November 12, 2018 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land
Defense ministers from 10 European countries gathered in Paris on Wednesday to set the agenda for the European Intervention Initiative (EI2), a defense coalition spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron.
"To face new threats, Europe needs a strong defense," the French Defense Ministry said in a tweet after the meeting. "With the European Intervention Initiative, 10 European countries are committed to its protection."
EI2's goal is to create a results-based common strategic culture that allows for rapid response joint military operations, including in humanitarian efforts. As such, it is not aimed at establishing a supranational European army.
However, as an initiative outside EU and NATO frameworks, the French Defense Ministry has tried to alleviate concerns that it would undermine defense structures in the bloc and alliance.
"With the European Intervention Initiative, the whole European Union and the European pillar in NATO will also be strengthened," it added.
'Germany felt pressured'
But France's efforts have done little to placate concerns in Berlin, which Paris sees as a pivotal actor in the initiative.
Claudia Major, senior international security associate at the Berlin-based German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), told DW that German officials are wary because "it's explicitly and deliberately organized and set up outside the European Union's structures."
"For the Germans, making a deliberate attempt to setting up something meaningful outside the EU's structures — and outside NATO — is not seen as a positive move but rather as undermining the EU," Major said.
"In the end, Germany felt pressured to agree and engage in the initiative, because otherwise all the talk about France and Germany being the engine of Europe and the heart of Europe, and driving European integration and cooperation forward, would look cheap, wouldn't it?"
Full article: https://amp.dw.com/en/germany-cautious-as-france-leads-european-defense-initiative/a-46201409
September 13, 2023 | International, C4ISR
Made with cardboard, wooden dowels and rubber bands, this disposable drone adds another flexible option to militaries around the world — including Ukraine.
September 29, 2021 | International, C4ISR
Thales et Weibel Scientific ont signé hier un accord visant à travailler sur les nouveaux radars de haute performance Xenta, conçus pour les missions terrestres à courte portée. Formalisée en présence de la ministre des Armées française et de son homologue danois, cette coopération confirme le positionnement international de Thales dans ce domaine et la supériorité des radars Doppler de Weibel qui se conjuguent pour offrir le meilleur produit du marché. Elle renforcera les activités des deux partenaires en leur ouvrant de nouvelles opportunités à destination des forces armées. Cette nouvelle collaboration instaurée entre Thales et Weibel Scientific pose un nouveau jalon dans les futures relations commerciales européennes entre les industriels de la défense danois et français, et confirme la nouvelle stratégie de l'industrie de la défense danoise. « Avec l'intégration des radars Doppler de pointe de Weibel Scientific, Thales, qui figure parmi les leaders des solutions de défense, renforcera son portefeuille dans le segment terrestre à courte portée. Nous sommes ravis de cette opportunité de développer notre expertise commune au service de nos clients », déclarait Serge Adrian, vice-président exécutif des activités Radars de surface chez Thales.
January 19, 2023 | International, Land
With today’s announced order, Oshkosh Defense has received orders for 1,412 FMTV A2s and 800 FMTV trailers for a total order value of $627 Million to date