The Summer Defense Conference provides a special opportunity to pay homage to the action taken by the French armed forces. Effective coordination of the Defense community is pivotal in enabling them to take action effectively in the numerous theaters in which they operate. Research and development, production and MRO: against the backdrop of a worsening security context, defense industry players have got together to provide them and their allies with the weaponry to ensure their success. This year, the conference will focus on defense resources and issues. At the beginning of this term of office, all players seem to agree on the necessity for financial input to respond to the threats which we will probably have to deal with for a long time. This is the price, and it is by carefully identifying the relevant sources of expenditure, that we will be able to fulfill our joint mission as effectively as possible. Enjoy the conference!

Philippe Petitcolin, CEO

Information dominance, the key to naval forces’ operational success at sea
 
Vague attempts at territorialisation of the open seas strike a blow at the preservation of freedom of navigation, guarantor, not only of maritime traffic control, but also of naval forces’ freedom to manoeuver at sea. To ensure superiority at sea, a naval armaments race is ensuing as evidenced by the multiplication of platforms and the development of breakthrough technologies. Naval confrontation is becoming terribly complex, with collaborative modes of action (multi-static anti-submarine warfare, multiplatform tactical situation awareness and soon-to-come multiplatform engagement, swarming of ways and means, with the help of autonomous drones), compromising information (jamming, cyber-attack), and new weapons (hyper-velocity missiles).
 
Operational superiority will be, above all, information dominance. Besides the essential increase in sensors’ capacities (radar, sonars, ESM), it is becoming vital to master massive flows of information, to secure its processing and its transmission. From now on, connectivity, big data processing, artificial intelligence and cyber security will be the pillars of naval forces’ success.
 

Patrice Caine, CEO

“Our defense: what ambition, what means?” - The Nexter Group's mission is to strive every day for our defense, by providing the French armed forces with artillery systems, combat armored vehicles and ammunition to meet the requirements of our armed forces and take their developments into account.

All Nexter employees are proud to take part in strengthening the defense tool of France, by controlling current developments and by innovating to prepare tomorrow's weapons over the group's entire spectrum: protection, firing systems smart ammunition, vetronics, robotics, etc. The future military means are now taking shape in the Scorpion program, with in particular the development and production of the future army vehicles, the GRIFFON and the JAGUAR.

Nexter is also an active player in the consolidation of the European terrestrial defense industry through KNDS. To meet the long-term requirements of the French armies, Nexter can now count on the effects of scale obtained by the collaboration with its German partner KMW, under the banner of KNDS, with the aim of becoming the European leader of land defense. By optimizing our innovation capacities and our control of advanced technologies, we will be stronger, together, on an increasingly competitive and aggressive world market. KNDS teams are already laying the foundations in order to develop, in the future, the products which will meet the operational requirements of the French and German armed forces, with a stimulating effect on other European forces.

Stéphane MAYER, CEO

CNES has been assisting France’s armed forces in the conduct of space programmes for more than 55 years, operating their satellites and planning future space capabilities.
Over the next five years, France’s military—supported by CNES—is set to renew all of its Earth-observation and telecommunications satellites and to acquire new signals intelligence assets. At the same time, it is working on the satellites that will replace these future assets.
This work involves the people at CNES, who are striving to give French industry the technologies it needs for the programmes that will give forces the means to respond to the challenges facing them over this period. This mission sits well with the agency’s signature theme for this year of “Inventing the future of space”.
During the course of the 15^th Defence Summer Conference, French and foreign officials will be reflecting on the future orientations of our military, and on its ambitions and resources. Taking part in this process, CNES is ready to help shape how space can continue delivering vital capabilities to combatants.

Jean-Yves Le Gall, President

For over 70 years, the ECA Group has developed comprehensive solutions designed for naval, land and air defence, homeland security and special forces for both French and foreign armies, government agencies or private organisations.
With the development of asymmetric conflicts, threats change and the boundaries between armies and homeland security evolve. Moreover, budgetary considerations as well as ensuring the safety of these forces encourage decisions that reduce their exposure. The ECA Group meets these challenges with solutions using state-of-the-art robotics and advanced automatic control systems that multiply the strength of forces while at the same limits their exposure in high-risk areas
The ECA Group offers comprehensive and completely integrated solutions, proven in combat, and deployed by French forces for surveillance, detection, inspection, rapid response and counteraction missions.
The robotic solutions offered by the ECA Group are based on a complete range of air, land and sea drones that can be either remote-controlled or autonomous.  Interoperable, equipped with the best high-performance sensors, and able to process data in real-time, these drones are the basis for solutions used to rapidly and efficiently identify and neutralise risks.
The ECA Group also offers a range of submarine systems as well as specialised equipment for ships, land vehicles and aircraft.
Finally, the ECA Group supplies its customers with a set of solutions for training personnel in driving proficiency or specialised missions based on a complete range of simulators available worldwide.
 

Guénaël Guillerme, CEO

The populations of the great Western democracies are showing an increasing need for security to cope with the threat of terrorism and the emergence of new sources of international tension. It seems more than ever necessary to update or strengthen defense and security means.

Sopra Steria is an European leader in digital transformation, with more than 40,000 employees in 20 countries, achieving a turnover of 3.7 billion Euro. It appears now as an increasingly important player in French and European defense.

The systems it provides to the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice enable them to benefit from the latest innovations in information technology, such as artificial intelligence, Big data or IoT (Internet of things), whilst at the same time managing the cyber risks that are more and more prevalent today.

The permanent evolution of risks and threats, the rapid evolution of these technologies requires constant adaptation, both in reaction and in anticipation. In this frame, we are using especially suited methods to deploy innovations in these organizations. The methods we developed to deploy innovation within large organizations are particularly suited to this context. Sopra Steria thus contributes to the transformation and modernization of Government and public services.

Laurent Giovachini, Deputy CEO

Groupe Marck is a French manufacturing group that designs and sells uniform, equipment and service solutions to public authorities and private companies in France and worldwide.
Groupe Marck offers a global service that meets the requirements of a demanding and prestigious international clientele. Over its 150-year history, the Group has acquired and developed expertise in technical textiles, combining flexible surfaces and selling associated services.
 
Relying on its specialist subsidiaries, Groupe Marck has a unique expertise in the world of professional clothing and equipment such as design and manufacture of uniforms, headgear, trimmings and identity accessories (know-how is an accredited Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant for preservation of expertise) or development and manufacture of personal protective equipment and clothing.
Groupe Marck is also clothing and equipment for international defence and security forces and global contingent-owned equipment solutions that make it possible for customer countries to meet the criteria set by the United Nations for eligibility and reimbursement for Peacekeeping Operations.
 

Philippe Belin, Chairman

 

For the defense sector as in other areas, our success is due to our ability to manage seemingly contradictory concepts: do better with less, live in security and freedom, protect our nation and open it to the world, be technologically autonomous and cooperate,... In this totally interconnected world where information is accessible to all, we cannot make choices between a concept or the other. We have to achieve "at the same time". Those who deal "globally" will succeed: our national security needs of national means of intervention and outdoor projection; our protection can only be considered within a framework of European and international trusted alliances. The defense sector must remain a guide and a massive user of digital technology, be innovative in all technology sectors, and use the export as a lever for growth and management of our international cooperation policy.
As such, ODAS, like other carriers of this bold policy, will be a very good vehicle for implementation of this strategy.

Roxel intends to develop offers and increase its international market share in the defence area. As well as proposing high performance products, Roxel also offers support and services through targeted cooperations to satisfy requests from numerous countries.
 
Roxel is the European leader and world number three for propulsion of rockets and tactical missiles, and is present in all segments of the market involved with the control of key technologies.
 
By using very modern methods (Lean-Sigma, Leadership Model, etc) Roxel is developing a continuous improvement plan to achieve ambitious goals of reactivity and competitiveness. Roxel also builds on investment and innovation to prepare for the future by researching technologies and processes currently not used with existing products, and therefore generating the best possible value for its customers.

Jacques Desclaux, CEO

3M is a group with diversified technology that pursues research on a cooperative basis in order to improve our daily lives. The company has 91,000 employees, including 8,100 research staff, who serve clients the world over, and innovation is the core of its business. It thus devotes nearly 6% of its turnover to R&D and has, to date, obtained more than 109,000 patents.
 
3M has been present in France since 1952, currently with 2,400 employees and 10 production and logistics sites.
 
In the defence sector, 3M is an energetic and innovative contributor, whether for industrial maintenance or outfitting infantrymen, with special expertise in ballistic protection, passive hearing protection and electronic protection.
 
Our integrity and observance of ethical principles are the foundation of our renown and our success at 3M, recognised by the Ethisphere institute as one of the most ethical international companies. In addition, 3M signed on to the United Nations Global Pact in 2014.

Since its founding in 1856, the history of the CNIM Group has been linked to the French defence industry. The CNIM group is a major employer of the Var Department in southern France and has maintained an industrial tool of excellence at La Seyne-sur-Mer, home to high level engineers and manufacturing teams, in all more than 700 people.
With its subsidiary Bertin Technologies, CNIM is a medium-size company backed by stable family shareholders. It is a key partner for the French defence community and regional economy. Its defence offer is built around two orientations:
- PROJECTION: for 30 years, CNIM has furnished bridging systems adopted by many armies throughout the world for military or civil uses, in particular to deal with natural disasters. More recently, CNIM developed the line of L-CAT, catamaran landing crafts that operate from a projection and command ship or in full autonomy. The L-CAT are known as EDA-R (Engin de débarquement amphibie rapide) in the French navy and have also been sold to Egypt.
- PROTECTION: CNIM is an essential link in the chain of French deterrence. We have designed and built the four generations of missile launch tubes of the nuclear missile-launching submarine (SNLE) programme and are also a contributor to the Laser Megajoule programme.
Bertin is an emblematic player in innovation, designing and industrialising equipment for the protection of critical forces and infrastructures: optronic solutions, solutions against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, cyber intelligence and cyberdefence for nations and operators of vital importance.
In order to maintain our technological and industrial capacities at the cutting edge and continue our development, we must more than even win international markets at the same time as remaining competitive. In the context of a demanding market and increasingly stiff competition, this vision must be supported on the long term by the government and by closer collaborations with the largest French industries.
We will be pleased this year to again contribute to discussions of this Summer University, in proximity to the historical “birthplace” of our company.

France is today militarily engaged on many theatres of operations. Events that have affected our country since 2015 remind us that the border is sometimes difficult to establish between internal security and external security.
Our adversaries adapt themselves and use their knowledge of the field to try to limit the effectiveness of our own systems. Research must therefore also fit. But this reality must not overshadow the vital work of research in the time long that we need to make to stay in the small group of nations that count militarily.
Among the themes that will be discussed in the workshops during this fifteenth Summer University of defence, I am - as CEO of  ONERA - particularly sensitive to three of them: "the modernization of nuclear deterrence",  "drones and robots in the armed forces" and finally the "industrial and technological basis of defence and security".
Military aerospace research is one of the determinants of the power, of the sovereignty and therefore of the freedom of action. Our current successes are the result of a continuous effort in decades. Do not forget!

As prime contractor of the M51 ballistic missiles of the French Strategic Oceanic Force and the European launcher Ariane, ArianeGroup has inherited of almost 50 years of continuous development between military and civil programs based on a strong duality of competencies, technology, and design tools. By mastering the most advanced technologies of the entire propulsion system, our Group is also able to allow industrial sectors other than the space industry to benefit from its competences by using them for equipment or high added-value services, especially for complex and secured infrastructures. With an estimated turnover of more than 3 billion euros, ArianeGroup and its 11 subsidiaries employ 9,000 highly qualified employees sustaining the French territory and its defense industrial base.
 
The M51 missile, commissioned in 2010 in its initial M51.1 version and in 2016 in its M51.2 version is the 5^th generation of ballistic missiles of the French Strategic Oceanic Force. With the French Defence Procurement Agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement) acting as contracting authority, ArianeGroup is responsible, for the entire duration of the M51 system, of ensuring the development and production of the missile, taking part in maintenance services aboard the submarine and ultimately for proceeding with its dismantling. In 2014, the development of the future version of the missile, the M51.3, was launched.

Europe of Defense is underway: European leaders agreed at the end of June to set up a Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in defense, with a strong political ambition: to provide the Union with a strategic autonomy, independent of the American agenda.
If, to this political will, real cooperation is added between the armed forces on joint programs of equipment and maintenance, everything is in place for a real evolution of the industrial landscape.
Private enterprise must fully play its role, guaranteeing long-term action, operational efficiency and innovation; also allowing governments, in a difficult budgetary context, to focus their spending on real sovereign subjects.
CMI Defence, a leader in the gun-turret segment for light armored vehicles, with its first-class technologies and services, its Belgian-French establishment and its ability to integrate its systems on all European carriers, is ready and determined to participate, alongside the European countries and industrialists, in the implementation of this PESCO and in the realization of Europe's defense ambitions.
This 15^th UED will be the ideal ground to nourish our common reflection on this evolution.

Jean-Luc Maurange, President of CMI Defence

Demathieu Bard:  A committed partner of the Defence sector
 
Founded 156 years ago in Lorraine, Demathieu Bard is one of the key independant actors in the construction industry.  And for almost as many years, the Group has been working in the Defence sector.
Today we hold onto the values that have allowed us to satisfy the stakeholders of this sector: precision, innovation, longevity, reliability, modesty and pugnacity, as well as responsibility, respect for the individual and a sense of ethics.
The synergy of the Group's different kinds of expertise has also allowed it to win a certain number of tenders in the Defence sector in France and in Europe: the SAFRAN 218 project - CEA (Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission) Valduc, refuelling the Quai des Flotilles – SID (Defence Infrastructure Service) Brest, the construction of a shooting range in an urban area – SID Sissonne, of a heliport – US Air Base Landsthul-Ramstein in Germany,… We also intervene for Safran, Dassault Aviation, Airbus…
This 15th summer university is an opportunity for us to enter into dialogue with the main political, military and manufacturing stakeholders in Defence in order to best understand future concerns.

René Simon, Chairman of the Management Board

 Capgemini, a French Information Systems company for 50 years, is recognized as a trusted partner by the Ministry of Armed Forces. Facing new threats, mastery of information, digital and data systems is at the heart of defense issues.
To meet these challenges, Capgemini brings its digital solutions to improve the defense tool and especially answer the highest operational requirements. Accelerate and secure the availability of innovations for forces, develop and manage critical and sensitive operational data, modernize organizations, integrate and support defense information and communication systems, are the guiding principles of our offerings and our engagement.
Our in-depth knowledge of the Ministry of the Armed Forces and its ecosystem, Defense Industry and Public Sphere, demonstrated by major references, allows us to take into account the efficiency and effectiveness issues and the security and interoperability constraints of systems, in complex areas as command, intelligence, cyber defense, simulation, logistics and support.

Atos is proud to take part in Université d'Eté de la Défense with its vision of the role of information in Defense policy.
The requirements of modern combat make it necessary to use the potential of information technologies, in order to exploit a fast growing quantity of data and to bring about technological domination via the control of data. From detection to decision, the information chain must be optimized and secured to serve the mission : capture and processing of information, but also transmission, storage and analysis for decision making.
 
In this context, Atos contributes to the Defense and security policy of many countries. As a major European actor, present throughout the data processing chain, Atos provides secure products and information systems.
Atos products protect strategic State assets: encryption, Hoox secure smartphones, access management, border monitoring and emergency management. In France, Atos supplies the combat IS of the Army’s Scorpion program and ensures the resilience of communications for Sentinelle.
 

Philippe Vannier, Atos Group CTO & Executive Vice President Big Data and Security Solutions

For almost 70 years, Sopemea has been providing qualification services for the Defence sector, its main field of expertise. Initially created as a laboratory specialising in mechanical and climate testing for aerospace equipment Sopemea (Société pour le Perfectionnement des Matériels et Equipements Aérospatiaux [Company specialising in perfecting aerospace materials and equipment]) has extensive experience of working on major Defence programmes.
Sopemea’s test services cover all the specific requirements of the Defence sector: STANAG 4370 - MIL STD 461 - MIL STD 810 - DEF STAN 0035 - GAM EG 13. Sopemea was notably responsible for drafting the French Ministry of Defence’s guidelines for taking mechanical and climate environments into account and also contributes to preparing and drafting several technical documents for various standards relating to this.
The Group is a stakeholder in the CIN-EG and CEN working groups in charge of recommending the choice military standards at European level. Our engineers provide our customers with support during their test programmes. Sopemea is an active member of the GIFAS and GICAN trade associations.
In September 2017, Sopemea will be expanding its operations and providing its customers with test services in the United Kingdom through its new subsidiary, the PARC laboratory.

Stéphane Torrez, Chairman of the Sopemea Group

The ministry of armies faces today new challenges such as the implementation of new cybersecurity policies, the fight against terrorism or the digital transformation of armies.
More than 9,000 consultants from Accenture in France and around the world support armies in 20 countries, providing consulting services and technology solutions, be it field systems in operations or management systems.
We are committed to bring innovation to our customers, relying particularly on our french and international research centers. Convinced that digital technologies can accelerate the transformation of the Department, our participation at the summer University of defense is fully in this dynamic.
 

In order to deal with changing risks and an increasing number of threats, the capabilities of anticipation, command, information protection and interoperability systems are key. Thanks to its proven expertise (cybersecurity, simulation & augmented reality, embedded systems, image processing, artificial intelligence, Big Data analytics, mobility, IoT), CS supports the armed & security forces in the implementation of training, command and control systems with integrated decision-aid tools, and secure communications. The 15th Defense Summer University will be an opportunity to look at our latest innovations in light of future trends, in particular in the field of cybersecurity, malicious drones fighting, imagery intelligence and maritime surveillance.

ENGIE Ineo’s development and recognition as an industrial player has been progressively built on the steady development and acquisition of technical expertise, of the highest standards, for the benefit of the Defense and Security world, on a broad scale: Electronic warfare, secured complex communication systems, antennas and radio waves, critical services, here are a few outstanding examples of our recognized savoir-faire.
Two fundamental values are the corner stone of this development strategy carried out by ENGIE Ineo: an entrepreneurial and daring innovative spirit, throughout every organizational layer. They support a medium to long-term perspective, allowing us to establish a sustainable and trustful relationship with our clients.
These strategy and values are at the core of ENGIE’s strong transformation to become the leader in energy transition, through decarbonation, digitalization and decentralization with a development objective in France and abroad for our services’ activities as a whole.
ENGIE Ineo thus relies on its strong technological savoir-faire to engage into this developmental effort. We are now substantially investing on the growth of our company, via key areas of activity, one of them being the Defense sector through an ambitious internal development agenda and a steady external growth program.
First meaningful acquisition of this program: ICOMERA, a Swedish company, global leader in transportation systems connectivity. This states ENGIE Ineo’s determination to further develop its position in current and future critical communication technologies.
This policy for technology development over time is at the heart of our strategy and you can count on our ambition and determination to maintain our industrial key player status in the Defense and Security fields.

Rolls-Royce and France – a powerful partnership
Rolls-Royce is a pre-eminent engineering company focused on world-class power and propulsion systems. The Group is organised into five customer-facing businesses: Civil Aerospace, Defence Aerospace, Power Systems, Marine and Nuclear.

We operate in strategic markets in France that cover all five of these business units, including our long-standing partnership with Airbus in the civil aerospace arena.
Rolls-Royce is the second largest provider of defence aero-engine products and services globally with 16,000 engines in the service of 160 customers in 103 countries. Our engines power aircraft in every major sector including: transport and patrol; combat; trainers; helicopters; and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
As a strategic partner of the French Armed Forces, we power a wide range of aircraft, ships and land vehicles that illustrates the breadth of our defence portfolio.

A European ambition for a stronger defense
Facing an unknown geostrategic and security environment surrounding its borders and inside the EU, France and its allies have decided to increase their defense budget for the coming years. In particular, this choice will enable them to obtain modern technological equipment which is essential to face up to challenges.
In a constrained budgetary context, several pooling initiatives have been initiated and must be multiplied. Now driven by a strong Franco-German political will, the European Commission has proposed a European Defense Fund financed by the EU budget for the first time. This concrete European initiative will promote the development of cooperation and interoperability. It should consolidate the European defense industrial landscape.
Like the various programs developed by Airbus in partnership with several countries (A400M, NH90, European MALE UAV), new large-scale projects will have to be developed at a level that more than even matters for the future of the aerospace industry : the European one.

“Preparing the future through a proactive and innovative approach” alongside the French armed forces to enable them to do best what they alone can accomplish for the Defence of the nation and Europe; this is Babcock International Group’s ambition.
For several decades, we have been supporting our partners in the preparation of their operations through maintenance repair and operation (MRO) and by contributing to the training of their staff.
A leading European provider of service solutions, including support for governments and major corporations, our reputation has been built on our ability to run complex projects allowing our partners to focus on their core activity: operational preparation..
A long-standing service provider to the armed forces in Europe, Babcock provides MRO for nuclear submarines, surface vessels, land vehicles and aircraft. Each year, we deliver 758,000 days of training at sea, 40,000 hours of in-flight training and over 60,000 aerial emergency operationsand provides MCO with 35,000 land vehicles, 500 aircraft and nuclear submarines.
Established in 2014, Babcock Mission Critical Services is a European company specialised in search and rescue missions and in civil / public security. Faced with a deteriorated European security environment Babcock offers solutions for inland security forces including surveillance, rescue and intervention missions.
It’s with great pleasure Babcock meets up with UED eager to contribute to various workshops.
 

The Military Applications Division (DAM) of the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is in charge of Defense programs, mainly nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors for naval propulsion of the French navy submarines and aircraft carrier, and contributes to the prevention of nuclear proliferation.
Since the definitive end of French nuclear tests in 1996, the guarantee of operational performance and safety of French nuclear weapons has relied on the Simulation Program. DAM develops numerical codes which reproduce the complexity of nuclear weapons functioning by high level physical models, co-designs with Atos/Bull the supercomputers setting up computations, and validates these numerical results through major experimental physics facilities, including the Megajoule Laser. The challenge of changeover to simulation, evidenced by the nuclear warheads renewal, has been met with success.

This 15th edition of the Summer Defence Conference invites all defence community stakeholders to reflect on the aims and the means to address the increasingly numerous threats in France and in Europe over the next five years.
The European Union has set itself a strategic autonomy goal that is now the core of the new defence vision. The Commission stresses that a strong European defence industry is necessary to achieve this strategic autonomy.
Thus, in order to provide at a fair cost the European Armed Forces with the weapons essential to their operational missions, MBDA has firmly anchored its business model in cooperation within Europe and in the determined search for ever more comprehensive industrial integration. This integration is designed to share the technological effort undertaken by several European nations, while maintaining a competitive industrial base capable of exporting more than half of its production outside its five home countries.
Our order book is currently very well filled, through the development of key actions: being a partner in our home countries, promoting cooperation and industrial integration in Europe, and developing our export activities.
In Europe, there is no alternative to MBDA to guarantee this sovereign access to the critical military capabilities in the field of missiles, which makes our position solid but increases our responsibilities before the European countries, and in particular France, Great Britain, Italy, Germany and Spain.