French arms exports more than doubled in 2021, reaching 11.7 billion euros, boosted by sales of Rafale fighter jets, according to an annual report to Parliament presented by challenges and from which AFP was able to consult extracts.
The latter must be presented by the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy and Armed Forces during a closed-door hearing in the National Assembly on September 27. Another hearing will also be held in the Senate. This result confirms France as the world’s third largest exporter of military equipment, behind the United States and Russia.
It comes after a year of decline in 2020 (4.9 billion euros) due to limitations linked to the health crisis and exceeds the volume of order intake in 2019 (8.3 billion). French arms companies only fared better in 2015 ($16.9bn) and 2016 ($13.9bn) thanks to Rafale sales.
70% of orders for aeronautics
In 2021, it is again the contracts for Dassault fighter jets that are at the origin of the rebound: France has sold six new and twelve used aircraft to Greece, twelve second-hand to Croatia and an additional 30 new Rafales to Egypt. . In total, aeronautics accounts for almost 70% of the order intake, compared to the usual 30%.
Other major contracts include the sale of 52 Caesar guns to the Czech Republic, as well as ten H145M helicopters, radar and surface-to-air systems to Serbia, according to the report. The small contract base (less than €200 million) reached €4.1 billion. According to challengesEgypt was the first client of Paris with 4,500 million orders, ahead of Greece, Croatia, India and Saudi Arabia.
Exports to Europe, where France is seeking to reorient its activity, accounted for 38% of the order intake in 2021. The year 2022 should also be a buoyant one for French exports. These include the 80 Rafale mega-contract for the Emirates, as well as the sale of an additional six aircraft and three frigates to Greece.
Source: BFM TV
