EU Combined Military Thread

[Ian Hall]

By the former chief executive of the EU's European Defence Agency.

"Operationally – ie. in terms of force generation and deployment – the only game in town these days is NATO"

https://ecfr.eu/article/spirit-of-ambit ... tegration/

[Ian Hall]

To the French company, the producer of Rafale fighter jets, achieving a higher degree of independence on defence matters involves acknowledging the technological and industrial superiority of France in the EU when it comes to producing cutting-edge defence material......

“Don’t give up what we already have for something far less certain,” the businessman said, in reference to the hypothetical idea of a pan-European defence force. Any future EU cooperation must “preserve” French industrial competencies, Trappier said.....

“Europe has spent €60 billion to buy F-35s, which is a shame,” Trappied said. “Why don’t EU [countries] buy French planes?” he asked.....

https://www.euractiv.com/section/defenc ... -industry/

[new guy]

I love how he says:

Why don't EU buy french planes?
So distraughtly.

[Tempest414]

It is not as if the French Air Force has not had its problems with Rafale based on lack of spear parts and the like

the big issue is why would say Norway buy French what will the French buy from them in terms of military kit

[new guy]

Also like the F-35 doesn't have a massive technological advantage

[TheLoneRanger]

Also like the F-35 doesn't have a massive technological advantage

Indeed it does, Rafael is approaching the end of its development curve and F35 is just starting on that curve and will progress into Gen 6 avionics in the 2030's.

The French are just incredulous that anyone would even 'think' about not buying French!

Typical French intransigence and arrogance unfortunately...

[Ian Hall]

RDC = EU's future Rapid Deployment Capability. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eu-rapi ... apacity_en

[wargame_insomniac]

RDC = EU's future Rapid Deployment Capability. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eu-rapi ... apacity_en

I wonder how this compares to NATO Response Force (NRF) or UK led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF)?

7 (soon to be 8) countries such as Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, 3 Blastic States, Finland, and also Sweden (once their admision to NATO is ratified by both Hungary and Turkey) could well be a menber of all 3!
I wonder how much double or even triple counting of troop "commitments" there will be??

[Ian Hall]

[Ian Hall]

The observant should glen from this what the EU's European Defence Agency is and isn't.

[Ian Hall]

https://www.politico.eu/article/breton- ... -incoming/

https://navyrecognition.com/index.php/n ... rrier.html

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/senior- ... t-carrier/

[SW1]

You mean France wants someone to pay for its aircraft carrier….

[serge750]

Na just build it france & double the price for the EU....+ the french could charge a training fee until its up to speed

[sol]

Building one or two carriers, similar size to Italian Cavour, getting 3 to 4 squadrons of F-35B which could also operate from RN carriers, or Cavour or ships like Trento and Spain Juan Carlos I, might have a sense. Maybe even one or two larger carriers like Queen Elizabeth that could operate F-35B or F-35C if needed. Anything else would be just building a carrier for France.

Project of this size would probably fail anyway due bickering who would build what.

[Tempest414]

Building one or two carriers, similar size to Italian Cavour, getting 3 to 4 squadrons of F-35B which could also operate from RN carriers, or Cavour or ships like Trento and Spain Juan Carlos I, might have a sense. Maybe even one or two larger carriers like Queen Elizabeth that could operate F-35B or F-35C if needed. Anything else would be just building a carrier for France.

Project of this size would probably fail anyway due bickering who would build what.

yep stop f-in about and just have 4 European F-35B and 2 Rafale sqns capable of re-enforcing the 4 European carriers and 2 fast jet capable LHD we already have

[Ian Hall]

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eu-mili ... sevilla_en

[Ian Hall]

This organisation is good at publicity. I'm not sure, that with only around 150 staff spread across a multiplicity of demands, to what extent it has the in-house capability to do this analysis and wonder how much it may represent a collection of analyses from other sources. I also suspect that most European defence ministries will have done their own (likely more comprehensive) analyses and thus not need to rely on this one.

However, useful to read nonetheless, there's a download at the link.

Beyond 2040 - EDA analysis warns on future warfare trends and technology imperatives for European defence

https://eda.europa.eu/news-and-events/n ... an-defence

[Ian Hall]

EU defence after Versailles: An agenda for the future

Oct. 23, 2023
Source:
European Parliament


https://www.defense-aerospace.com/eu-de ... he-future/

[Ian Hall]

https://www.euractiv.com/section/defenc ... raine-war/

[Ian Hall]

https://www.euractiv.com/section/defenc ... rell-says/

[Ian Hall]

https://www.euractiv.com/section/defenc ... n-process/

[Ian Hall]

https://www.euractiv.com/section/defenc ... hief-says/

[Ian Hall]

An opinion on X


Alex Luck
@AlexLuck9

There will be an EU nuclear deterrent around the same time there is an "EU Army". And a stepdancing unicorn that can sing the Anthem of Europe in Esperanto.

https://x.com/AlexLuck9/status/1739761898067841108?s=20

[Ian Hall]

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politi ... -atalanta/

[Ian Hall]

https://www.euractiv.com/section/defenc ... go-planes/