{"id":59730,"date":"2026-04-24T09:10:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T08:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ihedn.fr\/?p=59730"},"modified":"2026-04-24T15:27:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T14:27:29","slug":"la-formation-a-larmement-une-contribution-strategique-de-lihedn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ihedn.fr\/en\/lundis-de-lihedn\/la-formation-a-larmement-une-contribution-strategique-de-lihedn\/","title":{"rendered":"Armaments training, a strategic contribution from IHEDN"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On 1 January 2010, the Centre des hautes \u00e9tudes de l'armement (CHEAr), founded in 1964, merged with the IHEDN. Since then, the Armaments and Defence Economics major<\/a> (AED) of the Institute's national session trains its auditors in the specificities of the defence industry sector.<\/p>

\u00abCHEAr's DNA has very largely integrated that of the IHEDN for the AED major,\u00bb says its head, the Engineer General of Armaments (in 2e<\/sup> section) \u00c9tienne Paris, himself an auditor at the 39e<\/sup> session of CHEAr. Every year, around fifty students opt for this specialisation. They come from the Direction G\u00e9n\u00e9rale de l'Armement (DGA), the Ministry of Defence, the administration, industry and civil society, and work or have a close interest in armaments. In all its dimensions,\" says IGA Paris:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\u00abThe CHEAr's mission remains essentially the same as that of the CHEAr: to deepen knowledge of defence issues, foreign policy, armaments and the defence economy; to prepare senior civil and military managers, both French and foreign, in the field of defence.\nIts mission remains essentially the same as that of CHEAr: to deepen knowledge of defence issues, foreign policy, armaments and the defence economy; to prepare senior civil and military personnel, both French and foreign, for the exercise of their responsibilities; to promote and disseminate all useful knowledge in the field of defence and international relations\u00bb.\u00bb\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u00a0<\/p>

In particular, following this course - spread over 45 days from September to June - enables students to give meaning to the work of engineers and officers by reminding them of the military purpose and the \u00abemployment\u00bb dimension, but also to broaden the points of view of people who are often specialists in specific fields by giving them a cross-weapon, multi-sector and international vision of defence issues. The major incorporates aspects relating to technological breakthroughs, changes in the environment and the law, and raises awareness of economic security.<\/p>

More broadly, this major enables students to acquire the main concepts in defence economics, and to gain a better understanding of NATO and the workings of European institutions. Finally, it trains its students in the challenges of industrial sovereignty.<\/p>

As with the other 4 majors in the national session, with which it shares a common foundation, the AED course is based on the IHEDN's pedagogical triptych: lectures, study missions and committee work.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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ANY STRATEGIC REFLECTION MUST CONSIDER THE ASSOCIATED RESOURCES <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Following the merger with the CHEAr, armaments became an inseparable part of IHEDN's broader strategic thinking, making the Institute a major meeting point for players in the Defence Technological and Industrial Base (DTIB). \u00abAny strategic reflection must consider the associated resources\u00bb, explains \u00c9tienne Paris:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\u00abWhen it comes to defence and security, the question of armaments immediately arises, as soon as the issues of sovereignty, alliances and partnerships are addressed. Armaments are not \u00abconventional\u00bb goods that can be bought easily. The logic of arms acquisition and support is specific. And we also need to consider the concepts of interoperability, industrial expertise and exportability.\u00bb\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The dialogue between engineers, operational staff and civil society that is made possible by the original IHEDN model continues beyond the session thanks to the friendships forged and maintained over time by the elected president of the major. \u00abIn addition, the Institute is very committed to cross-generational dialogue with students from previous sessions, in particular through the AED\/SNC-IHEDN association\u00bb, explains IGA Paris.<\/p>

Created in 1965 as an association of CHEAr auditors, the AED\/SNC-IHEDN today brings together CHEAr auditors and those of the AED and Digital Sovereignty and Cybersecurity (SNC) majors of the IHEDN national session. Its chairman, Chief Armaments Engineer G\u00e9raud Brun, now with the DGA, was Director of Studies at CHEAr when it merged with IHEDN in 2010:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\u00abThe IHEDN has created a very interesting ecosystem by bringing together different groups, such as military engineers and officers, with industrialists from the defence sector and players from civil society, whether journalists, politicians or lawyers. This seemingly heterogeneous ecosystem works very well.\u00bb\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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THE \"ENTRETIENS ARMEMENT & SOUVERAINET\u00c9\", AN EMBLEMATIC ANNUAL EVENT<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Among the activities of the AED\/SNC-IHEDN, an emblematic event takes place every year, organised in partnership with the IHEDN: the Entretiens Armement & Souverainet\u00e9 (EAS). La 19e<\/sup> was held at the beginning of April in Paris<\/a> on the theme of \u00abSovereignty and competition\u00bb, with round tables based on the work carried out throughout the year by Athena's Focus Groups.<\/p>

\u00abThis year's edition focused on three main themes,\u00bb says G\u00e9raud Brun:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\u00abThe first was on deterrence: in view of geopolitical developments, we need to reflect on this subject. We also exchanged views on sovereignty issues, which we have been following for several years now, and on artillery, modern artillery, combined with the development of drones.\u00bb\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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As is the case every year, the issues addressed at the EAS resulted in a compendium of almost 300 pages containing analyses, forecasts and recommendations.<\/p>

When it comes to armaments, as in other areas of national defence, IHEDN training and the subsequent commitment of its students are crucial. \u00abCurrent events, particularly the return of high-intensity warfare in Europe, are a reminder of the importance of rapidly bringing our arms industry up to standard\u00bb, analyses IGA Paris.<\/p>

By integrating the heritage of the CHEAr into the original IHEDN model, the AED major is proving to be a tool that is particularly well suited to this context, as its head sums up:\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\u00abBy virtue of its interministerial nature and its missions to disseminate the spirit of defence and strengthen national cohesion, the IHEDN brings together a wide range of profiles: operational, governmental, industrial, academic, financial, legal, etc., all of which should enable us to collectively meet the challenge of industrial responsiveness. The IHEDN helps to develop a global vision, giving meaning to the spirit of defence in a way that goes beyond \u00ablocal\u00bb professional and commercial interests.\u00bb\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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