Germany, France to Deepen Defense Cooperation (Updated)

June 16, 2012 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Reuters; published June 14, 2012)

(Updated Editor's Note on June 16, 2012)

Germany, France to Deepen Defense Cooperation (excerpt)

BERLIN --- Germany and France agreed on Thursday to deepen military cooperation in areas ranging from satellites and missile defense to arms procurement, aiming to extract maximum value from shrinking defense budgets.

The agreement, signed by the two governments in Paris on Thursday, highlights Europe's drive to reduce costly duplication in defense and achieve economies of scale as it struggles to cut spending and tame its sovereign debt crisis.

A copy of the declaration of intent was seen by Reuters before the signing at the Eurosatory arms show near Paris.

Under the accord, NATO allies Germany and France aim to coordinate new purchases of tanks and artillery, to better integrate the Tiger and NH-90 helicopter projects and to explore possible cooperation on missile defense.

Other countries, such as Italy, could also participate.

Germany, France and Britain also plan to look into developing a European drone, the declaration said.

"We must build a platform that others can join," German Deputy Defence Minister Stephane Beemelmans told Reuters in Berlin. "Germany and France have often done this and that is what we want to do once again." (end of excerpt)


Click here for the full story, on the Reuters website.


(EDITOR’S NOTE: Interestingly, the French version of this report is much more affirmative, and says an “agreement” has already been signed by France and Germany, committing them to joint procurement in the field of ‘tanks and artillery, missile defense and drones.’
Such a commitment seems improbable, as neither country has any currently active tank program, while both have well-advanced and distinct missile defense programs. In the field of ‘drones’ both countries are pursuing widely different programs with different partners.
More details should be forthcoming after incoming French defense minister Jean-Yves Le Drian travels to Berlin on Friday, June 22 [not June 15 as previously stated] for talks with his German counterpart, Thomas de Mazière.)