![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635969244551050926-le-drianjpg.jpg\")
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, left, listens to explanations about an NH90 helicopter next to chief of the DGA, Laurent Collet-Billon, center, on June 12, 2014, during a visit at the military aerial base in Istres, southern France.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo Credit: Bertrand Langlois\/AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n That is an approach “that looks for synergy,” said Robbin Laird, of ICSA, a consultancy based in Washington and here. The next step would be to include the French Air Force in the discussions\u00a0to encourage a joint-services approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another factor to consider in developing a weapon is to adopt “an open system that is open to modular upgrades,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is greater complexity; however,\u00a0a greater focus on simulation, systems engineering\u00a0and interfaces between systems is expected to lead to a change in industry\u2019s engineering approach, according to Collet-Billon. That reliance on computer model simulators is expected to cut program costs. System engineering\u00a0gives a clearer understanding of the requirement, saving time while improving quality of the solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In innovation, DGA seeks to strengthen its support through the supply chain, reaching to small and medium companies. The office is opening this year DGA Lab to ease the integration of technology in defense systems. The lab is likely to be located near the defense ministry on the southwest edge of the capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A digital approach reflects the world of big data, which includes\u00a0data security and management\u00a0and has replaced hundreds of pages of paper documents, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It is strategic. It is the DGA\u2019s role to take into account the digital aspect at the concept phase,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That digital approach should be applied to building a tank to replace the Leclerc, with work on the next-generation vehicle updating the systems plugged into the v\u00e9hicule blind\u00e9 de combat et infanterie, an infantry fighting vehicle, and Scorpion vehicles, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those land units will be interoperable with a common datalink that hooks the vehicles to battle commanders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Four DGA officials will draw up road maps, which will allow progress to be assessed under the transformation plan, he said. The goal this year is to engage stakeholders, which comprise the DGA, armed forces and industry. Young DGA engineers are similar to those in industry, steeped in digital culture and key to the transformation plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Britain, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has selected the former head of Defence Equipment and Support to assess the effectiveness of a major reform drive adopted in 2010 by the Conservative government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Sir Bernard Gray has been asked to undertake a technical review into the state of the procurement landscape,” an MoD spokesman said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" France’s procurement office has launched a transformation plan aimed at keeping weapon systems updated based on geopolitical shifts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":81883,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":14,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"coauthors":[464],"class_list":["post-38240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-land"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"5HNJBA4WQZBCJDG5646M7N6A3I","arc_canonical_url":"\/land\/2016\/04\/22\/french-procurement-office-launches-effort-for-military-upkeep\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n