthatNavalGroupdoesnotcurrentlydo.
Differentworkstylesarealsoatwork,wherebytheFrenchfollowanapproachsignificantlydifferentfromtheAustralians,andthereislikelynotjusttobecross-learning,butthepossibilityofsignificantchangeontheFrenchsideaswell.
ThereisaverysignificantopportunityforNavalGrouptoexpanditsconceptsofoperationsandproductiontechnologiesandworkapproachthroughtheprogram,somethingusefulnotjustinAustraliabutinFranceandglobally.
Forexample,aninterestingquestioninplay:WhatisthenatureoftheBarracudabeingofferedtotheDutchNavyandhowdoesitrelatetotheAustralianprogram?
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Germany’s Embargo on Saudi Arabia and the Limits of European Arms Cooperation (Updated) 04/05/2019 Paris–Germany’srenewalofanarmsembargoonSaudiArabiaeffectivelycastsdoubtastheleadpartnerforFrancetobuildafuturefighterjet,drone,andtank,keyprojectstoboostconsolidationintheEuropeandefenseindustry.
BerlinonMarch28extendedbyafurthersixmonthsabanofthesaleofweaponstoRiyadh.GermanimposedthatsanctionlastOctoberinthewakeoftheslayingofjournalistJamalKashoggibySaudiofficialsinTurkey.
Thereissomeeasingonexistingcontracts,buttherenewedembargoforbidsnewGermanarmscontractswithSaudiArabiaandslowsdeliveryonexistingdeals,effectivelydraggingshipmentofpartstomaintainequipmentinservice.
BritainandFrancehaveprivatelyandpubliclylobbiedGermanytoeasethatclampdown.
ForLondon,therestrictionhindershopesofsigningacontractworth£10billion($13.2billion)forthesaleof48moreEurofighterTyphoonjetstoSaudiArabia.
GermanyisapartneroftheEurofighterconsortiumthroughAirbusandenginebuilderMTU.
ParishasurgedGermanytoslackenthesanction,whichblocksdeliveryofkeyGermansubsystemsfortheMBDAMeteorlong-range,air-to-airmissile,toarmtheTyphoon.
ThisembargocastsashadowonhowmuchPariscanrelyonBerlinasleadpartnerontheFutureCombatAerialSystem,avastprojectincludinganext-generationfighterjet,dronesflyingasremotecarriersandsmartcruisemissiles.
FrancemayleadontheFCASproject,butexporteffortswillrequireGermanapproval.
ThatrelianceonBerlin’sgreenlightextendstoFranco-Germanplanstodesignandbuildafuturetank,dubbedMainGroundCombatSystem,andnewartillery,namedCommonIndirectFireSystem.Germanywillleadtheprogramsforthoselandweapons.
BerlinalsotakestheleadindustrialroleinaEuropeanmedium-altitude,long-endurancedrone,anothermajorbilateralprojectwithParis.
ThosecooperativeprojectswillbekeytoaconsolidationofEuropeanindustryandinteroperabilitywiththeservices.SpainhassignedaletterofintenttojointheFCASproject.
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DassaultAviationispilotingthenext-generationfighterproject,whichseekstomaintainaFrenchbidtoretainnationalsovereigntyonanimportantcapability.
Butwhileitiscriticaltobeabletodesignandbuildanadvancedcombataircraft,itsprofitabilitywillhangonsellingasmanyjetsaspossible.Andforthat,Germanconsentwillbeessential.
FrenchandGermanofficialshavelongheldtalksbehindcloseddoorstoupdatebilateralrulesforarmsexports,buttheyhavesofarfailedtoreachagreement.
TheofficialshavesoughttoagreethethresholdofGermanorFrenchcontentinaweaponsystemwhichwouldrequirejustonenation’sapprovalforforeignsale,notbothcountries.
ThosenegotiationsarecriticaltoKNDS,whichpartnersFrenchstate-ownedNexterwithGermanprivatelyownedKrauss-Maffei-Wegmann.ThatjointventureplanstobuildthesuccessortotheLeclercandLeopardtanksandthenewartillery.
AreluctancetosellweaponstoSaudiArabiaandtardinessinagreeinganewexportregimereflecttheneedtoreachconsensusinGermandomesticpolitics,saidFrançoisLureau,aformerFrencharmsprocurementchief.
InBerlin,thecoalitiongovernmentledbytheconservativeChristianDemocratsmustnegotiatewiththeirjuniorpartnerSocialDemocrats.Thecenter-leftpartytakesadimviewofarmssalesandseekstolimitdealswithcountriesintheEUandNATO.
ChancellorAngelaMerkelhascalledforclosercooperationwithEuropeanalliesonarmsexports,butitwillbehersuccessor,AnnegretKramp-Karrenbauer,whomustfindapoliticallyacceptablesolution.
ConsensusistheGermanway,Lureausaid.Itwilltaketime,butanagreementwilllast.
Thatparty-politicaldebatehasledtosomecompromiseinthearmsbanonSaudiArabia.
CooperationwithEuropeanalliesinjointprojectswasallowedtogoon,aslongasfreshconditionswereobserved,TheTelegraph,aBritishdaily,reported.
FullyassemblednewweaponsshouldnotbesenttoSaudiArabia,wasoneoftheconditions.
ThatlookedlikeabanondeliveryofnewEurofighters.
EuropeanpartnersofGermanymaysupplyweaponstoSaudiArabia,butthosearmsshouldnotbeusedinthecivilwarinYemen,wasanothercondition.
TheBritishforeignminister,JeremyHunt,wroteaprivateletterearlierthisyeartohisGermancounterpart,callingforaneasingofthecrackdown,whichhurtBAESystems,theBritishpartnerontheEurofighterandsupplierofsparesfortheTornadofighter.
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FlorenceParlyandBrunoLeMaire,theFrencharmedforcesandeconomyministers,havealsocalledonGermanytorelaxthesanction,tolittleavail.
“ItisuselesstoproduceweaponsthroughimprovedcooperationbetweenFranceandGermanyifweareunabletoexportthem,”LeMairetoldWeltamSonntagnewspaper,Reutersreported.
“Ifyouwanttobecompetitiveandefficient,weneedtobeabletoexporttocountriesoutsideEurope,”headded.
Berlin’sreluctancetoauthorizeforeignsalesfromEuropeanpartnersextendsbeyondRiyadh.
Arquus,aFrenchbuilderoflightarmoredvehicles,findsithardtopitchitsproductsnotjusttoSaudiArabiaandEgyptbutalsoIndonesiaandIndia,saidCEOEmmanuelLarcher,businessdailyLaTribunereportedFeb.6.
Germanclearancewasslowforautomaticgearboxesandengines,whichmaybecivilproductsbuttheywouldbefittedonmilitaryvehicles.
SaleofthoseGermanproductsisnotbannedbutalengthyregulatoryclearanceisseenaseffectivelyforcingtheGermansupplierstopractice“self-censorship,”forcingArquustolookelsewhere,hesaid.TheFrenchcompanyreliedonUSfirmAllisonandGermanmanufacturerZFforgearboxes.
Inthelongterm,developmentofnewtechnologysuchasbatterieswillbreakoutof“thisviciouscircle,”hesaid
An Update on the Future Combat Air Systems Program: February 2019 02/25/2019 Paris
NegotiationsarebeingheldwithelectronicscompanyThalesandEuropeanmissilemakerMBDAonjoiningAirbusandDassaultinajointconceptstudyfortheFutureCombatAirSystem,saidasourcewhodeclinedtobeidentified.
Theindustrialpartnersaimtodecidewhodoeswhat,forhowmuch,andwithwhom,saidthesource,adding,“Wearenotfarfromanagreement.”
AirbusandDassaultAviation,whichsignedacontractJan.31,2019withtheFrenchandGermangovernments,haveagreedontheirrespectiverolesinthetwo-yearjointconceptstudy.
FrenchArmedForcesministerFlorenceParly,inthecompanyofherGermancounterpartUrsulavonderLeyen,announcedFeb.6thestudy,worth€65million($74million).TheministerswerevisitingSafran’sengineplantatGennevilliers,justoutsidethecapital.
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Parlyalsoannounceda€115millioncontractforafeasibilitystudy,dubbedTurenne2,inwhichSafranwilldevelopnewturbinebladesfortheM88engine,whichpowerstheRafalefighterjet.
ThenewbladesareexpectedtoboosttheM88’sthrusttoninetonscomparedtothepresent7.5tons.
SafrananditsGermanpartnerMTUsigned,duringtheministerialvisit,acooperationagreementtobuildenginesforaNextGenerationFighter,withParisandBerlinexpectedtosignthisyearacontractforanenginedemonstratorforthefuturefighter.
ThejointconceptstudyseekstodefinearchitectureandconceptsoftheNextGenerationFighter,apackof“remotecarriers,”andmissiles.TheseelementsareduetobehookedupintheFutureCombatAirSystem,asystemofsystems.
Ademonstratorforthenewfighterisexpectedin2025/26,withtheaircraftduetoenterservicein2040,thesourcesaid.
French,GermanandSpanishofficersgatheredFeb.20attheofficesofDassaultatStCloud,justoutsidethecapital,inthe“kick-off”meetingforthestudy.
AirbusandDassaultexecutivesalsoattended.
SpainsignedaletterofintentFeb.15tojoinFranceandGermany,andthatisexpectedtobefirmeduptoamemorandumofunderstanding.TheSpanishAirbusunitislikelytobetheindustrialpartner.
ThepartnernationsexpecttoannounceattheParisairshowcontractsforstudiesforademonstratorfortheplannedfighter,andresearchandtechnologyforanengineandremotecarriers.
Otherstudiesmayalsobeunveiled.
Dassaultwilltaketheleadroleinthenewfighter,whichwillreplacetheRafaleandEurofighterTyphoon.
Thenewfighterisexpectedtobeinthe30-tonclassandbebetween15-20meterslong.
TheFrenchversionwillbeabletolandonaircraftcarriers.
ForFrenchplanners,therearefourclassesofremotecarriers,comprisingalargedroneweighingseveraltonnes,acruisemissile,aSmartGliderandavarietyofsmallerremotesystems.ThatcompareswiththeUS,whichhasdrawnupaframeworkencompassingsome15differentremotecarriers.
Aremotecarrierisanunmannedsystemwhichwouldflyinafirstwaveofattackandseektodestroy,confuseordisableenemysystems,allowingmannedaircrafttoflyin.
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MBDAunveiledatthepreviousParisairshowin2017itsSmartGliderconcept,afamilyoflow-cost,unpropelledweaponsdeployedin“packs”whileinterconnectedwithmannedaircraft.
Thenewfighterwillbecapableofair-to-air,air-to-groundmissionsandcarryanuclearweaponfortheFrenchforces.
Currently,fortheGermans,theTornadocancarrytheB61nuclearbomb,withtheGermangovernmentconsideringtheTornadoreplacement.
“We,asDassaultAviation,willmobilizeourcompetenciesassystemarchitectandintegrator,tomeettherequirementsofthenationsandtokeepourcontinentasaworld-classleaderinthecrucialfieldofaircombatsystems,”DassaultexecutivechairmanEricTrappiersaidFeb.6.
DirkHoke,chiefexecutiveofAirbusDefenceandSpace,said,“BothcompaniesarecommittedtoprovidingthebestsolutionstoournationswithregardtotheNewGenerationFighteraswellasthesystemsofsystemsaccompanyingit.”
OfficersoftheFrenchDirectionGénéraledel’Armementprocurementoffice,airforceandnavy,andtheirGermanandSpanishcounterpartsattendedtheFeb.20meetingatStCloud.
AndtheattheParisairshowtobeheldfromJune17-23iswherethecompaniespromisedtoshowcasedemonstrators.
Editor’sNote:Thequestionofusingremotesastheinitialentryplatformwillrequirelowobservability,engineswhichcansupportlowobservability,securedatalinkswhichcanoperateinaseverelycontestedenvironment,andanabilitytobeappropriatelyweaponized,andinthecaseofhavingnon-lethalmeansofdestruction,effectivesmallpowerplants.
Andofcourse,theremoteswillneedtooperateinaGPSjammedenvironmentaswell.
A Look at the F-4 Rafale Upgrade Program 02/19/2019 Paris
FrenchArmedForcesministerFlorenceParlyannouncedJan.14theawardofa€1.9billion($2.2billion)developmentcontracttoupgradetheRafalefighterjettoanF4standard,whileevokingnationalsovereignty,operationalcapabilityandexportsaskeyfactors.
Thatbudgetwasagreedafterclosenegotiationsbetweengovernmentandindustry,asourceclosetothetalkssaid.
“Thisisaguaranteeofoursovereignty,”ParlysaidonavisittotheDassaultAviationfactoryatMérignac,nexttoBordeaux,southwestFrance.
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“Thisisachanceforourcapabilities,”sheadded.
“ItisalsoanecessaryinvestmenttoensuretheRafale’scompetitivenessforexportsinthecomingdecadesandtosafeguardtheindustrialsectorforthefighterjet.”
ParlysaidshewasproudtobetheleadadvocatefortheRafaleinanyprospectiveforeigndeal,addingthattheupgradeofferedfurtherargumentinfavoroftheFrenchfighter.
Dassault,MBDA,SafranandThalesarethefourbigcompaniesworkingontheRafale.
ThemainmodernizationfeaturesincludeaconnectivityofdatalinkswithFrenchandalliedforces,greaterdetectionandidentificationofthreats,andfittingupgradedmissiles.
AmodernizationtoF4wasinresponsetotheFrenchAirForce’s“evolutionofprobablethreat,”saidEtienneDaum,managerforaeronautics,defenseandsecurityatthink-tankCEIS,basedhere.
TheF4isimportantasaasteptowardtotheFutureCombatAirSystem.
TheF-4upgradeisthefirsttechnologypackagewhichallowstheFrenchfightertoflyinadatanetworkuntiltheplannedNext-GenerationFighterfliessometimeafter2035.
ThatfighterwillbeakeyelementintheFCAS,aEuropeanprojectforasystemofsystems,whichwillincludeamixofpilotedjets,unmannedarmeddronesandsmartweapons.
ARafaleupgradecouldbeseenasavictoryofpragmatismoveraculturalstereotypeoftheFrenchcharacterwhichissaidtofavorphilosophy.
Theupgradesareduetobeinstalledintwophases,withafirstbatchin2023,followedbyasecondin2025,theArmedForcesministrysaidinastatement.
Thatincrementalapproachisintendedtofitthefeaturesassoonastheyareavailable,partofanewdefensepolicy.
“TheF4standardispartoftheongoingprocesstocontinuouslyimprovetheRafaleinlinewithtechnologicalprogressandoperatingexperiencefeedback,”Dassaultsaidinastatement.
Theworkwillalsoallowmoreweaponstobefittedtoaircraft,includingMicaNewGenerationair-to-airmissileand1,000-kgAASMpoweredsmartbomb.
PlannedupgradesoftheASMP-Aairbornenuclear-tippedmissileandScalpcruiseweaponwillalsoarmtheF4.
Francewillorderafurther30Rafalein2023,withdeliveryof28dueby2024,Parlysaid.
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Dassaultwillbeindustrialarchitect,thecompanysaid.
“Wewillberesponsibleforimplementinginnovativeconnectivitysolutionstooptimizetheeffectivenessofouraircraftinnetworkedcombat(newsatelliteandintra-patrollinks,communicationserver,softwaredefinedradio).”
Therewillbealsobeupgradestotheactiveelectronicallyscannedarrayradar,frontsectoropto-electronictargetingsystem,andhelmet-mounteddisplay,thecompanysaid.
Therewillanewservicecontractandaprognosisanddiagnosticaidsystemintendedtodeliverapredictivecapability.
MaintenancewilldrawontheuseofBigDataandartificialintelligence.
AnewcontrolunitfortheM88enginewillbefitted.
TheSpectraelectronicwarfaresystemandTaliostargetingpodwillbeboosted,theministrysaid.
TheDirectionGénéraledel’Armement(DGA),JointChiefsofstaffandtheservicewing—Directiondelamaintenanceaéronautique(DMAé)–workedtogethertodrawuptheF4requirement,seenasessentialtomaintainFrenchcapabilitywiththeintroductioninEuropeoftheF-35jointstrikefighter.
FrancesignedadevelopmentcontractwithMBDAfortheMicaNG,thecompanysaidNov.11,2018.
Theweaponsisintendedtohavegreaterrangeandsensitivityinsensors,withlowerservicecost.
Firstdeliveryisduein2026.