France and UK plan 'centres of excellence' in missile technology

France and the UK must develop a new model of co-operation in defence technology based on 'centres of excellence' in both countries, according to Antoine Bouvier, chief executive officer of MBDA. The two countries must accept what he described as "a certain level of mutual dependence with the principle that either we share [technological capability] or we lose it." He added it will be more efficient for the industry to organise this mutual dependence than to have it imposed
[first posted to http://jmr.janes.com - 02 April 2012]