European Union defence procurement
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[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 220804029 by [[Special:Contributions/82.10.109.218|82.10.109.218]] ([[User talk:82.10.109.218|talk]]) no source
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'''European defence procurement''' refers to the collective armaments purchasing policies of European nations.
Traditionally European countries have either developed their own weapon systems or bought 'off the shelf' systems usually [[NATO]]-sponsored from the [[United States]] or from [[Soviet Union]], now from [[Russia]]. In the modern era, reduced defence budgets and increasing complexity make it difficult for most countries to develop their own weapon systems. Furthermore identical projects in differing countries was recognised as a waste of resources. However the same countries often do not wish to purchase American systems because the perception of a loss of sovereignty and the profits (and jobs) go to American companies.
Therefore some European nations are attempting to pool their resources to create multinational programmes to create a more independent and competitive capability. The [[European Defence Agency]] was established in [[2001]] to create such a stronger European market for defence equipment.
==History==
The [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] is an example of European commitment to its own industry. When the British government cancelled the [[BAC TSR-2|TSR-2]] and purchased the [[F-4 Phantom II]] there was outcry. Previously the [[United Kingdom]], [[Germany]] and [[Italy]] had cooperated in producing the [[Panavia Tornado]] in the 1970s.
==Industry==
While European defence budgets remain fragmented and massive duplication in research and development exists, the European defence industry has made some moves towards consolidation. [[British Aerospace]] was widely expected to merge with [[Germany]]’s [[DASA]] to form the first major European defence giant. Instead in [[1999]] BAe merged with another British company, [[The General Electric Company|GEC's]] defence businesses ([[GEC-Marconi]]), to form [[BAE Systems]] which has tended to focus on the Anglo-American market. As a result, in 2000, DASA merged with [[Aerospatiale-Matra]] to form [[EADS]]. Further consolidation of the smaller defence firms cannot be ruled out.
In 2002 the formation of [[MBDA]] brought together the product portfolios of [[Aerospatiale Matra Missiles]] (of EADS), [[Alenia Marconi Systems]] missiles, and [[Matra BAe Dynamics]] to form Europe's No. 1 missile manufacturer and No. 2 globally after [[Raytheon]].
Other major players include
*[[AgustaWestland]]
*[[BAE Systems]]
*[[Dassault Aviation]]
*[[Diehl BGT Defence]]
*[[Eurocopter]]
*[[Eurofighter International]]
*[[Finmeccanica S.p.A.|Finmeccanica]]
*[[Krauss-Maffei]]
*[[MBDA]]
*[[Rheinmetall]]
*[[Rolls-Royce plc|Rolls-Royce]]
*[[Snecma]]
*[[Thales Group|Thales]]
*[[Thyssen-Krupp|ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems]]
==Products==
Below are some examples of European products and the previously weapons they may replace.
*[[A400M]] – replacing [[C-130]] and Franco/German [[Transall]]
*[[MBDA Meteor|Meteor]] – replacing [[AMRAAM]] as long-range [[Air-to-air missile|AAM]]
*[[ASRAAM]] and [[IRIS-T]] – replacing [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] as short-range AAM
*[[Eurofighter Typhoon]] – replacing F-4 Phantom II, F-16s, Tornado F.3
*[[Eurocopter Tiger]] – for France, Germany and Spain
*[[Dassault Neuron]] – future UCAV demonstrator develloped by France, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Greece and Switzerland
*[[AgustaWestland EH101|EH101]] – largely replacing European helicopters
*[[NH90]] – largely replacing European helicopters
*[[PzH 2000]] – replacing [[M109 howitzer|M109 Paladin]]
*[[Leopard 2]]
*[[Boxer MRAV|GTK Boxer]]
*[[Horizon class frigate]] and [[FREMM multipurpose frigate]] both for the French and Italian navies
*[[Type 212 submarine|Type 212]] and [[Type 214 submarine]], equipping the German, Greek and Italian navies.
There are several examples where one country continues to pursue purely national programmes because collaboration would be unacceptable or undesirable. For example both the UK and France continue to develop and operate independent nuclear deterrent. Likewise France's desire for military and industrial independence has motivated its continued pursuit of high-technology projects, e.g. [[Dassault Rafale]].
Multinational programmes can fail because of disagreements about price or capability. For example while the UK terminated its collaboration with France and Italy on the next generation frigate ([[Horizon CNGF]]) and started a national [[Type 45 destroyer|Type 45]] programme. However the warships will share some systems, primarily the [[MBDA Aster]] missile.
British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] came under pressure from President [[Bill Clinton]] to select Raytheon's future missile to arm the Eurofighter,<ref>{{cite news | first =Neil | last = Baumgardner | title = Raytheon Offers Joint Development of New Missile with UK | work = Defense Daily | publisher = Phillips Business Information, Inc. | date = 1999-09-16 | accessdate = 2006-12-02}}</ref> however the UK government selected the European Meteor air to air missile. The Meteor could be deemed riskier, however the Meteor armed Typhoon will not be subject to U.S. export controls and MBDA now has a missile product with no real competition from American manufacturers.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
Likewise European governments were actively dissuaded by the [[United States Department of Defense|US Department of Defense]] from continuing the A400M project, the Pentagon argued that the Lockheed C-130J and [[Boeing C-17]] provided all the capability European governments needed and was already flying.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} The DOD also argued that to spend limited budgetary resources on such duplication was foolish. Continuing delays and lack of agreement in the A400M programme have however already caused the R.A.F. to purchase the Boeing C-17{{Fact|date=February 2007}}.
The previous generation American fight plane ([[F-16]]) was widely sold throughout Europe. The next generation [[F-35 Joint Strike Fighter]] will probably not see the same export success,{{Fact|date=February 2007}} at least partially because the JSF project will not allow final assembly in other countries (as was widespread with the F-16 ) except the UK and Italy, and because there are European alternatives such as Eurofighter, Rafale and Gripen.
==Conclusion==
{{Original research|date=October 2007}}
It can be argued that the focus on "buying European" sometimes obscures the important factor, the actual provision of capability. Only the UK operates a truly competitive defence procurement policy,{{Fact|date=February 2007}} for example allowing the involvement of the [[Thales Group]] in the [[Royal Navy]] [[Royal Navy CVF programme|Future Carrier (CVF)]].
Recent UK government selection of European defence equipment has been more related to capability than such a "buy European" policy. The UK's Meteor decision was not dogmatic, but represented a true increase in both the operational capability of the Eurofighter and potential for export sales than an AMRAAM equipped Typhoon.<ref>{{cite news | first = Bernard | last = Gray | title = Caught in the crossfire: With guided weapons decisive in modern warfare, three British orders are critical to the European missile industry | work = Financial Times | publisher = The Financial Times Ltd. | page = 21 | date = 1996-02-01 | accessdate = 2006-12-02}}</ref>
It seems likely that a stronger, more competitive and potentially more efficient European industry will allow European governments to do more with current budgets. However American companies are assured of a healthy share of European procurement budgets. The UK continues to order U.S. defence products, some of them made jointly, in large numbers, [[F-35 Lightning II]], [[CH-47 Chinook|Chinook]], C-130J are a few examples. The F-35 is also likely to see service in other European air forces.
A problem for the European Defence Cooperation however, is that [[France]] - which has a large defence industry - sometimes chooses own projects instead of participating in European ones. France withdrew from both the [[Panavia Tornado]] (in 1967), and the [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] (in 1985) projects in favour of French projects.
== See also ==
* [[OCCAR]]
* [[European Security and Defence Policy]]
* [[European Defence Agency]]
==References==
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==External links==
* [http://www.european-defence.co.uk European Defence (UK NGO)]
* [http://www.bl.uk/collections/business/pdf/defence_industry_guide.pdf The British Library - finding information on the defence industry (PDF file)]
[[Category:European Union security]]