According to an annual report to Parliament, French arms exports exploded in 2021, reaching 11.7 billion euros, against 4.9 billion in 2020.
Worn by Rafale sales, the fighter plane manufactured by Dassault, French arms exports more than doubled in 2021, according to a report revealed by Challenges and partially consulted by AFP. The total amount of exports for this year reached 11.7 billion euros, the third highest level in history. And “ it is already certain that 2022 will also be marked by significant results “, notes the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, in the introduction to the document.
This result consolidates France as the world’s third largest exporter of military equipment, behind the United States and Russia. It is notably due to the sale of Rafale fighter planes, bringing the share of aeronautics in arms sales to nearly 70% against 30% usually.
Egypt, the first customer of Paris
That year, France sold six new aircraft and 12 second-hand to Greece, 12 used in Croatia and 30 additional new Rafale to Egypt. Other important sales include the 52 Caesar guns sold to the Czech Republic as well as ten H145M helicopters, radar and surface-to-air systems sold to Serbia.
According ChallengesEgypt was Paris’ top customer with 4.5 billion orders, ahead of Greece, Croatia, India and Saudi Arabia.
And if the year 2022 promises to be just as spectacular in terms of sales, it is thanks in particular to to the 80 Rafale contract concluded between France and the Emiratesas well as the sale of six additional aircraft and three frigates to Greece.
(With AFP)