France, Pakistan Talking on Fighter

rock45

Active member
French radar and MICA missiles would give the JF-17 a real punch but would the French do it? Taiwan's Mirage 2000-5 become a little less effective since Pakistan would share info on the missiles & radar. Next question for France would be how long before China copies the radar for themselves? If France really sold $8.18 billion worth of arms I can't see how a deal like this this could be worth it for them. If the deal was for even for 100/200 radar's giving away the tech must be worth more?

France, Pakistan Talking on Fighter
Associated Press
By JAMEY KEATEN 02.26.08, 12:56 PM ET
PARIS - France is in talks on providing high-tech missile and radar systems for a jet fighter that Pakistan is developing with China, a Defense Ministry official confirmed Tuesday.
Such a deal on Pakistan's JF-17 fighter would likely be opposed by the United States and Taiwan, analysts have said, out of concern that China could reap sensitive military technology.
Bruno Berthet, assistant director for international development at the French Defense Ministry, said France is considering such concerns as it works toward signing a provisional deal that could allow Pakistan to obtain air-to-air missiles from France's MBDA and radars from Thales (other-otc: THLEF.PK - news - people ).

No deal has been reached, "but the talks are on the right track, and there are diplomatic comings and goings between the two countries," Berthet told The Associated Press on the sidelines of a news conference. He said it was too early to say when a memorandum of understanding might be signed.
A deal would be a boon to French industry at a time when its overall economy has been lackluster, and government officials have been eager to support defense exports. A supply deal for the JF-17 fighter could be worth hundreds of millions of euros (dollars) to France, said Berthet.
The head of the French defense procurement agency, Francois Lureau, told the news conference that France's defense sector reaped an estimated 5.5 billion euros ($8.18 billion) worth of export contracts last year, and expected to reach 6 billion euros in 2008.
The MBDA missiles and radars similar to Thales' equip Taiwan's French-built Mirage fighters, and Taiwan's weapons systems could be compromised if Pakistan gave such know-how to China, Jane's Defense Weekly reported in September.



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http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/02/26/ap4698673.html
 
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