DefenceTalkOn 18 September 2013, FREMM frigate Provence was floated out of its building dock at the Lorient shipyard. With five FREMM multimission frigates at different stages of assembly and construction, this float-out (or pre-outfitting launch) – always a major milestone – highlights the Group’s expertise in concurrent shipbuilding. Yesterday, DCNS’s Lorient shipyard floated out FREMM […]https://www.defencetalk.com/dcns-floats-out-fremm-frigate-provence-49131/

DefenceTalkBahrain is interested in buying the Eurofighter Typhoon jet, British defence group BAE Systems said on Wednesday. “Bahrain has expressed an interest in Typhoon and the UK government is leading very early discussions. BAE Systems is supporting the UK government in these discussions,” a BAE Systems spokeswoman said. Bahrain’s King Hamad held talks with British […]https://www.defencetalk.com/bahrain-eyes-eurofighter-bae-48691/

DefenceTalkFrance will about halve its purchases of Dassault Rafale jet fighter planes over the next six years, under defence estimates on Friday, and is counting on at last clinching the first sales abroad to keep production lines going. French officials say that among potential clients are India, Qatar, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-clips-rafales-wings-hopes-for-first-export-order-48672/

DefenceTalkFrench Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday talks over a $12-billion deal to sell Rafale jets to India were progressing well and that a new bilateral pact would underpin the deal. India initially set a target of the end of last year to conclude the purchase of the 126 aircraft, one of the biggest […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-confident-about-delayed-rafale-sale-to-india-48634/

DefenceTalkThe national security strategy will help France to ward off risks and threats, direct or indirect, likely to endanger the life of the nation. This concept, introduced by the 2008 White Paper and enshrined in law in 2009, has been confirmed. It is grounded in recognizing the continuity of the internal and external threats menacing […]https://www.defencetalk.com/the-french-white-paper-on-defence-and-national-security-48609/

DefenceTalkFollowing is the Joint Statement issued after the Defence Talks between India and France here today. “At the invitation of the Minister of Defence of India, the French Minister of Defence Mr Yves Le Drian is on an official visit to India on 25-27 July, 2013. Shri A.K. Antony and Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian held […]https://www.defencetalk.com/india-and-france-decide-to-broaden-defence-co-operation-48601/

DefenceTalkThe United Arab Emirates ordered two military surveillance satellites from France on Monday, in a deal worth more than 700 million euros ($913.2 million). The Falcon Eye deal, signed in Abu Dhabi over competition from Lockheed Martin of the United States, includes the supply and launch of two high-resolution Helios surveillance satellites, a control station […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uae-buys-two-french-surveillance-satellites-48591/

DefenceTalkThe French Navy’s Fleet Support Service (SSF) signed off on the completion of the intermediate refit of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle after six months’ work by DCNS. From hull to combat system, without forgetting compliance tests to the latest environmental standards, communications suite modernization or the refurbishment of the accommodation and recreation areas, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/dcns-completes-cvn-charles-de-gaulle-refit-48571/

DefenceTalkPlans to sell US Reaper drones to France advanced Monday as Congress raised no objections to the contract, Pentagon officials said. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which oversees foreign military sales, had notified Congress on June 27 of the proposed contract, and lawmakers voiced no opposition during a 15-day review period. “Congress did not propose […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-readies-sale-of-reaper-drones-to-france-48479/

DefenceTalkOn 1st July 2013, the French DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) successfully carried out the first qualification firing of the naval cruise missile (MdCN or Missile de Croisière Naval). The firing, which took place at the DGA’s Biscarrosse missile test center (situated in the department of Landes in South West France), was representative of a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/french-naval-cruise-missile-scores-test-success-48314/