Anglo-French agreement to fund the next phase of their collaborative drone programme.
The accord announced at the Amiens summit on March 3 between French President Francois Hollande and UK Prime Minister David Cameron commits the two countries to investing 1.9 billion euros (2.1 billion dollars) in the production of Europe's most advanced combat drone. A sophisticated drone programme will be vital to both countries' industrial bases, especially as neither currently has plans to develop a next generation fighter aircraft to replace the Typhoon or Rafale.
Closer industrial cooperation between Europe's most advanced defence powers will strengthen European capabilities.
The project will underpin growing cooperation in the defence and security field between the United Kingdom and France.
A possible Brexit could affect the relationship, and the United Kingdom might lose out on an increasing EU R&D budget devoted to defence.
