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November 29, 2019 | International, Aerospace

SCAF : Paris et Berlin ont trouvé un accord sur les moteurs du futur avion de combat européen

Par Michel Cabirol

La France et l'Allemagne ont trouvé un accord sur l'organisation industrielle des moteurs. Dans un premier temps, Safran sera bien le maître d'oeuvre et MTU sous-traitant. Par la suite, les industriels vont créer une société commune à parité pour porter les contrats puis la certification du moteur.

Rencontré la semaine dernière au salon aéronautique de Dubaï, le patron d'Airbus Defence & Space, Dirk Hoke, avait assuré à La Tribune que les difficultés du Système de combat aérien du Futur (SCAF) allaient être surmontées, y compris sur le difficile volet concernant les motoristes (Safran, MTU). Et de préciser que l'Allemagne et la France allaient "trouver une solution" sur l'organisation industrielle des moteurs du futur avion de combat européen, le programme NGF (Next Generation Fighter). C'est désormais chose faite, selon plusieurs sources concordantes.

Le SCAF est donc enfin sur la piste de décollage. Si aucun aléa ne vient perturber la "phase de roulage"', le programme européen (Allemagne, France et Espagne) devrait décoller fin janvier avec la notification des contrats de Recherche et Technologie (R&T) sur les cinq piliers du projet, dont le fameux démonstrateur technologique sous la maîtrise d'oeuvre de Dassault Aviation qui est très attendu. Mais le temps presse. Et chaque minute compte, y compris celles des week-ends, pour être à l'heure du calendrier politique, comprendre, celui d'Emmanuel Macron et d'Angela Merkel.

Une organisation industrielle enfin figée

Paris et Berlin ont trouvé un accord oral, qui doit être désormais décliné par écrit. Dans la phase 1A (Recherche et Technologie), la France a obtenu que Safran soit clairement le maître d'oeuvre tandis que MTU se cantonne à un rôle de sous-traitant principal (main partner). Cette organisation était jusqu'ici contestée par MTU, lui même soutenu par le parlement allemand. Mais la France n'a pas cédé. C'était d'ailleurs une volonté très ferme de la France que d'équilibrer les rapports entre les industriels français et allemands sur le SCAF (Airbus Allemagne est maître d'oeuvre de trois piliers tandis que Dassault Aviation et Safran le sont pour un pilier chacun). "Ce schéma-là a fini par être agréé", explique-t-on à La Tribune.

La direction générale de l'armement (DGA) voulait que "les responsabilités soient clairement affichées, contrairement à ce qui avait été fait pour le moteur de l'Airbus A400M", avait confirmé début octobre le Délégué général pour l'armement, Joël Barre, au Sénat. "Nous tenons donc à avoir un responsable par poste et nous sommes en discussion avec Safran et MTU de façon à ce que Safran joue ce rôle en matière de moteur, pour des raisons d'équilibre de partage industriel entre les postes", avait-il précisé. Ce qui avait provoqué un coup d'arrêt du programme SCAF en raison de l'hostilité de MTU, soutenu par le parlement allemand.

Une société commune créée entre Safran et MTU

Après la phase de R&T, Safran et MTU se sont engagés à créer une société commune à parité (50/50), dont la date de création et les contours doivent encore être négociés. Cette société portera les contrats et s'appuiera sur les compétences des deux sociétés mères. Mais la répartition des t'ches entre les deux industriels devra être cohérente en fonction de leur compétence (intégration pour Safran, services pour MTU). In fine, cette société portera la certification du moteur du futur avion de combat européen. Tous les acteurs concernés par ce dossier sont "alignés" sur ce schéma industriel, assure-t-on à La Tribune. La DGA n'attend plus désormais sur son bureau que les propositions techniques et financières des industriels, qui devraient arriver de façon imminente. Date butoir, le 6 décembre.

Par ailleurs, la place d'Indra, le groupe espagnol que Madrid a désigné pour être son champion au sein du SCAF au grand dam d'Airbus, a également été réglée. Le groupe espagnol, qui sera un sous-traitant majeur de Dassault Aviation, ne sera pas seulement sur la photo, il sera bien dans le programme et obtiendra des contrats de R&T, affirme-t-on à La tribune. Par la suite, Indra aura une part définie selon le montant de l'investissement, que Madrid consentira dans le programme SCAF.

Le dossier Propriété intellectuelle traité

A Dubaï, le patron des activités défense d'Airbus s'était également montré résolument optimiste pour trouver une solution en vue de régler le dossier sensible de la propriété intellectuelle. D'autant que l'Allemagne a surpris en faisant la démonstration de son savoir-faire dans le domaine des systèmes de systèmes à travers un programme jusqu'ici secret. En effet, Airbus Allemagne a récemment dévoilé l'existence d'un démonstrateur de drone de combat furtif, baptisé LOUT (Low Observable UAV Testbed).

Là aussi, la France et l'Allemagne ont trouvé un accord cadre où chaque industriel pourra protéger la propriété intellectuelle de ses compétences. Ce qui veut dire que Safran par exemple n'est pas obligé de transférer à MTU ses compétences sur les parties chaudes du moteur. En revanche, toutes les compétences nécessaires à l'établissement des études en commun sont partagées dans un cadre de droit d'usage. Clairement, tout ce qui est créé par les industriels dans le cadre de la coopération (Airbus/Dassault Aviation ou Safran et MTU par exemple), appartient de manière conjointe aux entreprises. En outre, les Etats peuvent s'en servir pour leurs besoins de défense. En revanche, pas question pour les industriels de transférer vers le civil des savoir-faire s'ils n'en ont pas la propriété intellectuelle.

https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/scaf-berlin-et-paris-ont-trouve-un-accord-sur-les-moteurs-du-futur-avion-de-combat-europeen-834088.html

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