France? Why France? This is Tempest we’re discussing. France isn’t involved: it’s got Germany & Spain to sign up to another planned aircraft. Leonardo (Italian-based with a big UK operation) does rather good IRST stuff.

France is not involved but if a euro zone company get involved than France will likely get involved. its all about centralized funding and research. in short term it wont matter but going forward no company in eurozone will want to be outside.

https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/von-der-leyen-assigns-defence-challenge-to-france/
[B]Von der Leyen assigns defence challenge to France

[/B]
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/paris-air-show/2019/06/19/us-officials-threaten-retribution-for-european-unions-restrictions-on-defense-fund/
As we read the language right now, even European-based subsidiaries of U.S. corporations, with European facilities and European employees, would not be allowed to participate with intellectual property exchange