This agreement allows for the sharing of certain technologies to aid the development of future generations of missiles developed by missile contractor MBDA. This includes the helicopter-launched anti-ship weapon, termed Sea Venom and other future national and joint programmes to meet British and French military requirements over the next decade and beyond.

This new Intergovernmental Agreement builds on increasing collaboration in this area since 2010. It will allow closer working and information sharing on MBDA’s missile technologies while providing the necessary legal assurance to both governments on issues such as the protection of national data and security of supply.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

“Our defence relationship with France continues to thrive. The joint development of next generation missiles is just the latest example of this.

Sharing knowledge and information more deeply will help us develop better weapons more efficiently and keep both of our countries safe.”

It follows work carried out by both countries with MBDA to create Centres of Excellence, consolidating their specialist design and engineering skills. Four of these centres are being established at first, for Weapon Controllers and Test Equipment in France, and for Datalinks and Actuators in the UK; another four, on complex warheads: guidance and navigation systems; algorithms; and software will follow.

Signed in 2010, the Lancaster House agreement was brought into existence to solidify the relationship between the two allies and provide greater defence cooperation.

The Defence Ministers also reviewed:

  • The importance of the major exercise Griffin Strike in April 2016, involving a large number of French and British personnel and the considerable programme of mutual development undertaken by our Armed Forces over the last five years;
  • The work undertaken by both countries to ensure the safety and reliability of our nuclear weapons and the completion of the British facilities at Valduc in Burgundy in 2016 will demonstrate the success of our cooperation in this area;
  • Consideration of further areas of cooperation – potentially including counter-terrorism, Special Forces, and cyber security – and deeper policy coordination in pursuit of our common goals.
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison

15 COMMENTS

  1. I have to say I’m not entirely comfortable with this. During the Falklands War France allowed its technicians to stay in Argentina prepping exocetes And we are now sharing anti-ship missile technology? I know it was all a long tim ago, but it is a little concerning.

    • I used to think that too. But a lot of the facts around France and the Exocets remained secret for some time. I think when mor facts emerged some years later the French were actually providing much more assistance than they were initially publicly recognised for.

    • Actually, Dave Morgan (RAF Sea Harrier Pilot) and the late Sandy Woodward (commander of Naval task force (except the amphibs) both revealed that France provided a lot of support than people give credit for – from their intelligence services assisting denying black market deals to Argentina, to intel on the missiles themselves (though admittedly, until it happened, no-one knew how a AShM would impact a modern NATO vessle in combat conditions, even the USN), also the French provided training opportunities with the sea harriers in DACT with their Mirage III’s and Super Etendards.

      Of course, a (mostly) private company would try and get sales in any way, and they actually advertised the missiles 1982 history in sales post 1982. But your angry comment could have the same application to the various British companies (and government short-sightedness) in selling Canberras, T-42’s and weapons to Argentina too…

      Fact is France is a logical and good ally with similar interests to ours. This doesn’t mean all doors are open of course, but it makes sense.

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