J P
Where then does this OCCAR thing fit in ?
Is it a set of MinDef minions from various lands who perhaps swap hats as their function changes from "OCCAR" to Ministerial rep. ?
Yes - sort of.
Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (French:
Organisation conjointe de coopération en matière d'armement ;
OCCAR) is a
European intergovernmental organisation which facilitates and manages collaborative armament programmes between the nations of
Belgium,
France,
Germany,
Italy,
Spain and the
United Kingdom.
See here:
Welcome to occar and here for the shorter version
Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
And the A400M talks continue next week; no agreement today:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...hannel=defense
LONDON — Despite urging by industry for talks on the future of the A400M military transport aircraft to be wrapped up this month, negotiations will continue in February.
After a series of talks in recent weeks failed to resolve differences over how to split the 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in additional cost required to see the program through, government and industry officials are to convene again in Berlin on Feb. 2 to settle the issue... etc., etc....
And what was it doing as the programme costs rose and the timeline stretched out?
Seems like an ineffective multilingual quango ... But then as a total outsider, who am I to judge?
...I couldn't possibly comment... No need for the body armour, etc., J P - I'm with you.