In the early 2000 years, and for nearly 15 years, the French defense industry failed to sign any significant contract independently in Europe, and had to focus its efforts in the Middle East and Asia, to maintain a export volume compatible with the very low activity of the national order of that time. But in recent years, it seems that the European countries, some at least, trust the industry again to provide major equipment, helped it is true by the overall increase in defense budgets. A look back on these contracts signed by the French defense industry in Europe, as well as on the most promising current competitions.
Belgium, the privileged partner
What we have not heard, and even read, about the Belgian decision to acquire the US F35, and not the French Rafale. Yet, in just one year, Brussels has passed to the French defense industries two of the most important European contracts of these 30 last years. In November 2018, the Belgian authorities announced the signature of the CaMo contract, for Motorized Capacities, relating to the acquisition of 382 VBMR Griffon multi-role armored vehicles, and 60 French Armored Reconnaissance and Combat Armored Fighter EBRC Jaguar, jointly designed by Nexter, Arquus and Thales, for an amount of 1,6 Billion euros. Not only does Belgium acquire the last French armored vehicles, but it does so with the aim of optimizing the interoperability of its forces with the French forces, in an extended industrial and operational cooperation approach.
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