{"id":51705,"date":"2018-08-02T18:48:31","date_gmt":"2018-08-02T18:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/02\/french-armed-forces-minister-reveals-arms-export-details-roadblocks-to-lawmakers\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:49:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:49:12","slug":"french-armed-forces-minister-reveals-arms-export-details-roadblocks-to-lawmakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/industry\/2018\/08\/02\/french-armed-forces-minister-reveals-arms-export-details-roadblocks-to-lawmakers\/","title":{"rendered":"French armed forces minister reveals arms export details, roadblocks to lawmakers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PARIS \u2014 This year\u2019s tally of French arms exports will include design studies for attack submarines for Australia as well as helicopter and Rafale fighter jet deals sealed with Qatar, according to Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA certain number of significant contracts were concluded this year,\u201d she told<\/a> the Committee for National Defense and Armed Forces of the lower-house National Assembly, according to recently released transcripts from July 4. \u201cArms exports are the economic model of our sovereignty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The helicopter deal with Qatar is worth some \u20ac1 billion (U.S. $1.2 billion), while a large submarine design contract with Australia is expected to be signed \u201cat the beginning of autumn,\u201d she said. That signing will show the Australian program deserves to be named \u201ccontract of the century,\u201d despite those who said the value has so far failed to meet expectations, she asserted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A contract for a \u201cmotorized capability\u201d is also due to be signed this year with Belgium, part of France\u2019s \u201cstrategic partnership\u201d with the neighboring state, she said. Qatar signed a \u201csubstantial\u201d contract in February for a further 12 Rafale fighters, she added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The minister said she was unable to give figures for the big export deals expected this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Export deals require bank support, but commercial banks are \u201crather nervous\u201d about lending for arms contracts, reflecting regulatory pressure and demands for corporate social responsibility from shareholders, she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parly pledged to discuss financial support with the Economy and Finance Ministry, particularly to help small and medium enterprises. Bpifance, the state-backed lender, is the main actor in financial support for selling weapons to foreign clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\t