During the recent visit of Moammar Gaddafi in Paris, the Libyan
leader and French President Nicolas Sarkozy concluded a memorandum
of understanding (MOU) detailing an arms sales package worth
at least over €4.5 billion. The two countries are expected
to complete negotiating the contracts within the next 6 months.
While the specific elements of the sale have not been finalized
yet, apparently it includes the delivery of a Rafale
fighter squadron (14 aircraft), armed with MICA air-to-air missiles.
If this opportunity is translated into a firm contract, the
sale will represent the first, long anticipated export sale
for the Rafale. (More...)
Another Rafale prospective opportunity in
Morocco suffered major setback few months ago the Moroccans
apparently decided to opt for refurbished American F-16s instead
of the French Rafales they previously considered. In October,
Sarkozy revived the French proposal for the sale of 12 Rafales,
repackaged with more economic incentives. Given the warming
relations between Washington and Paris, and the insignificant
commercial value the F-16s
sale represents to Washington, Rafale prospects in Moroccan
could reemerge in the near future. India represents another
prospect for Dassault, despite its commercial disadvantage,
particularly against the Russian MiG-35
and American F-16s.
The Libyan package is also expected to include 35 helicopters
including 10 Tiger attack helicopters, 15 EC725 Caracal multi-mission
utility helicopters and 10 AS550 Fennec light scout helicopters.
France also proposed to complete the upgrading program of 8
Dassault Mirage F-1AD/ED fighters. 12 fighters have already
upgraded and returned to flying condition by French contractors.
Other military hardware under consideration include 6-8 fast
patrol boats, 98 wheeled armored vehicles, including 13 Sagie
armored fighting vehicles, 60 VAB armored personnel carriers
25 VBL armored scout vehicles,
César 155mm truck-mounted
self-propelled howitzers and air defense radars.
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