Article Posted on : - Feb 03, 2014

LONDON (BNS): Deepening their strategic relations further, United Kingdom and France have agreed to work on a number of defence projects, including the development of helicopter-launched, anti-ship guided missile, underwater vehicles and feasibility study for a future unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV).

A communiqué signed by UK Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande at the Brize Norton air base in the UK on Jan. 31 set out plans for closer ties between the two countries.

The two nations had signed the landmark Lancaster House treaty in 2010 to enhance bilateral defence and strategic ties.

The new agreement calls for joint investment in the procurement of defence equipment, joint training of armed forces and continued development of the Anglo-French Combined Joint Expeditionary Force, UK MoD said in a statement.

Under the UCAV programme, a £120 million will be invested for joint feasibility phase that will see British and French industries working together for a two year period.

A memorandum of understanding was also inked, confirming joint orders for a future helicopter-launched, anti-surface guided weapon for the navies of both the countries.

The two countries also agreed on a £10 million contract for the development of underwater vehicles capable of finding and neutralising seabed mines.

The deal also makes provision for exchange programme to provide British pilots and engineers with experience of operating the A400M ahead of the delivery of the UK's first aircraft later this year; and for French pilots to gain flying experience on the UK's A330 Voyager aircraft.

British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, also agreed to continue the development of a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force capable of carrying out co-ordinated expeditionary military operations, the MoD statement said.