05.08.2011
According to Financial Times Deutschland, France and Germany are about to establish a naval consortium, a sort of "naval EADS". Governments of both countries could be involved in the negotiations as well.
France and Germany are on the threshold of joint naval consortium, writes
Financial Times Deutschland on Aug 1. According to the newspaper, leadership of French defense shipyard
DCNS and German company
ThyssenKrupp as well as governments of both countries participate in the talks.
Reportedly, France has been striving for integration with Germany's naval capabilities for a long time; in particular, Nicolas Sarkozy many times touched upon this issue talking with German chancellor Angela Merkel. However, keeping in mind problems with French contribution to European aerospace concern
EADS, Germany was not so enthusiastic over naval industrial alliance with France, writes the newspaper.
This initiative evolved when the 2-year long negotiations between
ThyssenKrupp and Arabian investors had finally failed. As is reported, in the prospective "naval
EADS" France could be responsible for surface ships, and Germany – for designing and construction of submarines.
Representative of
ThyssenKrupp told to
DPA news agency on Aug 1 that negotiations with
DCNS were not held at the moment. Cooperation in torpedo designing is being carried out with the French company, emphasized the
ThyssenKrupp spokesman. Germany's federal government refused to comment information released by
Financial Times Deutschland.
DCNS is a partner of Russian armed forces; in particular, there is an agreement providing construction of two
Mistral-class landing ships in Saint-Nazaire, France and other two – under license in Russia.
