France's ministry of defence has completed planning for a fundamental restructuring of its armaments directorate, the DGA, in a move aimed at meeting a targeted 30% cut in programme costs over the next six years, coupled with changes in management aimed at reducing the time taken for new programmes to be instigated.
The restructuring, which amounts to a fundamental change in the way in which the DGA does business, comes just ten months after the scheme was launched by defence minister Charles Millon. Alongside the organisational changes, there has been a complete revision of defence priorities, with the DGA also now targeting greater involvement in European programmes and increasing its share of world defence exports.
Several programmes have already come under the hammer. Agreement has been reached on a 10% cut in the cost of the Dassault Rafale multi-role fighter programme, as well as on the Tiger anti-tank helicopter. Other programmes, such as the Future Large Aircraft and the NH Industries NH90 transport helicopter, have seen their funding either delayed or withdrawn altogether.
Introducing the changes, DGA chief Jean-Yves Helmer says that the agency "must be more selective" in its choice of programmes.
The DGA now consists of three main directorates responsible for managing the preparation and implementation of new programmes - Force Systems and Trend Analysis; Weapons Systems and Programmes; and Procurement Methods and Quality. A further three have been formed to look after Evaluatiuon and Test, Naval Construction and Aeronautical Maintenance, while two more will be charged with Co-operation and Industrial Affairs, and International Relations.
Helmer points out that France's defence policy is "resolutely European", signalling his desire to increase its "rather low" average stake in European programmes from 10% to 34% by 2002, mainly with Germany, Italy and the UK. Further effort will also be devoted to pushing up France's proportion of global exports to give it 15% of the world arms market from the current 10%.
The hope is also that industrial reorganisation, including the merger of Aerospatiale and Dassault, and the privatisation of Thomson CSF, will help improve programme efficiency.
Source: Flight International
