It is a euphemism to say that it is annoying: the head of Dassault Aviation Éric Trappier did not hide his dissatisfaction with Belgium’s request to join the tri-national program of the Air Combat System (SCAF).
Speaking during the presentation of the results of half years of the group, Éric Trappier said:
The chief of the aeronautical manufacturer has once again punished Belgium to acquire F-35, produced by the American giant Lockheed Martin. Brussels said in early July that he wanted to order 11 additional copies. One more reason, according to him, to reject his participation in the SCAF.
Aberrant participation?
An incompatible moment according to him, since the Belgian air forces should operate their F-35 at least until 2060 before having to renew their fleet. “It means that they will buy European combat airplanes in 20 years,” said Éric Trappier.
Belgium’s participation in the SCAF program is aberrant in the eyes of Dassault Aviation’s head, for whom the purchase of an American plane while wanting to benefit from the economic and industrial benefits of the SCAF is incoherent.
The Belgian Defense Ministry has recently published its strategic vision, in which it indicates that “the Government will ask the SCAF consortium to integrate Belgium as a complete partner as soon as possible.” Brussels had joined the Franco-German-Spanish consortium in 2023.
The strategic vision specifies that “the budgetary resources were already planned” within the framework of the next phase of development (which must lead to the theft of a demonstrator, a prototype of combat aircraft) and that for the next phase, from 2030, “the budgets will be planned”, but without indicating amounts of quantity.
By 2040, Belgium is considering a “mixed fleet”, composed of F-35 and a European sixth generation plane, “an interesting voice that must be explored.”
Soon a program of four?
In 2017 launched in Franco-German, the Fighting For the Future Aviation Program must ultimately replace French Rafale and European Eurofighter. Spain joined the program in 2019, making decision making even more complicated, as Eric Trappier said once again.
“He cites a single example of an ambitious industrial project in the world where there is no leader,” once again highlighting the industrial success that the protester of a neuron struggle drone had represented (which will serve as the basis for the future drone that accompanies the Rafale), led to six countries but with Aviation Dassault as leader.
The program is currently in “Phase 1B”, to develop technologies that will be used for the future demonstrator, phase 2, which must be launched in 2026, provides the construction of the prototype itself.
Éric Trappier has also refuted any indication of having an 80% participation in the program.
Discussions between Paris and Berlin
The SCAF will certainly be in the menu for discussions about work dinner scheduled for Wednesday in Berlin between Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz. The German leader had mentioned a few days ago the possibility of resolving industrial political difficulties soon.
Parallel to this presidential visit, the Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu will visit his German counterpart Boris Pistorius on Thursday. After visiting a Rheinmetalll production line in the north of the country, the two ministers will hold a joint press conference.
Source: BFM TV
