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IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
French defence spending increase boon for procurement
Frédéric Lert, Bordeaux - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
21 May 2015
The purchase or lease of four more C-130 Hercules and the arming of two existing C-130s is included as part of a EUR3.8 billion increase to French defence spending. Source: French Air Force
Key Points
Included in this is EUR1.5 billion in additional spending on defence procurement, including the addition of four Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport aircraft for the French Air Force. However, the bulk of the money, EUR2.8 billion, will finance the long-term deployment of 7,000 soldiers for security duty on the national territory.
France is currently considering whether to buy or lease the extra C-130s, although a decision is expected to resolve this later this year. Two of the C-130s will be equipped for conducting air-to-air refuelling (AAR) missions. Additionally, two of France's existing C-130H's will be armed for special forces missions.
The LPM changes will also see the French Army light aviation (ALAT) receive seven more Airbus Helicopters Tiger combat helicopters (to a total of 67) and six more NHIndustries NH90 Caïman utility helicopters. The possibility of integrating a guided rocket (most likely the TDA RPM) on the Tiger is also considered.
The French Air Force's plans to buy Airbus A330 MultiRole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft will be accelerated, with 12 to be delivered between 2018 and 2025.
Surveillance capabilities will be improved by the addition of an ELINT payload for France's MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating from Niamey, Niger. This should end a capability gap that was immediately identified when the UAVs first arrived in theatre in 2013. Additionally a third Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) military surveillance satellite will be financed in co-operation with Germany. The air force will also receive 25 more than expected Talios laser designation pods. Qualification of this pod, due to replace the current Damocles, is set for 2018.
The navy will also receive new ships and have some programmes accelerated as a result of the increased funding. A fourth B2M multimission vessel will be added to the three previous planned to patrol France's overseas territories in the southern hemisphere. The bill states that six FREMM multimission frigates will be delivered before 2019. The following two, coming in 2021 and 2022, will boast a reinforced air defence capability in order to support the two Horizon-class frigates already ordered. France's intermediate-sized frigate programme will also be accelerated, with a first delivery now in 2023. In the meantime, the La Fayette-class light stealth frigates will be upgraded and receive a sonar.
The EUR1.5 billion increase is derived from a EUR500 million increase in the budget itself, supplemented with a EUR1billion purchasing power increase gained through better than expected economic conditions.
The additional spending on domestic military deployments will also enable the military to surge to 10,000 soldiers for limited period if required. At the same time, the Force Opérationnelle Terrestre (FOT) - France's ground combat units - will get a major boost from 66,000 to 77,000 personnel. A further 1,000 military and civilian staff will also be recruited for cyber defence. Meanwhile, EUR500 million has been earmarked for maintenance spending, following four years of intense and non-stop combat operations in Africa.
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(589 of 628 words)
@Gabriel92
French defence spending increase boon for procurement
Frédéric Lert, Bordeaux - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
21 May 2015
The purchase or lease of four more C-130 Hercules and the arming of two existing C-130s is included as part of a EUR3.8 billion increase to French defence spending. Source: French Air Force
Key Points
- France is to spend an extra EUR1.5 billion on defence equipment by 2019 under an update to the country's military programming law
- Included is the addition of four C-130s, more helicopters, and the acceleration of several naval programmes
Included in this is EUR1.5 billion in additional spending on defence procurement, including the addition of four Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport aircraft for the French Air Force. However, the bulk of the money, EUR2.8 billion, will finance the long-term deployment of 7,000 soldiers for security duty on the national territory.
France is currently considering whether to buy or lease the extra C-130s, although a decision is expected to resolve this later this year. Two of the C-130s will be equipped for conducting air-to-air refuelling (AAR) missions. Additionally, two of France's existing C-130H's will be armed for special forces missions.
The LPM changes will also see the French Army light aviation (ALAT) receive seven more Airbus Helicopters Tiger combat helicopters (to a total of 67) and six more NHIndustries NH90 Caïman utility helicopters. The possibility of integrating a guided rocket (most likely the TDA RPM) on the Tiger is also considered.
The French Air Force's plans to buy Airbus A330 MultiRole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft will be accelerated, with 12 to be delivered between 2018 and 2025.
Surveillance capabilities will be improved by the addition of an ELINT payload for France's MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating from Niamey, Niger. This should end a capability gap that was immediately identified when the UAVs first arrived in theatre in 2013. Additionally a third Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) military surveillance satellite will be financed in co-operation with Germany. The air force will also receive 25 more than expected Talios laser designation pods. Qualification of this pod, due to replace the current Damocles, is set for 2018.
The navy will also receive new ships and have some programmes accelerated as a result of the increased funding. A fourth B2M multimission vessel will be added to the three previous planned to patrol France's overseas territories in the southern hemisphere. The bill states that six FREMM multimission frigates will be delivered before 2019. The following two, coming in 2021 and 2022, will boast a reinforced air defence capability in order to support the two Horizon-class frigates already ordered. France's intermediate-sized frigate programme will also be accelerated, with a first delivery now in 2023. In the meantime, the La Fayette-class light stealth frigates will be upgraded and receive a sonar.
The EUR1.5 billion increase is derived from a EUR500 million increase in the budget itself, supplemented with a EUR1billion purchasing power increase gained through better than expected economic conditions.
The additional spending on domestic military deployments will also enable the military to surge to 10,000 soldiers for limited period if required. At the same time, the Force Opérationnelle Terrestre (FOT) - France's ground combat units - will get a major boost from 66,000 to 77,000 personnel. A further 1,000 military and civilian staff will also be recruited for cyber defence. Meanwhile, EUR500 million has been earmarked for maintenance spending, following four years of intense and non-stop combat operations in Africa.
Want to read more? For analysis on this article and access to all our insight content, please enquire about our subscription options ihs.com/contact
To read the full article, Client Login
(589 of 628 words)
@Gabriel92
