A hypothetical EU force structure

[swerve]

I've been thinking of an alternative approach. Imagine that agreement was reached to keep national forces (though they could be organised within a structure such as the one above) & budgets, but to establish
1) minimum criteria for national contributions
2) a number of joint support resources
3) agreements by which those countries spending the least on national forces would bear a disproportionate share of the burden of financing the joint support resources.

For example, Belgium could meet part of its commitment under 1), by funding a joint HQ. Germany could fund (& build) a joint fleet of sealift ships. Etc.

Thoughts?

 

[kato]

European Air Force Procurement

Ten Air Division are to be outfitted, meaning 1500 to 2000 fighter aircraft; more preferable.

As a "full" JSF becomes unavailable, the EDA and member states turn to European solutions, and would include F-16, F-18, MiG-21 and MiG-29 successors in this.

To that end, a fourth Eurofighter tranche is installed, with an extra production line, running semi-concurrent to Tranche 3 in procurement. This fourth Tranche would bring total Eurofighter production to 900 units (+280). Primary takers would be Germany (+40), UK (+80), Italy (+40), Spain (+80), the other 40 would go to some other nations.

Rafale production would end up at about 500 units, with e.g. Greece taking a certain number, as well as a few Eastern-European nations. The Royal Navy would swallow it and procure some 80 Rafale M for its (modified) future carriers.
Gripen NG would be the cheaper alternative for some member states, and would end up at likely not under 500 units as well.

A future joint Eurofighter/Rafale/Gripen 5th/6th-generation successor project would slowly come into the development pipes.

The air divisions would also field some tactical transport aircraft, such as M-28 and C-27J, with an intention to reduce this to two or three aircraft types.

Air Logistics Procurement

The Air Logistics Divisions would field a hodgepodge of systems at the beginning, with the largest share becoming some 100+ A400M. A few dozen additional A400M would be procured to replace older C-130 and other transport aircraft, with potential procurement reaching up to 150 units in the end. The medium tanker/transport aircraft would become the A330 MRTT, with a planned procurement of around 40 to 50 units.
The Coordination Office of these divisions would tender out development of a future strategic transport aircraft with an 80+ ton payload to replace C-17 and An-124 leases, as well as partially A310/A330, within 10 to 15 years; likely number to be procured around 40 to 50 units.

 

[kato]

I've been thinking of an alternative approach. Imagine that agreement was reached to keep national forces (though they could be organised within a structure such as the one above) & budgets, but to establish
1) minimum criteria for national contributions
2) a number of joint support resources
3) agreements by which those countries spending the least on national forces would bear a disproportionate share of the burden of financing the joint support resources.

For example, Belgium could meet part of its commitment under 1), by funding a joint HQ. Germany could fund (& build) a joint fleet of sealift ships. Etc.

Thoughts?

My suggestion would be that a "Joint EU Military Funding Agency" would be installed; each member state would contribute a certain amount to that, could be based on GDP - e.g. a contribution of 0.25% GDP to this office from each member state. This Agency then funds certain joint projects out of this budget, such as sealift, satellites, transport aircraft, Joint HQs etc.

If its a nationally usable good such as sealift, each member nation would through its contribution buy "use hours" of this system - similar to how SALIS operates. If a member state thinks they'll need more than their share would buy them, they could contribute more unilaterally, enabling the Agency to fund more of the specific asset the member state wants.

Additionally, a "modifier" to contributions could be installed. For example, a modifier based on military spending - e.g. a nation that spends 2.0% GDP on defense has a modifier of 1.0, a nation with 1.5% has a modifier of 1.33, a nation with 3.0% has a modifier of 0.66.
With such a modifier, Germany for example would then contribute say 0.29% of its GDP, whereas Greece only contributes 0.18% (example numbers) - both would "buy" however as if they contributed 0.25%. The difference between modifiers could of course be larger than that.