Lack of money clusters are therefore unavoidable

Barely closed doors of the Ila Berlin aerospace Salon, those of Eurosatory - the "land armaments Bourget" s ' open today at Villepinte, in the North of Paris. Between aircraft and armoured, not much in common a priori. But, in one demonstration in the other, the same plane threat over the exhibitors and visitors: that of reductions in military budgets. "Deliveries should remain sufficiently supported to here in 2014, but in regards to commands, we expect a significant reversal", recently declared Christian Mons, the Chairman of Gicat, the Union of the armaments. For his part, Louis Gallois, the Executive Chairman of EADS, calls on Governments to not cut cooperation programs.

London, the new Government initiated a review of programs coming drastic, given the size of deficits. Same fight in Berlin, where it refers to the removal of 40,000 positions in the armed forces. But who said less said men less material. The details are not yet known, but with financial skids of the A 400 M transport or Tiger helicopter including aircraft, margins of manoeuvre are even smaller. And in France, where the axe is not yet fallen, Nicolas Sarkozy prepares the armies to difficult tomorrow. For mailbox limits of Matignon, expected end of June, the Ministry of Defence Board on several economies scenarios. In the worst cases, the army should be 4.8 billion euros ("Les Echos" from May 27). In this context, the exhibitors of Eurosatory hope that before arbitrate policy will recall that those fighting now, in Afghanistan, do on land. Purchasing emergency operational armour kits, tank turrets and anti-explosifs jammers should therefore be protected, view Hélène Masson, master of research at the Foundation for strategic research (read below). Implemented on the English model, these purchases to quickly provide equipment to soldiers in the operation, even if purchase "off-the-shelf" abroad. But beyond Less long and therefore easier to shift land weapons programs have always been preferred adjustment variables figure.

The temptation of the national downturn

At the time, in France, all eyes are on Scorpion, the major program of modernization of the army. The key, the construction of 2,500 armoured about to replace the venerable VAB, Assegai and other AMX 10 - RC, Leclerc tanks mid-life modernization or outfits of the foot, all connected by a unified digital network. The challenge looks risky, but the DGA provides from the consequences of failures of similar programs in the United States (FSC) and in England (FRES). "Scorpion happen without inflation of technology", said last week Jean-Pierre Devaux, Director of strategy, at a symposium organized by the IHEDN and the FRS.

It takes not more that the consolidation of the European industrial fabric sea serpent re-emerged, in Paris at least. The observation is known: the industry is too piecemeal. Lack of money, clusters are therefore unavoidable. "The scarcity of credit will promote reconciliation", recently said Hervé Morin, at a symposium organized by the Economic Council of defence. In France, the Department has however failed to put an end to duplications in optronics between Safran and Thales, two companies in the fold of the State.

Realistic, Antoine Bouvier, - the number one European missile - MBDA pattern, recalls that that are close to businesses, must be common to several country programmes. Which are starved. Worse, at the time of tightening the screws, the temptation of the national downturn is likely to take the top. "This is where this integration is most needed is the most difficult," he summarized. All hope is not lost however, as it is rumored that Paris and London may conclude agreements of mutual technological dependence of missiles and sonars.