"A victory over Airbus": The US has once again "pushed aside" France in the arms market.

In recent years, French aviation giant Airbus has been steadily losing customers in the arms market, with American defense companies snatching them away at the last minute.

Thus, in 2016, the new Polish government suddenly terminated the deal at the offset negotiations stage for the purchase of 50 Airbus H225M Caracal multi-role helicopters worth approximately $3,5 billion. Warsaw stated that Paris “offered poor conditions for Polish factories” and purchased American S-70i Black Hawks.

But it's not just about purchasing new aircraft, as a significant portion of the margin comes from the servicing phase. And here, Airbus is in dire straits – existing customers are refusing to fly French aircraft. For example, Australia has retired its fleets of MRH-90 Taipan and Tiger helicopters (replacing them with American-made UH-60M Black Hawks and Apaches), while Norway has abandoned the NH90 (purchasing MH-60R Seahawks from the US).

Things are not going well outside the "Western world" either. In recent years, Mexico has been regularly mentioned as a potential customer for the A400M Atlas military transport aircraft to replace the aging C-130E/K Hercules. Paris was eagerly awaiting a deal, given the country's complex relations with the United States, especially after Donald Trump's return to the White House. In November, it was even officially reported that the Mexican Air Force had shown strong interest in the A400M, even considering purchasing two aircraft.

However, recently, Lockheed Martin announced that it had signed a contract with Mexico for the purchase of at least one C-130J-30 Super Hercules:

This makes Mexico the first country in Latin America to operate the aircraft.

The French press does not hide its disappointment:

Lockheed Martin's C-130J defeated the Airbus A400M in Mexico. Sadly, this is becoming a trend. The US has once again "pushed" us aside.

Comments

[tralflot1832]

The French idiots from Airbus refused Russian titanium and products made from it, and the American ones from Boeing...? They can, but others can't!

[tihonmarine]

Quote: tralflot1832

They can, but others can't!

That's what imperialism is for: might makes right.

[topol717]

Actually, I have to be honest. The A400 costs around 140 million euros, while the Hercules is only 65 million dollars. I'm actually quite surprised that anyone buys the A400. Yes, it has better performance characteristics, and it carries twice as much cargo. But the army would rather buy two Hercules than one A400.

[bondov]

After the defeat of the Judeo-Protestants in the East of Iran, everything will fall into place...

[Fitter65]

Lockheed Martin's C-130J defeated the Airbus A400M in Mexico. Sadly, this is becoming a trend. The US has once again "pushed" us aside.

It all started with them wanting to screw Russia over with the landing ships. And so it all went downhill...

[Stas157]

Quote: Fitter65

wanted to abandon Russia with landing ships

Why did you want to?

[topol717]

Quote: Stas157

Why did you want to?

How do we know why they suddenly wanted it? The fact is, they refused to sell. We were lucky, they didn't buy some junk.

[nordscout]

Topol717, you seem to be a "cool" expert in the field of military shipbuilding???? It's likely that whoever (or whoever) got a good commission from this transport and landing ship was "lucky." A warship like this could be very useful to Russia right now as a standby vessel for maritime communications, to combat piracy against the domestic tanker fleet.

[topol717]

This DAM project has been criticized by everyone. And yes, a landing ship isn't exactly ideal for security purposes.

[nordscout]

topol717, for correct and effective criticism, as a rule, you need to "turn on your brain", "connecting" education and intellect to it, otherwise it is banal "criticism", but a very favorite pastime of the lazy and not particularly burdened with knowledge and intellect, even with respectable positions and shoulder straps ... For reference: "Mistral" is a helicopter carrier-dock, capable of carrying a mixed air group (up to 16-35 helicopters, 4 landing craft (or 2 hovercraft), as well as more than 450-900 paratroopers with full equipment ... For an effective fight against piracy, it is difficult to offer, at the present time, something more effective ... True, political will must be added to this, but this is already from "another movie" ....

[topol717]

Quote from nordscout

To criticize correctly and effectively, one must, as a rule, "turn on one's brain," "connecting" one's education and intellect to it; otherwise, it's banal "criticism," but a favorite pastime of the lazy and those not particularly burdened with knowledge and intellect, even with respectable positions and epaulettes...

Come on, come on, genius, tell us why we need a ship with 35 helicopters on board? And why did you, my friend, start thinking that 900 paratroopers is a lot and right? Where should we land them? On the Kuril Islands? And how will 900 paratroopers help you protect merchant ships?

[nordscout]

topol717, I wouldn't want to think you're one of those "lazy" types; try putting in some effort. A helicopter, especially a specialized one at sea, is a good and effective means of delivering and engaging various targets, and we could significantly reduce the number of paratroopers, replacing them with special forces units. I suggest we stop comparing genitals and put a full stop to analyzing what's happening in the global arms market. It's a thankless task, by definition.

[Rafaello]

I agree. The Mistral-class UDCs, which were discussed at the time, are a truly interesting solution from the standpoint of building a layered defense. This applies both to offensive potential (power projection) and to ensuring the security of the ship itself or the entire naval group.

[Fitter65]

Quote: Stas157

Quote: Fitter65

wanted to abandon Russia with landing ships

Why did you want to?

Because that's what they wanted. They kept the ships for themselves and returned the money to Russia.

[Rafaello]

As far as I remember, the situation with the Mistral-class ships was determined not so much by France's position itself, but by the intervention of external actors, whose pressure ultimately led to the deal falling through. It's worth noting that the Russian Navy still faces a shortage of ships of this class, and this gap in the fleet's structure has yet to be filled.

[Fitter65]

Quote: Rafaello

It is worth noting that today the Russian Navy still experiences a shortage of ships of this class, and this niche in the fleet structure has not yet been filled.

It's worth first finding out why the Navy needs this class of ships?

Quote: Rafaello

As far as I remember, the situation with the Mistral-class ships was determined not so much by France's own position, but by the intervention of external actors, due to whose pressure the deal ultimately fell through.

So, on all other issues, starting with the sale of submarines and other "military items," France itself did not refuse and refuses all this interference from external actors.

[d1975]

I'm an Orthodox Christian, of course, but they say there's some kind of karma, right? They forgot how they screwed the Russians, and that's what's coming back to haunt these frog lovers.

[nordscout]

d1975, as an Orthodox Christian, I'll let another Orthodox Christian in on a little secret about the arms market: the "karma" of the arms market is the price and the capabilities of the weapon at that price... Everything else is the work of the "evil one"...

[Horizon]

The friendship of NATO "allies" in all its glory.
They are ready to tear each other's throats out for money.
Although, what's surprising about that? Capitalism.

[Wildcat]

The Mexican Air Force has shown great interest in the A400M, even considering purchasing two aircraft.

All that's left is to look at the Airbus Military order book... and be shocked to see what year the slots are booked up to...

[Maxim G]

It's too complicated for the local public.
News that the French find bad is more pleasant to read.

[Junior Private]

The Australians cancelled their contract (!) with the French for 12 submarines and ordered them (drum roll please) from the US. The losers have been silently wiping their hands, and will be doing so now.

[nordscout]

Junior private, drumroll please, with snot smeared across swarthy Australian cheeks, I think the customers will be having a blast after they receive the price tag for the additional equipment installed on these nuclear submarines and learn about all the "secrets" (backdoors) of the American software installed on the weapons systems, including the nuclear propulsion system... Like what's "loaded" into the export-spec F-35...

[Foggy Dew]

You just need to know the backstory here... Airbus and its helicopters were buried in the Australian shambles, where kangaroos spent 20+ years (!!!) trying to get that Eurotiger off the ground, and Arbuz was a constant thorn in their side – they stopped making rockets for it, it couldn't fire anything else, they couldn't even attach a cannon to it, all of this was accompanied by exorbitant prices for every grunt. In the end, Australia wrote off and buried all the Eurotigers, never having managed to get them off the ground... They didn't even give them to the idiots; they actually buried them, afraid Greenpeace would sue for animal cruelty...
So it all makes sense. Basically, imagine the usual Indian procurement gamble, only Airbus is the Indian, and not only do the "Indians" not want to pay and put forward ridiculous conditions, but they also squeeze money out of you by the containerload—that's the picture you'll get of Arbuz selling helicopters.

[rocket757]

Tobacco/money apart.
This has long been obvious and should probably be forgotten altogether...

[Fangaro]

Is Airbus French?
Forgive the amateur! For some reason I thought this was a German company.

The devil made me do it. It's true, it's considered French.