Britain's defense procurement minister, Peter Luff, said the announcement of a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV risk-reduction contract and an unmanned air combat vehicle demonstration deal is being delayed as the new French government looks at future commitments.
“France is pausing for breath to look at what it can afford. I suspect their white paper process will be as painful for the French Ministry of Defense as [defense cuts] have been for the U.K. and U.S.,” he said.
“They are looking at their UAV strategy but have assured us they are still committed to work together on these programs. We entirely respect the new administration's decision.”
France is expected to take the wraps off a new UAV strategy later this week.
The study contracts were to have been awarded to BAE Systems and Dassault Aviation. The companies are the industrial partners leading the UAV work.
Expectations the two study contracts could be announced at the show were raised by briefings held seperately by the companies in the run up to Farnborough.
The companies cancelled a joint news conference scheduled for July 10 to give details of progress in their partnership.
A spokeswomen for BAE said she still expected the study deal to go through in the “next few weeks.”
Britain and France signed a bilateral defense treaty in late 2010 aimed at advancing cooperation in operational and industrial sectors.
France recently signed a more limited deal with Germany covering industrial cooperation. One of the areas of possible cooperation is MALE UAV development.
The letter of intent with Berlin opened up the possibility of widening the bilateral deal with Britain to include Germany.
France is also keen on involving Italy in cooperative defense programs.
The British are wary of increasing the scope of the UAV program until they have the essentials in place with France.
Staff writer Pierre Tran contributed to this report.
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/07/gannett-air-force-asia-focus-b1-role-may-grow-070912/
Probe finds 'shocking' abuse in Australian military -- FOX News
PLA Navy to Launch War Games in East China Sea -- Defense News
Russian Defense R&D down 50% Since 2005 – Report -- RIA Novosti
Spain Seeks to Delay Eurofighter Deliveries -- Nasdaq
Farnborough: U.K., France Cancel Plans for UAV Announcement -- Defense News
U.S. arms makers: uncertainty paralyzing investment, jobs -- Reuters
Lockheed's Next Prez Targets Boosting Export Sales To 20 Percent -- Aol Defense
Boeing Eyes International Tanker Sales In 2018 -- Aviation Week
Osprey’s Next Jobs: Tanker or AWACS? -- Defense Tech
Marines Peg 'Bad Flying' As Cause of April V-22 Crash in Morocco -- Aol Defense
Instead of Upgrading Helicopters, Army Wants to Upgrade Pilots -- Danger Room
Navy Won’t Bite Just Yet on F/A-18 Refinements -- Defense Tech
Sikorsky wins 5-year U.S. military helicopter deal -- Reuters
DARPA aiming for Mach-20 hypersonic rocketplane 'by 2016' -- The Register
U.S. seeks military advantage with hypersonic flight -- Dayton Business Journal
US Navy Presses Forward with Biofuels -- Voice of America
The Military's Secret Weapon: Smartphones -- Mobiledia
Police and US Military Using Airsoft Guns for Training Missions -- Red Orbit
U.S. Government Contractors Allegedly Responsible For Thousands Of Human Rights Violations Abroad -- Business Insider
On the Cost of A Larger Navy -- Information Dissemination
The insider threat from gang members in the U.S. military -- Examiner
