PARIS — An impending wave of cuts in public spending in France calls for a debate on the elements that make up the country’s nuclear deterrent,
with a big question mark over whether to maintain the carrier-borne air wing,
a report from influential think tank Centre d’Etude et de Prospective Stratégique (CEPS) said.
The report, “Defense Without the Cosmetics: A Platform of Proposals for Defense and National Security,”
seeks to open public debate on the traditionally sacred and unquestioned realm of nuclear deterrence
ahead of the publication of the official white paper on defense and national security, due in a few weeks.
The CEPS report is due to be published at the end of this month.
Cuts to Carrier Fighters
The CEPS report sees the carrier-based fighter as a possible place to cut.
“The fleet air arm nuclear force, which is only operational when our sole aircraft carrier is available, is this as indispensable as in the past? In view of cost/benefit, should this be maintained?” the report asks.
“What’s the use of having a deterrent for six months at a time?” Loïc Tribot La Spière, chief executive of CEPS, said in a telephone interview, referring to the Charles de Gaulle carrier’s six months at sea.
So the French are now starting to question the carrier, the Spanish already have (and de facto have no carrier anymore with only 30 days at sea per year) and the Brits are struggling with it as well. I haven't heard about the Italians, but I am sure they will be asking this sooner or later as well.
The future for European carriers: none... or combined forces? Having one carrier is having none, but as Europe 'we' could have two or three, that is something. Unless we don't mind the Turkish navy operating the sole European carrier in 20 years from now (assuming they will want one at that time).
I think this article is about the French possibly wanting to get rid of nuclear capability for Rafale M rather than abolishing the carrier air wing altogether.
Flyboy wrote:One more reason to start thinking European instead of national...
Has nothing to do with thinking European instead of national
I am pretty sure that the French navy will never give up it's carrier as they want to play a role in international
affairs (like Afghanistan etc). If I read the article.... I have the idea they want to get rid off the nuclear capability rather then give up a complete carrier air wing and it's carrier.
This nothing more than a group of people making a study, everyone can do that.
As can be read on defencenews.com the French government will publish an official study later this month.
"Defense Without the Cosmetics: a Platform of Proposals for Defense and National Security" is a 62-page "blue paper" study, an unofficial report on policy issues, by think tank Center for Strategic and Prospective Study (CEPS), due to be published in January. An early copy was made available to Defense News.
A government panel also is drawing up an official defense and national security white paper, expected to be released in January."
For the benefit of Mr. Kite, there will be a show tonight on trampoline
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