Euronaval Naval Systems Show Conspicuous by Absence

Back in the 1970s a number of leading British defence/aerospace electronics manufacturers, all fed up with ever rising costs, took a collective decision to boycott the Paris Air Show. There was no formal discussion that led to this action, just a gentlemen's [sic] agreement to withdraw from the biennial event in the hope that others might follow their example, so forcing down the price of participation. Some hope!

The costs of exhibiting were, however, just one issue. Other frustrations arose from the fact that British – and other nations' – participants believed that French companies always received better treatment from the organisers in virtually all aspects of the organisational arrangements, from car parking through issue of passes to security.

Not the least of the complaints stemmed from the fact that official delegations of official overseas visitors somehow seemed to bypass the non-French exhibitors' stands. Whether this was indeed the case, or whether it was just a matter of perception, is impossible to say. The anti-Le Bourget sanctions lasted for just one event and two years later the UK firms were back in force.

Defence Analysis wonders whether history is repeating itself. For during October's Euronaval 2004 show, also held at Le Bourget, two UK majors – namely shipbuilders BAES and VT Group – were conspicuous by their absence. Their non-appearance was virtually the only talking point of a somewhat mundane show, and it was left to Rolls-Royce to fly the Union Jack. This not just in powerplants but in ship and equipment design also.

The big engine manufacturer was, however, supported by a number of smaller British firms which participated with the encouragement of the British Naval Equipment Association (BNEA), their trade association. Lack of participation on the part of the UK majors was in sharp contrast to other shipbuilders from within Europe – especially DCN and Fincantieri with their FREMM programme – and from as far afield as Singapore.

Perhaps surprisingly in view of current antipathy between France and the United States, some large American companies showed up in force, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman being particularly prominent. The latter pair were promoting their offerings for the US Navy's DD(X) destroyer programme, although General Dynamics, another DD(X) participant, was a no-show. Indeed, orientation towards future exports was a main Euronavale theme.

So why no Brits? Well, VT had decided to put its exhibition budget into the Defendory exhibition held in Athens earlier in October, in support of its relationships with Greek industry and, possibly, the prospects of more immediate market returns in that country.

But perhaps taking a leaf from the "blackleg" British defence electronics firm back in the '70s, the company held an evening reception for chosen guests in central Paris during the show. And at least one VT representative was seen at Le Bourget itself, meeting, greeting and talking with visitors.

The same leaf was also taken by a sole BAES PR man who had also decided that a drop-in was worthwhile, perhaps if only to check up on what the competition was up to. But there was no corporate presence – or if there was then it was well concealed. So the honour of BAES representation was left to MBDA's British contingent and Atlas Electronik – which, quite appropriately, was included in the German section. So no Union Jacks in either case then!

Background buzz suggested that both BAES and VT had picked up on the same complaint as the electronics companies back in the '70s, in that their exhibits were ignored by the escorts leading delegations around the hall, and that French firms won out heavily in contrast.

Certainly one Thales staffer was heard to express satisfaction at the numbers of official delegates that his company had received.

PERENNIAL PROBLEM

The moan about lack of delegates' visits to non-French stands has been heard at many military shows over many years and it's not just the Brits who have whinged. US firms in particular have often felt similarly slighted. But rarely has the complaint resulted in large companies deciding not to attend.

More surprising was the lack of an official effort on the part of UK government, since a most conspicuous absentee was the British Defence Ministry's Defence Export Sales Organisation. This was thought by some to be due to a deliberate political decision not to support the show rather than a choice made at Departmental level.

BNEA is known to have tried to persuade the big British shipbuilders to support its flag-waving efforts, but to no avail. And the trade body was significantly schtum with regard to DESO's non-arrival. BNEA did however draw attention to the meeting organised with its French counterpart GICAN for the final day of Euronavale. At this about 100 representatives from British and French industry met to discuss matters affecting cross-channel collaboration in naval ship construction and equipping. So here we have mixed messages emanating from the UK.

Considering DESO's success in selling off second-hand warships to nations such as Chile and Romania, and picking up considerable refurbishment work for British yards in the process, it seems strange that there appeared to be no effort to publicise this business capability. Likewise, considering European and US promotion of FREMM and DD(X) respectively, why no parallel effort to push the UK's Type 45 AAW cruiser – a ship that could come to export markets in about the same timescale as these?

BAES's decision not to-appear at Euronaval was, presumably, made for its own straightforward commercial reasons. But was DESO – or "no-show", as it was puckishly dubbed by one commentator – leaned on from on high? If so, then why? While there may be some antipathy between the British and French governments over Iraq, in other respects there has been an Entente Cordiale over matters European. So why pick on an international naval exhibition to demonstrate ire? Answers on a postcard please.

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