DefenceTalkParis: French arms exports rose 18 percent in 2014, according to a defence ministry report published Tuesday, the country’s best export performance for 15 years. France sold 8.2 billion euros ($9.1 billion) of weapons last year, mainly due to clinching five “large” contracts (defined as more than 200 million euros). These large contracts represented a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/french-arms-exports-in-2014-best-in-15-years-64385/

DefenceTalkIndia is unlikely to buy more than 36 French Rafale fighters as of now, less than one-third of the 126 jets that were envisaged under the now-scrapped $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project. But another 20 Rafale jets might be procured at a later stage to make a total of three squadrons, much […]https://www.defencetalk.com/india-unlikely-to-go-for-more-than-36-rafale-fighters-at-this-stage-64375/

DefenceTalkGermany and France are considering cooperation on developing a successor to the tank “Leopard 2.” The current model has been in service since 1979, and aging Bundeswehr equipment is currently in stark focus. The German Defense Ministry announced its plans for the “Leo 3” (as it’s likely to be nicknamed in Germany) in a report […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-france-to-jointly-develop-leopard-3-tank-64276/

DefenceTalkParis handed over its proposals to Russia on possible ways to terminate the contract for the delivery of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers to Russian Navy, Kommersant newspaper reported Friday. The offers imply the return to the Russian side about 785 million euros ($865 million), which it can obtain only after the written consent of its […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-terminate-deal-mistral-ships-with-russia-64227/

DefenceTalkShares in European aerospace giant Airbus have dropped more than 4 percent after the weekend crash of an A400M military plane in Spain fueled investors’ concern over Europe’s largest and hugely delayed defense project. In trading on Monday, shares in Airbus fell 4.23 percent, underperforming the wider European market which was down less than one […]https://www.defencetalk.com/airbus-shares-close-4-down-after-a400m-crash-64150/

DefenceTalkFrench President Francois Hollande sought to boost ties in the Gulf Monday as he oversaw the signing of a warplanes deal with Qatar and arrived in Saudi Arabia for a summit. Hollande was to be the first Western head of state to attend a Gulf Cooperation Council leaders’ meeting when they gather in Riyadh on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/french-leader-oversees-qatar-jet-deal-to-attend-gulf-summit-64099/

DefenceTalkThe multi-billion deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets could see French defence major Dassault Aviation entering into a joint venture with state-run HAL or any private player to set up a base here for augmenting its existing production line. Defence sources said such a step, if taken, will not only allow the French firm to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/rafale-deal-dassault-likely-to-enter-joint-venture-with-hal-64097/

DefenceTalkDassault Aviation is honored by Qatar’s decision to acquire 24 Rafale aircraft to equip its Air Force. The contract between the State of Qatar and Dassault Aviation is to be signed on Monday, May 4 in Doha in the presence of Mr. François Hollande, President of the French Republic. Following on from the Mirage F1, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/qatar-has-chosen-the-rafale-fighter-aircraft-64064/

DefenceTalkThe fourteenth (14th) edition of Indo-French naval exercise (VARUNA) started with the arrival of four French naval ships at Goa today. Representing the French Navy is aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, two destroyers Chevalier Paul and Jean de Vienne, replenishment tanker Meuse and a maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique 2. The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle […]https://www.defencetalk.com/indian-french-naval-exercise-varuna-commences-at-goa-63959/

DefenceTalkFrench President Francois Hollande said Sunday that negotiations with Moscow were under way to find a solution to a dispute over the sale of two Mistral warships, frozen over the Ukraine crisis. “We are busy negotiating a solution to the crisis,” over the 1.2 billion euro ($1.5 billion) sale, Hollande said on French television. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-russia-negotiating-solution-to-frozen-warship-deal-63922/