The French are interested in the CH-47F?

via FlightGlobal.com

The French air force has finally confirmed a long-rumoured interest in acquiring heavy-lift helicopters for special forces missions and is studying different options, including leasing a pair of Boeing CH-47F Chinooks as a trial before making any purchase.

In addition, the service hopes to shortly outline an upgrade package for its fleet of Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracals and is also working to define possible tri-service requirements for a next-generation rotorcraft post-2040.

Story here.

This is interesting.  Not because the French are interested (although that's a bit stunning) but because I believe a French order for the CH-47F could affect the way the Germans go.

For better or worse, France is seeking to take over European leadership in the area of military affairs.  From my chair it appears that out of all the European countries, the French are pushing hardest for a European solution.

Which brings me back to their interest in the CH-47F.

If the French go that way then I believe they'll push Germany to follow them so that they can get "economies of scale" not only in the initial purchase but to also setup a maintenance hub that is purely European in nature.

I could be wrong but that's how I see it.