It's unfortunate to say, but the arms industry has always been doing well. It is one of the only industries in France which has an insolent health. On the other hand, it helps to understand why justice has been so understanding of Serge Dassault's tax evasion, yet God knows (and our readers too) that it's a ball...
French military industries exported more than 20 billion euros worldwide in 2016
Exports of French armaments reached a new record in 2016, at more than 20 billion euros, thanks to sale to india of the hunter Flurry and the mega-deal with Australia for submarines, announced this Thursday the Minister of Defense Jean-Yves Le Drian.
These exports - measured in order intake - had already reached a high point at 17 billion euros in 2015. , thanks to the first sales contracts for the Rafale fighter abroad, more than double the previous year. "In 2015 we achieved the historic figure of 17 billion euros of exports. For 2016 the results are not yet consolidated (...) but we have reached a new peak with more than 20 billion euros of order intake", declared the minister, during his greetings to the armies.
36 Rafale to India, 12 submarines to Australia
These record sales are due to "new export successes", underlined Le Drian. "I'm thinking of the Rafale, I'm thinking of the conclusion of the biggest contract in the history of French export with Australia," he added.
After lengthy negotiations, India concluded in September the purchase of 36 Rafale combat aircraft, manufactured by the Dassault group. After a difficult export start, the Rafale found a buyer for the first time in 2015 in Qatar and Egypt. Each country had acquired 24 aircraft.
Another success: the choice by Australia of the French manufacturer DCNS to renew its fleet of submarines, a giant contract of nearly 40 billion dollars (spread over 50 years) for the construction of 12 submersibles.
The "quality of French materials"
The "quality of French equipment" and their use by the French army in foreign theaters of operations play a key role in these export successes, the ministry estimates.
France is engaged with its Rafale and Mirage fighters in the air operations of the international coalition against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. She also leads an anti-terrorist operation (Barkhane) in five countries of the Sahel.
Source: TheExpress.fr
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