CHRISTINA MACKENZIE / PARIS
Shopping list includes second aircraft carrier, helicopter upgrades, A400M transports, radar and air-to-air missiles
TEXT: France's recently elected conservative government has responded to president Jacques Chirac's call for increased defence procurement and approved a new six-year procurement budget of €98.9 billion ($97.4 billion), including funding for a second aircraft carrier. The budget is €5.5 billion, or around 6%, higher than that approved by the previous administration.
Defence minister Michéle Alliot-Marie says once parliament has approved the 2003-08 procurement budget a working group will be created to examine three proposals for the carrier, before a selection "probably around June 2003".
The proposals are to share development costs with the UK, with each nation building its own ships (two for the UK, one for France); developing their own conventionally powered design; and an adapted and updated version of the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle design.
Although industry observers have previously said French/UK collaboration would be impossible if the Royal Navy chooses a carrier to operate vertical take-off and landing aircraft, French navy chief of staff Adm Jean-Louis Battet says collaboration is possible "even if the aircraft are not the same". The only difference would be the deck, which could be easily modified, he adds.
Other new funding includes money to upgrade 24 Eurocopter Cougars and 45 Eurocopter Pumas to "haul them up to modern military helicopter standards", while awaiting delivery of the 27 NH Industries NH90 helicopters, the first of which will be delivered to the navy in 2005 and to the army in 2011.
Funds are also earmarked for the first three Airbus Military A400M transports, although the project is still awaiting final go-ahead from Germany; two new range surveillance aircraft to replace the French air force's McDonnell Douglas DC-8s, and four twin-seat Dassault Rafales to be included in the 19 to be delivered to the navy by 2008. Funding for two Ericcson Giraffe radars for very low altitude air defence is included, as is money for another 360 MBDA Mica air-to-air missiles.
No programmes have been scrapped but some minor changes have been made, mainly to delivery times. Delivery of 500 MBDA Scalp EG/Storm Shadow stand-off missiles will still begin in 2003 for the Dassault Mirage 2000D, but have been postponed a year until 2006 for the Rafale.
Source: Flight International
