Three concrete projects for the “Weimar”
(BRUSSELS2 to Warsaw) Three think tanks have come together to present proposals for cooperation in defense matters within the framework of the Weimar triangle (France, Germany, Poland). Jean-Pierre Maulny (IRIS), Marcel Dickow and Hilmar Linnenkamp (SWP), and Marcin Terlikowski (PISM) have just published "Weimar Defense Cooperation - Projects to Respond to the European Imperative" Document discussed in Warsaw on Monday (November 14). These three research centers wanted to show three concrete projects - apart from those already underway (such as helicopters) - which would allow the three countries to unite their efforts, in the short, medium or longer term. An initiative that I find very interesting because far from general analyses, it focuses on finding concrete projects, to be implemented more quickly.
Strengthening battlegroups is the first of them
The creation of the Weimar Battlegroup on a semi-permanent basis would be effective, according to them. With a specialization of functions: medical support to the French, logistics to the Germans, the C3 system (command, control and communications) would remain carried out in cooperation. But the goal of the Weimar trio is to have "integrated elements to gradually build a common C3 architecture" as part of the "battlegroup Plus" project. One could even envisage - explains a Polish official - that the command of the FHQ in Ulm be quasi-permanent. The authors believe that this cooperation should be supported by a "small secretariat".
2nd project: a common platform for unmanned aircraft (MALE)
Project for the future but sensitive when you know that the French and British have started cooperation on the subject. But the usefulness of a UAV cannot be limited to military aspects. It could also be useful in security: border surveillance in particular (a concept study has already been undertaken on this point at the European Defense Agency) or reconnaissance during natural or technological disasters (one thinks of the Fukushima nuclear accident ). The "Weimar" could introduce a joint research project within the framework of category B projects of the European Defense Agency.
3rd project: armored vehicles.
Such a tricky subject. Until recently, there were 23 different projects for 27 Member States. Suffice to say a plethora that cannot last forever. The Germans want to buy the Puma, France has developed the VCBI and Poland wants to replace its post-Soviet BMP1s with a new AFV. But no one seems to want to give up on what could make up their industry of tomorrow. The "terrestrial" is a subject that the Poles hold dear, who also have an industry that they would like to preserve. Here too there is an opportunity, believe the authors of the note. The time of “I can do it alone” seems over. The governments of the Weimar Triangle should propose the establishment of a strategic coordination group on armored vehicles, say the authors of the note.
