Merkel and Macron announced a joint development programme for a new combat jet during the regular joint government meeting* today, planned as a "new generation of fighters" to "replace the air fleets of both countries" - explicitly Eurofighter and Rafale, not just Mirage 2000 and Tornado. Detail planning including timeline to be developed by mid-2018.
Additional points agreed upon were also joint development of the next Tiger combat helicopter iteration, for tactical air-to-ground missiles (which is kinda interesting since Germany is currently integrating Brimstone 2), as well as some details and continuations for the "Eurodrone" MALE UAV to be developed jointly with Italy, the planned joint Leopard/Leclerc MBT successor and the future joint artillery system.
Germany will also support and finance the (sorta neocolonialist) "Sahel G5" alliance, a bloc of states south of the Sahara which do joint military operations against terrorism under French "guidance".
* the German and French cabinets meet up semi-annual since the 40-year anniversary of the Elysee treaty, replacing the previous governmental consultation council. Joint EU defense was the primary topic of the latest meeting, with an intended European Defense Union agreed upon.
Additional points agreed upon were also joint development of the next Tiger combat helicopter iteration, for tactical air-to-ground missiles (which is kinda interesting since Germany is currently integrating Brimstone 2), as well as some details and continuations for the "Eurodrone" MALE UAV to be developed jointly with Italy, the planned joint Leopard/Leclerc MBT successor and the future joint artillery system.
Germany will also support and finance the (sorta neocolonialist) "Sahel G5" alliance, a bloc of states south of the Sahara which do joint military operations against terrorism under French "guidance".
* the German and French cabinets meet up semi-annual since the 40-year anniversary of the Elysee treaty, replacing the previous governmental consultation council. Joint EU defense was the primary topic of the latest meeting, with an intended European Defense Union agreed upon.
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