Sea and Navy : What is the importance of the french navy in overseas operations?

Michèle Alliot-Marie : The navy participates in all of Defence's fields of intervention. It brings a significant contribution to most overseas operations, which was exemplified last summer by the involvement of the air-and-sea means of operation Baliste in the evacuation from Lebanon of French and European nationals. France commits its maritime means to taking part in the monitoring of the air-sea space and in the control of terrorism-linked trafficking. The navy also supports the French forces committed in Côte d'Ivoire thanks to its means deployed within the framework of arrangement Corymbe. Each ship of the navy is a piece of territory with a capability to use sovereign force in the name of the State.

Sea and Navy : Is defence, and deployment capability in particular, a decisive factor in a country's diplomatic influence?

Michèle Alliot-Marie : Richelieu was the first one to understand that the status of maritime power and the rule of the sea gave "a great power upon the land". Defence enables to assert France's international influence. Moreover, the naval part of Defence is endowed with the diplomatic advantage not to be as intrusive in sovereignty as the other armies, as it has the freedom provided by the open sea. Its autonomy and sustainability make it a mobile, long-lasting and adjustable device which may be visible or discrete if need be. Deployment capabilities, however, are not the prerogative of a military navy. Considering "transport" deployment, the great naval powers have indeed separated their combat tool from their maritime transport tool, relying upon State fleets or chartering markets. We cannot, nevertheless, do without military capabilities to evacuate nationals. Lebanon, in summer 2006, was an example of this: many among the people who were evacuated were indeed evacuated by sea. In terms of the deployment of "forces" within the framework of amphibious operations, we are talking about specifically military means. The naval component is therefore central, whether in terms of projection and assault by sea capabilities or in terms of the operation's initial command, tactical and logistical support on the long run, or for a possible re-boarding.

Sea and Navy : Is the major renewal of the navy's assets crucial?

Michèle Alliot-Marie : Decisions made - or rather not made - in the past have concentrated within the current period many naval programmes which could have been better distributed in time. Today, the frigates' renewal (programmes HORIZON and FREMM), the implementation of the permanent availability of an aircraft carrier and the renewal of the nuclear attack submarines capability (programme BARRACUDA) are programmes which are strategic for the armies and for France. Likewise, the renewal of ship borne fighter capabilities with programme RAFALE, and the procurement of a SCALP cruise missiles naval carriers' capability (programme MDCN) are fundamental to give our country a real influence capability over an optimal and independent management of world crises on the short term. Finally, the renewal of carrier-borne tactical helicopters and open-sea rescue helicopters (programme NH90 NFH), along with that of some naval weapons (programmes MU 90, EXOCET and Future Torpille Lourde) provide the consistency of that first-rate device which France may initiate alone or within a cooperation process. Our armies are steady, successful and efficient. This has a price, which our fellow citizens well understand.

Sea and Navy : The navy awaits new devices for the struggle against terrorism and action towards the land. Are multi-purpose frigates and the nuclear attack submarine Barracuda designed to answer this concern?

Michèle Alliot-Marie : The cost of the multi-mission frigate was optimised by cooperation and the number of units brought into service. It will gather mobility, persistency, information and combat capabilities which will enable France to lead, anywhere on the oceans, a highly modulated, adaptable and flexible action. The range of this action will extend from presence and monitoring for the collection of intelligence, intimidation, to the insertion of forces by air or by sea, and eventually to strikes on the coast or into the depth, at very short notice if necessary. BARRACUDA will also have all these specificities. It will furthermore implement Special Forces vehicles, underwater-to-surface missiles as well as mines, and will be better designed than AMETHYSTE for coastal navigation. It will also benefit from an excellent connection to tactical and operative networks and will carry the -navalised- SCALP missile, which has the capability to strike land objectives from a very long distance, at instant notice thanks to its fundamental unobtrusiveness. Now, in that case, you can really talk about "thunderiness" (foudroyance), which is a crucial concept in operations.

Sea and Navy : A major delay has been reported on such great programmes as frigates and nuclear attack submarines. Are these projects now on the right tracks?

Michèle Alliot-Marie : The first 8 multi-mission frigates (FREMM), a programme which was led along with Italy, were ordered in 2005. The importance of that contract made history. It includes 17 units, among which 8 with an anti-submarine purpose. The first unit should be fielded in 2011, and given the decided delivery pace, 7 FREMMs will be brought into service in 2015. Contract BARRACUDA is currently being completed and will be notified by the end of the year. The first of the six nuclear attack submarines will be delivered in 2016, in keeping with the scheduled phaseout date for the current Rubis-like nuclear attack submarines.

Sea and Navy : In the wake of a major industrial restructuring period, is it strategic for France to keep such companies as DCN and the Chantiers de l'Atlantique?

Michèle Alliot-Marie : DCN is and will be our number one actor for the contracting of heavily armed ships (including frigates). This position is reinforced with the DCN-Thalès merger. On the other hand, auxiliary and support ships as well as propelled platforms (especially the large ones such as aircraft carriers) are a market where Aker Yards might put forth interesting economic solutions to comply with defence requirements. DCN and Aker Yards, each with its specificity, therefore hold a full-right seat on the national chessboard.

Sea and Navy : With the alliance between DCN and Thales, a new phase is emerging. Beyond a national consolidation, is this a headway with European Defence? In line with the European approach to consolidation, you have advocated cooperative programmes, especially with Italy. Are these programmes to give rise to a burgeoning European Navy?

Michèle Alliot-Marie : The merger of Thales and DCN aims at establishing a strong French Naval Pole, one which will converge all French industrial capabilities of naval system-makers on DCN. This alliance will put an end to Franco-French competition, so as to prepare the European consolidation of the whole sector. With this aim in view, this union will also provide DCN with a credible, enterprising industrial shareholder, which will give it a boost on the domestic, European and export markets. Indeed, it stands as an industrial requirement in the face of the emergence of new player, in today's ever-more competitive global economy. It also addresses a political requirement, that of the assertiveness of the European Defence. This is my ambition within the framework of a "European competitive autonomy". During the recent years, the will for European cooperation has found concrete expression. France stands as a pioneer in naval programmes, with the multi-mission FREMM frigates, co-designed with our Italian partners, and also with the PA2 (second aircraft-carrier) programme carried out in partnership with the British. These cooperative projects guarantee a level of interoperability for our resources, which further improves both the harmonization of our military and diplomatic tools and the pooling of our planning and crisis managements capabilities. To be sure, these partnerships and cooperation will smooth the path of the EU military commitments for the benefit of security and peace worldwide.

Sea and Navy : After the frigates, a lot is being said about the PA2 aircraft-carrier. What do you have to respond to the critics of the project and to those who think the programme might be dropped with the 2007 elections?

Michèle Alliot-Marie : It will be difficult to interrupt a full, thorough cooperation that works perfectly, put in motion by the common will of France and the UK. Since the beginning of the year, French and British teams - from governmental and industrial spheres - have been actively and harmoniously working together to achieve the evenness of designs, while also abiding by the operational requirements of our respective navies. By the end of the year, we should receive an attractive technical and commercial offer from the Industry, which should make the best of both countries' common definitions, to put forth the most effective solutions at the economic level. The significant value of contracts planned in the 2007 budget bill (EUR 700 million) well demonstrates that our decision to launch the completion of the PA2 programme is a firm, final decision, one in which we put a lot of investments.

Sea and Navy : Defence has a heavy cost. Some want to have reduced budgets. What do you think?

Michèle Alliot-Marie : Some may think that military budgets are adjustable and that consequently, cutting them down would have no effect on the security of French citizens, the preservation of our national interests, the safety of energy supplies, or even our economic dynamism and the place of France on the global stage - which is irresponsible. Today more than ever, the world remains exposed to risks and threats, and the French people are acutely aware of this. Crises are higher in number and threats are diversifying. Terror becomes internationalised and weapons of mass destruction are proliferating. In this fragile strategic context, we must remain watchful and further cooperate with the other European countries. Besides, the ministry of Defence does not receive the highest budget of the French government, and although its current allocation reaches the same level as in 1999, is still is below the 1990 budget. The emergence of a credible European Defence is bolstered by the significant and continuous economic efforts that France commits to its Defence, in line with the objectives set by the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). Since 2002, France has spearheaded the development of European Defence, with a strong political will and an uninterrupted rise of its Defence budget. Still, we should not drop our guard. France spends 1.7% of its GDP on Defence - whereas this figure totals 2.1% in the UK.

Sea and Navy : Do our fellow-citizens have a positive approach to the effects of Defence? What are the effects on the nation and the citizens in terms of strategy, employment and technological capabilities?

Michèle Alliot-Marie : With 430,000 civilian and military personnel, the Ministry of Defence is the 2nd French employer. Moreover, it still is the 1st recruiter in France, with some 30,000 new employees each year. The Ministry of Defence also injects EUR 16 billion in the national economy, by way of the sites it owns throughout the whole country. The efforts in Defence consented by French citizens directly or indirectly provide work to more than 10,000 companies and almost 2 million people. Eventually, Defence remains a leader in Research and Development (R&D), with EUR 3.5 million each year, which represents 20% of all French R&D expenses and has predictable effects on employment, especially in the technological sectors.

Sea and Navy : The 2007 budget bill has slightly risen, compared with 2006. Will these efforts be continued during the coming years, so as to achieve the goals set by the 2015 model army?

Michèle Alliot-Marie : Three military programme laws have been planned to achieve the 2015 model army. The first law (1997-2002) was ruined, for the most part& The second law, covering the 2003-2008 period, was endorsed by the Parliament, implemented by the government and has been stringently respected ever since 2003. I must say that I take quite a pride in these efforts, through which we have risen the level of equipment and training of our forces to that of the most modern armies and have regained an undeniable operational credibility. We can not afford to miss the next steps. Our efforts must last. Our security, the place of France on the international stage and the future of Europe hinge upon this.
______________________________________________

Questions to Michèle Alliot-Marie by Vincent Groizeleau. Sea and Navy, october 2006