DefenceTalkFrance announced Thursday it will sell 24 Rafale fighters plus a frigate to Egypt in a 5 billion euro ($5.7 billion) deal that marks the first foreign contract for the multi-role combat jet. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will travel to Cairo on Monday to sign the contact with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-clinches-first-foreign-sale-of-rafale-jets-with-egypt-contract-62940/

DefenceTalkThe first deliveries of Saudi-funded French weapons to help Lebanon combat jihadists will begin in April, a spokesman for Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Sunday. Fabius confirmed the time frame at a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Romain Nadal told reporters. Riyadh pledged $3 billion […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lebanon-to-start-receiving-french-arms-in-april-62804/

DefenceTalkMoscow has sent Paris an official inquiry for an explanation of why a Mistral helicopter carrier was not delivered to Russia according to an earlier signed agreement, a high-ranking official from the Russian Defense Ministry’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) said Tuesday. “The FSMTC has sent an inquiry to the DGA [Direction Generale de […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-sends-france-formal-inquiry-on-non-delivery-of-mistral-warship-61873/

DefenceTalkIndia on Monday said France would have to adhere to the conditions specified in the original tender for the $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project, even as defence secretary R K Mathur left for Paris amid the deadlock over the mega deal for 126 Rafale fighters. “The RFP (request for proposal) terms have […]https://www.defencetalk.com/original-terms-have-to-be-met-in-rafale-jet-deal-parrikar-61866/

DefenceTalkIndia plans to take a final call, one way or the other, on the gigantic $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project to acquire 126 French Rafale fighters before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits France and Germany in April. Sources said the defence ministry is now hopping mad with French aviation major Dassault’s continuing […]https://www.defencetalk.com/indian-rafale-deal-hits-rough-weather-61849/

DefenceTalkThe Department of Defense announced today the consolidation of some U.S. infrastructure in Europe, including the return of 15 sites to their host nations. These actions, taken as part of the European Infrastructure Consolidation (EIC) process, will save the U.S. government approximately $500 million annually. The DoD also announced the first F-35 basing in Europe […]https://www.defencetalk.com/dod-announces-european-infrastructure-consolidation-actions-and-f-35-basing-in-europe-61812/

DefenceTalkOn behalf of the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), the Joint Armaments Cooperation Organization (OCCAr) has awarded Thales a contract to upgrade the fire control system for the anti-air missiles deployed by the French Navy’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. The new equipment will be installed as part of the refit planned in 2018. Work […]https://www.defencetalk.com/thales-to-upgrade-fire-control-system-france-aircraft-carrier-61338/

DefenceTalkThe French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its fleet will be deployed to the Gulf to support operations against the Islamic State group, a military news site reported on Tuesday. The deployment of the marine battle group is due to be announced by President Francois Hollande when he gives his annual new year’s speech […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-to-deploy-aircraft-carrier-to-gulf-in-is-fight-report-61299/

DefenceTalkFrance would only deliver two warships ordered by Russia if there were concrete signs of lasting peace in Ukraine, the French defence minister said Thursday. Russia has been accused by the West of arming and bankrolling a rebellion in eastern Ukraine, a charge Moscow denies. But sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-wants-firm-signs-of-ukraine-peace-before-russia-warship-delivery-61238/

DefenceTalkThe French and Indian defence ministers agreed to press ahead with negotiations on the sale of 126 Rafale fighter jets to India, both sides said Tuesday, after slow progress cast doubt on the estimated $12 billion deal. Successive deadlines to complete one of the world’s biggest airline contracts have slipped by, leading to reports that […]https://www.defencetalk.com/india-france-say-will-press-ahead-with-rafale-fighter-jet-deal-61093/