{"id":34242,"date":"2018-03-21T19:51:20","date_gmt":"2018-03-21T19:51:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/21\/france-ups-weapon-study-funds-for-future-jet-tank-aircraft-carrier\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T12:27:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:27:39","slug":"france-ups-weapon-study-funds-for-future-jet-tank-aircraft-carrier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2018\/03\/21\/france-ups-weapon-study-funds-for-future-jet-tank-aircraft-carrier\/","title":{"rendered":"France ups weapon study funds for future jet, tank, aircraft carrier"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PARIS \u2014 France is steering a new course in defense spending by increasing funding for concept and feasibility studies for future weapons<\/a> to \u20ac2.8 billion (U.S. $3.4 billion), analysts have said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The boost includes the launch of an average annual \u20ac1.8 billion budget for concept studies for large arms programs, and raising the finance for feasibility studies to an annual \u20ac1 billion by 2022 from the present \u20ac730 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The funding for concept studies will apply to the future fighter jet, battle tank and a successor to the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, according to Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly, who during a March 20 presentation of the draft 2019-2025 military budget law to the lower house National Assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith this draft law, we are preparing the future by committing to the preparatory stages of large arms programs<\/a>, which will structure the future of our forces,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This \u201dreal change in direction\u201d for studies geared toward future programs will also be tied to other European countries, according to Fabrice Wolf, a defense economics analyst. France is partnering with Germany on a future fighter jet and a tank, as well as teaming with Britain on a combat UAV<\/a>, although the latter is in suspension due to Britain\u2019s exit from the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrance has a great deal of know-how \u2014 although that is not widely known \u2014 while Germany has a good image, particularly in armored vehicles such as the Leopard 2 tank,\u201d he said. If the higher spending in feasibility studies is respected, that prepares the ground for acquisition of equipment from 2025 and onward.<\/p>\n\n\n\t