Article

2004-01-16 Europe

French armaments agency faces major reform

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Posted by rkb 2004-01-16 12:59:04 PM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The French arms industry is in quite a slump I hear. Maybe this will lead to some major divestments or closures.

Posted by buwaya 2004-1-16 1:11:19 PM|| 2004-1-16 1:11:19 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 It's rough to take several million euros in lost sales all at once, with no chance of a contract with any new buyers. When Iraq fell, the death knell for several French companies could be clearly heard pealing across the French countryside. Only France's grand megalomania precluded it from being heard. Now France has to respond, and the only way is for heads to roll. Politics in France are going to get uuuuglly this year!

Posted by Old Patriot 2004-1-16 2:01:44 PM|| [http://users.codenet.net/mweather/default.htm] 2004-1-16 2:01:44 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Well, they could try pulling the old trick of selling to Israel.. oh, wait, I forgot. ^_^

The Islamic Republic of France can't DO that anymore. Hehehehe.

Ed.

Posted by Ed Becerra 2004-1-16 2:44:57 PM|| 2004-1-16 2:44:57 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 Btw, regional and european elections soon (march 2004 IIRC, I won't vote) ; the last opinion poll I could get my filthy hands on announced 20% for the national front, 22% for the (combined) trotskysts (since then, nothing). Ugly indeed.

Posted by Anonymous 2004-1-16 2:57:47 PM|| 2004-1-16 2:57:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 is Michele a man? I'm still not sure about Dominique

Posted by Frank G 2004-1-16 3:43:44 PM|| 2004-1-16 3:43:44 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Michelle (with two Ls) Alliot Marie is a woman. Dominique Galouzeau alias de Villepin is rumored to be a man.

Howard Hawks made a wonderful movie on the subject starring Humprey Bogart and Lauren Bacall whose title was "To have and have not"

Posted by JFM 2004-1-16 4:33:22 PM|| 2004-1-16 4:33:22 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 The French military aircraft industry has a bad reputation.It is widely believed to force the gov't. to buy aircraft it doesn't want.The British were burned so badly on Brit/French Jaguar project that France was denied participation on both Tornado and Eurofighter projects.With the export fighter market being dominated by the US(hi-tech) and Russia/China(cheap),the future of aviation industry in France depends on multi-national programs.The much hyped Franco-Russian deal to cooperate on developing new weapons,aircraft,etc. hasn't lead to anything concrete.Now France is making a explicitly public move to gain control of the DGA in hopes of restoring trust in France's ability to be a partner in a multi-national military project.If France succeeds,in the next year or so,I expect to hear of a need for a new Eurotrainer(T-38/BAE Hawk type) and a EuroStrikefighter(F-16/F-35 cross-breed).

Posted by Stephen 2004-1-16 5:52:13 PM|| 2004-1-16 5:52:13 PM|| Front Page Top

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