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…

Edward the Peacemaker: Remembering How Fragile Peace Is

11/23/2022
By Kenneth Maxwell In Tiverton there is a statue of King Edward VII on the bridge over the River Lowman. The River Lowman joins the River Exe a short distance downstream and delineates the riverine boundaries of the old town of Tiverton in mid-Devon. I pass by King Edward’s statue…

The European Political Community: The First Meeting, October 2022

10/09/2022
By Pierre Tran Paris - U.K. prime minister Liz Truss was among the 44 political leaders from Europe attending Oct. 6 the first meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), a summit seeking to boost solidarity following the invasion of Ukraine ordered by the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin. Truss was…

Shaping a Way Ahead for the ADF: Meeting the Financial Challenges

10/06/2022
During my current visit to Australia, I had a chance to discuss challenges facing Australia as the country re-focused on the direct defence of Australia. And such a shift clearly raises questions of shaping forces to defend the perimeter of defence for Australia as well re-shaping the force for this…

An Early Look at the 2023 French Defence Budget

09/29/2022
By Pierre Tran Paris - France will next year order 42 Rafale fighter jets, worth some €4 billion ($4 billion), and take delivery of 13 units, major line items in the draft 2023 defense budget which will total €43.9 billion, up €3 billion from this year’s arms spending. The government…