French arms export estimated at 7 bln euros in 2009

French arms export will reach seven billion euros in 2009, the nation's top defense procurement officer said on Saturday.

Laurent Collet-Billon, head of the General Delegation for Ordnance (DGA), the government procurement agency, told French daily newspaper Le Monde that France will remain the fourth biggest arms exporter worldwide in 2009.

Despite of the economic crisis, the 2009 global ordnance market will grow to 700 billion euros this year, the newspaper said in a report published on its website.

France's arms export is expected to increases by more than 10 percent from a year earlier and is likely to keep growing in 2010, said Laurent.

French arms export totaled 6.3 billion euros in 2008, the best result since 2000, making it the fourth biggest exporter, after the United Stated, Britain and Russia.

Laurent attributed the growth in 2009 to the sale of Rafale combat jets, adding that France hopes to reach an agreement with Brazil on the Rafale jets deal at the beginning of 2010.

Local analysts, however, expressed doubts and uncertainty in the deals with Brazil about 36 Rafale jets and in the delivery of the Airbus A400 military transport craft, which will take maiden flight-test at the end of this year.

France is also undertaking negotiation with the United Arab Emirates about Rafale jet trade during French Defense Minister Herv Morin's visit there, local media reported also on Saturday.

Source: Xinhua