Aligning national “logics” in a European military helicopter program |
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Authors: | Daniel Uiterwijk Joseph Soeters Paul van Fenema |
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Institution: | 1. Netherlands Defense Academy , Faculty of Military Sciences , P.O. Box 9002, 4800 PA , Breda , The Netherlands;2. Netherlands Defense Academy , Faculty of Military Sciences , P.O. Box 9002, 4800 PA , Breda , The Netherlands;3. Department of Organization Studies , School of Social and Behavioural Studies, Tilburg University , 5000 LE , Tilburg , The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | This article analyzes the public side of the NH90 network consisting of four participating countries (Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands) and their industrial partners. Comparable to observations in earlier international projects in the defense sector, the development and production of the NH90 defense helicopter did not match original plans and costs estimates. On the basis of four mechanisms that were intended to facilitate the cooperation between the partnering countries (the General Memorandum of Understanding; coalition formation; the role of the central agency; and the process of vertical escalation) the question is posed whether or not there was a true alignment of national interests and “logics.” The lack of standardization, as well as program delays and issues concerning the division of the work-share, lead to the emerging alignment being characterized as “quasi-alignment” at best. |
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Keywords: | weapon programs international cooperation networks defense procurement alignment “logics” |
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