France aims to boost defence exports

France aims to lift annual weapons sales to 7 billion euros ($10 billion) within three years as it overhauls its arms export system after a series of setbacks, Defence Minister Herve Morin said.

"When I arrived, I immediately requested that a strategic export plan should be drawn up," he told business daily Les Echos in an interview for Wednesday's edition released ahead of publication. "Why? Because I saw that France was losing ground."

"The aim is to get to more than 5 billion euros, or a figure comparable with 2006. Three years from now, we're aiming at 7 billion in orders a year," he said.

France, one of the world's main weapons exporters, has suffered a string of reverses, including its recent failure to sell its showpiece Rafale fighter jets to Morocco.

Morin said the failure to secure what would have been the first Rafale export order was the result of not moving quickly enough in the face of aggressive competition from the United States.

"It wasn't just a matter of price," he said. "It should have been wrapped up before April 2007. But Washington used all its political weight." Morin referred to a U.S. donation for Morocco and diplomatic support over Western Sahara.

The Dassault-built Rafale is France's next generation, multirole combat aircraft, combining both fighter and bomber roles and has been a flagship programme for France's arms industry but it has had problems in finding export buyers.

After months of negotiations, during which France came close to sealing a deal to sell 18 Rafales, Morocco finally opted for cheaper U.S. F-16s.

The failure prompted President Nicolas Sarkozy to order an overhaul of the system that coordinates defence sales.

"What we have to do is absolutely improve our organisation and make sure that France speaks with one voice," Morin said.

A special interministerial committee on defence sales, dubbed CIEDES, has been formed to present proposals and ensure they are followed up properly. It would work alongside a "war room" composed of top advisers to Sarkozy and the government designed to aid rapid decision making.

"CIEDES is structured to build a strategic plan to ensure that it is implemented, while the "war room" will coordinate the tactical level," Morin said.

Source: Reuters

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