UK strengthens defence partnership with France

Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin strengthened the UK’s partnership with France at the High Level Working Group in Paris, signing key agreements with her French counterpart, Laurent Collet-Billon, Délégué Général pour l’Armement.

The agreements included the next phase of the UK-France Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) Demonstrator Programme, further hydrodynamics testing cooperation, and a support contract for Ajax, Warrior and French Jaguar weaponry.

Both Baldwin and Collet-Billon signed an agreement to enable the next phase of the UCAS programme to begin. This means that the three UK and three French companies (BAES, Dassault Aviation, Rolls Royce, Safran, Leonardo and Thales) who have worked hard to deliver the feasibility phase of the ambitious UCAS programme over the last two years will be able to further develop the programme in preparation for the full €2 billion (c.£1.5 billion) demonstrator programme. This phase will begin in late 2017.

The Demonstration Programme will develop two full-scale versatile and world-class UCAS operational demonstrators by 2025. These demonstrators will be used for operational test and evaluation work over the following 5-10 years and could serve as the basis for a future operational capability beyond 2030.

Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin said: “This innovative project further strengthens the UK-French defence relationship and supports innovative research on both sides of the Channel.

“In an uncertain world, working with international partners and allies is more important than ever and I am delighted that our teams, working with British and French industry partners, are making good progress on these ambitious bilateral programmes.

“With a rising Defence budget, and a £178 billion equipment plan, our commitment to innovation and collaboration will deliver a safer and more prosperous Britain.”