Paris: France will about halve its purchases of Dassault Rafale fighter jet planes over the next six years, under defence estimates on Friday, and is counting on at last clinching the first sales abroad to keep production lines going.
French officials say that among potential clients are India, Qatar, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil.
The government, struggling to curb public spending, also made clear that there will be no change to the French independent nuclear deterrent which successive governments have treated as a vital issue of national defence.
Dassault Aviation, which builds the Rafale fighters, used to high-profile effect in fighting in Libya and Mali, was to supply 11 planes a year to the French defence forces.
This was intended to ensure an essential minimum amount of work for production lines while France tries to achieve the first sales of the aircraft abroad.
But the government, which is struggling to meet commitments to the European Union and to retain investor confidence by getting its public deficit under control, is crimping public expenditure including defence spending.
02/08/13 AFP/Economic Times
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French officials say that among potential clients are India, Qatar, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil.
The government, struggling to curb public spending, also made clear that there will be no change to the French independent nuclear deterrent which successive governments have treated as a vital issue of national defence.
Dassault Aviation, which builds the Rafale fighters, used to high-profile effect in fighting in Libya and Mali, was to supply 11 planes a year to the French defence forces.
This was intended to ensure an essential minimum amount of work for production lines while France tries to achieve the first sales of the aircraft abroad.
But the government, which is struggling to meet commitments to the European Union and to retain investor confidence by getting its public deficit under control, is crimping public expenditure including defence spending.
02/08/13 AFP/Economic Times
