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[muck]

The Franco-German FCAS 6th gen fighter program appears to be well and truly dead. 'Hartpunkt' reports that Paris has demanded 80% of the work share and complete design authority for Dassault, otherwise they'll walk. (Source)

In other words, they want Germany to pay 50% of the development costs for whichever product Dassault deigns to deem fit for German usage, and without granting a corresponding share of the value creation chain.

Never mind the industrial policy aspects—this ultimatum is completely unacceptable for Germany. You cannot possibly treat a partner like that and then tell him to put his faith in your goodwill.

 

[Fluff]

The Franco-German FCAS 6th gen fighter program appears to be well and truly dead. 'Hartpunkt' reports that Paris has demanded 80% of the work share and complete design authority for Dassault, otherwise they'll walk. (Source)

In other words, they want Germany to pay 50% of the development costs for whichever product Dassault deigns to deem fit for German usage, and without granting a corresponding share of the value creation chain.

Never mind the industrial policy aspects—this ultimatum is completely unacceptable for Germany. You cannot possibly treat a partner like that and then tell him to put his faith in your goodwill.

Not trying to inflame the situation, but the French were probably leaning on the fact that only they and the UK have designed to production a combat aircraft in the last 40 years. Its going to be difficult because the UK tempest is becoming a pacific range bomber, rather than a medium range fighter which I assume is what Germany wants. Maybe Germany should buy into the turkish project, its probably more what they want.

 

[muck]

Mate, the Germans (and Italians) didn't just twiddle their thumbs during the Typhoon and Tornado programmes. And Airbus Germany could bring a few relevant experiences to the table (LOUT, for instance).

But be that as it may, Dassault's work share demand isn't even the final nail in the coffin. I'd presume you could press Germany into giving the entire project to them in exchange for a quality product built to specifications … Expecting the Luftwaffe to disregard its requirements and doctrines is absurd, though. It certainly looks like an attempt to freeze Berlin out.

Germany doesn't need an upgraded Rafale riddled with structural compromises to maintain carrier capability …

'Hartpunkt' speculates that since ample funding is now available, Germany might attempt to build their own aircraft. They're (correctly) pointing out that the claim that Europe doesn't have "room" for several fighter programmes doesn't hold water any more, the more so against the backdrop of Turkey's and South Korea's recent successes.

 

[muck]

Never mind the industrial policy aspects—this ultimatum is completely unacceptable for Germany. You cannot possibly treat a partner like that and then tell him to put his faith in your goodwill.

The German government has responded by saying that "the intergovernmental agreement with France remains the binding framework for Germany's participation in the programme". (Source) In other words, if the French want to unpack the memorandum again, Germany is out.

 

[Mike1976]

Breaking News: France Restarts SCALP Missile Production After Ukraine Success and Stock Rebuild Need

Breaking News: France Restarts SCALP Missile Production After Ukraine Success and Stock Rebuild Need

armyrecognition.com

Breaking News: UK–France Pact Expands Next-Gen Storm Shadow Missiles and AI-Enhanced Precision Strike

Breaking News: UK–France Pact Expands Next-Gen Storm Shadow Missiles and AI-Enhanced Precision Strike

armyrecognition.com

 

[Hiryu2.0]

German defence minister calls on arms makers to deliver

‘There is no reason to complain any more,’ says Boris Pistorius in FT interview ahead of trip to Washington

www.ft.com

 

[primer]

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More refined than the Z stacked self jamming version.

 

[muck]

Belgium's defence minister Theo Francken has lashed out against Dassault's CEO Eric Trappier and announced that his government would review their continued participation in the FCAS programme. Trappier had previously been critical of Berlin and France's admitting Brussels into the programme, demanding that Belgium should cancel their F-35 order first. (Source) Taking to X, Francken wrote that "as a founding member of NATO and the EU, a loyal ally and host to the headquarters, we need not listen to arrogant industrialists". (Source) Belgium has so far contributed €300 Mio. to the programme.

Macron is going to have to put Trappier in his place before that twerp kills the entire programme and Central European military cooperation with it. Unless he thinks France can shoulder the €100 billion plus programme alone, of course.

 

[Mike1976]

Belgium's defence minister Theo Francken has lashed out against Dassault's CEO Eric Trappier and announced that his government would review their continued participation in the FCAS programme. Trappier had previously been critical of Berlin and France's admitting Brussels into the programme, demanding that Belgium should cancel their F-35 order first. (Source) Taking to X, Francken wrote that "as a founding member of NATO and the EU, a loyal ally and host to the headquarters, we need not listen to arrogant industrialists". (Source) Belgium has so far contributed €300 Mio. to the programme.

Macron is going to have to put Trappier in his place before that twerp kills the entire programme and Central European military cooperation with it. Unless he thinks France can shoulder the €100 billion plus programme alone, of course.

The same old story. Just leave the French to their own interests and join GCAP.

 

[Mike1976]

Facing Russian threat EU questions its logistical capacity to sustain a war in the East

Facing Russian threat EU questions its logistical capacity to sustain a war in the East

armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

Polish-Norwegian partnership to develop joint counter-unmanned aerial systems for NATO Eastern Flank

Polish-Norwegian partnership to develop joint counter-unmanned aerial systems for NATO Eastern Flank

armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

THEON Expands European Footprint with New Belgium Facility Supporting Electro-Optical Sovereignty

THEON Expands European Footprint with New Belgium Facility Supporting Electro-Optical Sovereignty

armyrecognition.com

 

[Hiryu2.0]

NATO Should Not Replace Traditional Firepower with ‘Drones’

Over-reliance on uncrewed aerial systems or ‘drones’ is leading to significant problems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and is not something Western militaries should attempt to replicate

www.rusi.org

 

[Mike1976]

NATO Should Not Replace Traditional Firepower with ‘Drones’

Over-reliance on uncrewed aerial systems or ‘drones’ is leading to significant problems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and is not something Western militaries should attempt to replicate

www.rusi.org

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[Picanha]

For long range, heavy mission and technologically sophisticated duties manned system are not replaceable at the moment.

The systems are too complex and expensive to have a potentially unstable remote AI control.

But coupling it with expendable remote semi smart units is the first step.

A large power conflict will target far away industrial resources in a scale not possible with drones atm.

 

[Hiryu2.0]

Russia 'perfecting' China's sabotage tactics for war against West

Dr Sari Arho Havrén, a associate fellow at the Rusi think-tank and China analyst, said the tactics are “perfect tools” to attack the “vulnerabilities of open, democratic and rule of law societies” because Russia and China can work together to weaken Western nations while simultaneously maintain...

www.rusi.org

 

[Mike1976]

Greek company Theon acquires German Kappa Optronics to increase production of military optics across Europe

Greek company Theon acquires German Kappa Optronics to increase production of military optics across Europe

armyrecognition.com

 

[muck]

NATO Should Not Replace Traditional Firepower with ‘Drones’

Over-reliance on uncrewed aerial systems or ‘drones’ is leading to significant problems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and is not something Western militaries should attempt to replicate

www.rusi.org

The war in Ukraine is fought under very certain circumstances. Believing it to be a blueprint for future wars would be a major mistake. Drones enjoy dominance in Ukraine because the front lines are largely static. It would not be possible to employ them like this in a war of movement. Logistically, it would be a nightmare to organise and the pilots would be too vulnerable. Ukraine proved that a year ago during the Kursk incursion. Drones played little to no role during the first few weeks of that offensive.

NATO's major mistake was (and is) the ditching of mobile short-range air defence. Having said that, I've become a bit wary of Ukrainian military leaders like Robert Brovdi dismissing all NATO doctrines as ineffective.

 

[Fluff]

The war in Ukraine is fought under very certain circumstances. Believing it to be a blueprint for future wars would be a major mistake. Drones enjoy dominance in Ukraine because the front lines are largely static. It would not be possible to employ them like this in a war of movement. Logistically, it would be a nightmare to organise and the pilots would be too vulnerable. Ukraine proved that a year ago during the Kursk incursion. Drones played little to no role during the first few weeks of that offensive.

NATO's major mistake was (and is) the ditching of mobile short-range air defence. Having said that, I've become a bit wary of Ukrainian military leaders like Robert Brovdi dismissing all NATO doctrines as ineffective.

Whatever we do on offensive systems, we need a home guard, and one of their duties will be point defence against drones. And we will need to guard a lot of points, and we won’t be able to use 35mm cannons in our home countries, so we need a cheap effective and easy to use system. In addition the deployed forces need the same plus the 35mm cannon or similar.

Signing up every shooting club would be a good start.

 

[primer]

Couple of problems they made it near impossible for youngsters to learn shoot a gun well to be able to perform such a task that requires more than a few shoots per year practice and they are used to authoritarian lifestyle so an old banner like defend against Nazi is confusing.
When you see engineering the previous generation did without aids, there should be shrines for it. You look at gun Jesus videos and while the present generation sees scary gun man alI see is a desciple of genius innovation.
According to a poll less than 25% or somesuch Aussie kids would defend the place.
If China and Putin were involved in a few election posts its nothing compared what they did to destroy pride in your own country. And the proof is in the polls
11% in the UK for gen Z

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Accordingly they would be fighting Chinese with far fewer conscripts.