Military defence
![La défense militaire relève de l’emploi de la force armée. Il renvoie aux deux figures symboliques identifiées par Raymond Aron[1] comme constitutives des relations internationales, le diplomate et le soldat : “La conduite du diplomate-stratège [...] a pour sens spécifique d’être dominée par le risque de guerre, d’affronter des adversaires en une rivalité incessante dans laquelle chacun se réserve le droit de recourir à l’ultime raison, c’est-à-dire à la violence.”](https://ihedn.fr/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/DEFENSE_MILITAIRE_3006-1.png)
Military defence involves the use of armed force. It refers to the two symbolic figures identified by Raymond Aron[1] as constitutive of international relations, the diplomat and the soldier: "The conduct of the diplomat-strategist [...] has the specific meaning of being dominated by the risk of war, of confronting adversaries in an incessant rivalry in which each reserves the right to resort to the ultimate reason, i.e. violence".
[1] In Peace and War between NationsParis, Calmann-Lévy, 1962, p. 28.
Battle tanks, an indispensable weapon for over a century
From the trenches of the First World War to the future Franco-German MGCS tank, a look back at some of the key moments in the history of "tanks", major players on the battlefields since 1916.
The new face of war
Holy war, cold war, total war, hybrid war, high-intensity war... War takes such changing forms that Clausewitz likened it to a chameleon, changing its appearance according to the environment around it. But doesn't war remain timeless in its aims, motivations and principles?
DEFENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY, WHAT IS IT? The vocation of IHEDN
How can we define this fundamental concept that the IHEDN is tasked with studying? Lieutenant General Benoît Durieux proposes to draw its perimeter using four concentric circles.
Colonel D. Schuster: "Robotics is an evolution, not a revolution".
As the lead officer for robotics on the French Army staff, Colonel Schuster looks at developments and ambitions in this field, against a backdrop of current events.
Robots, essential links on the 21st century battlefielde century
In the run-up to Robotics Day and the second edition of the CoHoMa (human-machine collaboration) challenge, which demonstrate the French Army's ambitions in this area, we take a closer look at this rapidly expanding field, in which France is also exploring the ethical issues involved.
From the Charles-de-Gaulle to the future PANG: aircraft carriers "à la française
Compared with other countries with aircraft carriers, France is developing unique, more operable and more versatile aircraft carriers. The future "new generation aircraft carrier" that will replace the Charles-de-Gaulle will be no exception.
GBR Ortemann: "I never wanted to be dictated to.
Men are no more predisposed than women to take an interest in defence and national security issues. To mark International Women's Day on 8 March, Brigadier General Anne-Cécile Ortemann answered our questions.
War economy: how is France adapting to high intensity?
France's military capabilities have been weakened by several decades of peace in Europe. With this in mind, the executive intends to adapt the armed forces to the new strategic situation created by the war in Ukraine.
Lt-Gen Benoît Durieux: "The war in Ukraine is a reminder that we cannot ignore high-intensity warfare.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Eastern Europe, the concept of "high-intensity warfare" has regularly been mentioned by commentators. Lieutenant General Benoît Durieux, Director of the IHEDN, looks at how it has been defined, both in operations and historically.
"Women must be more involved in spreading the spirit of defence".
Sophie de Ravinel is a listener at 2e national session 2022-2023, defence policy major. The current strategic context was the trigger for her application. The political journalist from Le Figaro wanted to improve her knowledge of defence and national security issues. A few days after registration opened for the 2023-2024 national session, she explains why women should apply.
E. Chiva: "The Directorate General for Armaments must shed light on the future".
Emmanuel Chiva, appointed Delegate General for Armaments this summer, gave his views on the major issues facing the sector in the current context at the IHEDN on 13 October. Recalling the origins and missions of the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), Emmanuel Chiva details the threats and challenges ahead. "We have to invest in multiple fields", he explains, citing the technological breakthroughs that are set to become geostrategic breakthroughs.
What is a just war?
On Friday 11 November, Lt-Gen Benoît Durieux, Director of the IHEDN, and Mgr de Romanet, Bishop of the French Armed Forces, discussed a concept that is still relevant today, formalised as far back as Antiquity and brought to light once again by the tragedy of the war in Ukraine. Beyond what religions preach, and which states should put into practice, is there a way to avoid resorting to this form of exacerbated violence? In an age of new forms of conflict, from information warfare to cyber and hybrid warfare, what can be said about the relevance of this concept?
Lt-Gen Benoît Durieux: "Total war forbids any subsequent peace".
Total war is a very topical issue, yet it is a poorly defined concept: absolute war, high-intensity war, major war... Lieutenant General Benoît Durieux, Director of the IHEDN, gives a definition and a few ideas to help us understand it better.
Colonel Remi Pellabeuf:
Our aim is to "modernise to outperform our rivals in terms of power, agility and speed".
During the presentation at the Institut de hautes études de défense nationale, Colonel Rémi Pellabeuf of the French Army Staff gave a lecture entitled "Modern capabilities for combat: the French Army's project".
The gist of his speech in 5 questions.
