The French Defence Industry: A Strategic Autonomy Under Stress

The French Defence Industrial and Technological Base (DITB) faces a tricky political and budgetary situation, between an increasingly competitive international business environment, a European Defence project in the doldrums, and the persistence of significant pressures on the State’s finances. This note provides a snapshot of the situation. It analyzes the trajectory of the French BITD since the end of the Cold War and then focuses on its current fragilities. It also proposes avenues for reflection about the future trajectory of this BITD, taking into account the possible impacts on the French and European military-industrial landscape.

Crédit photo: Hélicoptère Airbus au salon de l'armement terrestre Eurosatory 
(source: Benjamin Vokar/GRIP, Paris, juin 2014)