France and Germany have taken another step in forging stronger ties and abandoning old rivalries by agreeing to share military facilities.
The two countries have signed an agreement to share C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft, as announced by French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday in Paris.
The new arrangement should be in place by 2021, Germany’s minister Ursula von der Leven told reporters in Paris.
The move is a first for the two air forces. A member of Le Drian’s department said the plan is to have the aircraft operational for both French and German crew.
The move is viewed as part of a change in military strategy in the wake of Britain’s exit from the EU. Only a few weeks after the game-changing referendum result, the von der Leven claimed that Britain had “paralysed” European efforts to integrate military policy.
The German defence minister said that Germany and France are planning the joint use of an air base in Orleans in central France. She also said that Germany was considering the purchase of four or six C-130J planes which will be based there.
In January, France ordered four of the same turboprop carriers from the US manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
