Indonesia Adds to its Rafale Fleet: August 2023

08/11/2023
By Pierre Tran Paris - Indonesia entered August 10 the second phase of buying the Rafale, with an 18-strong order entering into force, part of the total acquisition of 42 units, the aircraft builder, Dassault Aviation, said in a statement. The order for 42 Rafale for the Indonesian air force…

French Defense Policy Under President Macron: 2017-2021

07/22/2023
We have just published our latest book, this one bringing together our work on Second Line of Defense with regard to the evolution of French defense policy under President Macron during his first term. Here is what Robbin Laird, the editor of the reader, wrote about the book: Emmanuel Macron…

Bastille Day 2023: Modi Brings an Indian Accent

07/14/2023
By Pierre Tran Paris - President Emmanuel Macron welcomed on July 14 the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, as guest of honor to a prestige-laden military parade marking the 1789 French revolution, a day after New Delhi green lighted high-level talks to order 26 Rafale fighter jets and three attack…

An Update on French Arms Exports: February 2023

02/21/2023
By Pierre Tran Paris - Close U.S. scrutiny of arms exports, Franco-German cooperation, and how the French procurement office is short changed are among areas considered in a report on French foreign sales of weapons by the national audit office. The head of the independent audit office approved on Jan. 24 publication…

The French Mistral: The Case of the Russian Sale and Its Aftermath

02/16/2023
By Pierre Tran Paris - France took a financial hit of €409 million ($440 million) as a result of  its 2015 cancellation of the sale of two helicopter carriers to Russia, the national audit office said in its report on French arms exports. “In total, taking into account the result…

The Way Ahead in European Defense Industrial Co-operation: The French Perspective with the FCAS as Incubator

01/26/2023
By Pierre Tran Paris - A project for a future combat air system (FCAS) backed by France, Germany, and Spain has sparked close interest elsewhere in Europe, the French armed forces minister, Sébastien Lecornu, said Jan. 23. “There are other European nations knocking at the door,” he told the Association…

Public Communications and the FCAS: A Case Study?

11/24/2022
By Pierre Tran Paris - Perhaps future masters students at business and journalism schools will be presented with the European future combat air system as a case study on how not to handle communications on a multi-billion euro military project loaded with political and industrial implications. There appears to be…