http://defensenews.com/blogs/dubai-air-show/2009/11/french-minister-to-mull-missile-defense-studies/


Defense News
November 15, 2009


French minister to mull missile defense studies
By Pierre Tran


Dubai – French defense minister Hervé Morin said he planned to meet industry to 
discuss feasibility studies for research into missile defense technology.

The technology studies would contribute toward a “maintenance of industrial 
competence,” Morin told journalists at the air show, which opened Nov.15 here.
....
Going back to president François Mitterrand, previous French governments had 
decided not to invest in missile defense, but the subject had a way of coming 
back onto the table no matter how often it was turned away by political 
leaders, Morin said.

MBDA chief executive Antoine Bouvier recently called for political leaders to 
decide on what role European countries could take in the new sea-based 
ballistic missile defense plan outlined by U.S. president Barack Obama on Sept. 
17.

European industry had the know how to contribute to a lower layer of ballistic 
missile defense but needed support, Bouvier said.

Although the French government funded some research studies into missile 
defense, the effort needed to be boosted, he said.

MBDA, Thales and Safran last year banded together to garner official support 
for the Aster roadmap, a long term development plan for the Block 2 missile, 
which would track, acquire and intercept ballistic missiles in the upper 
atmosphere.

Under current studies, MBDA is working on its Aster interceptor, Thales is 
developing a long range radar, Safran’s Sagem is working on a lateral control 
system using a solid divert and attitude control system (SDACS) manoeuvring 
system in the upper atmosphere, and a new fuel needed for first and second 
stage boosters.

A defense analyst based in Paris recently said industry is hoping to obtain 
around 50 million euros of research funding a year for missile defense.
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