The final text does mention no names of equipment

Defence industry can breathe. Object of intense discussions during twenty-four hours that followed a long field work, the franco-saoudien strategic partnership agreement has finally been signed Friday by Jacques Chirac and Michèle Alliot-Marie on the one hand, Sultan bin Abdelaziz al Saud, Minister of defence and crown prince of the Kingdom of the other. In both texts, politics and defence, it provides a framework for negotiation involving many areas of military cooperation, which can lead to several billion euros of more or less long term contracts. "After the visit of King Abdullah () in 2005 in Paris, and that of Jacques Chirac in March this year, it was a necessary step to continue", comments on the Government.

Arrived Wednesday in France, prince sultan had a first meeting in the evening with the French President, exclusively devoted to the situation in the Middle East. The two parties did address issues of military cooperation until the next day referring to Dominique de Villepin and Michele Alliot-Marie care to "deepen" discussions. And it was only at the last moment Friday as French which grew to be the most accurate communication and Saudis by little articulate nature, deciding by consensus, and willing commitment at the highest political level were agreed on the text and the contents of the advertisement.

The final text does mention no names of equipment. But it does not suffer from ambiguity in the concerned areas, and stresses the willingness of Riyadh that future agreements include significant benefits to its industrial. "Disclaims things acquired, and on the other hand the discussions continue," said Michele Alliot-Marie. First recipient, Eurocopter is very poised to finalize in the next months the sale of a large number of helicopters. It evokes a number between 100 and 150, distributed between Fennec, SuperPuma and NH90. The purchase by Riyadh of three Airbus tanker aircraft also seems almost acquired.

Victory of Giat

For the rest, negotiations will open with the industry to respond specifically to the needs expressed by the Saudi Arabian armed forces. This is the case of DCN which, with the launch of a third slice of the naval program Sawari, could deliver multi-mission frigates. Also envisaged the provision of MBDA Mistral ground-to-air missiles. And longer term, submarines (which would be a first for this country), or even of Leclerc tanks, unless the Saudi army decides ultimately to renovate its AMX30. As the Rafale, priority of Paris, the wire is not completely broken (read below), though the Saudis are very divided on this subject.

The agreement signed Friday completes months of work of Sofresa, responsible for the structure of contracts from State to State with Saudi Arabia, who patiently, restored the son broken in 2005. In parallel, Giat signed a victory by placing 76 guns Caesar with the Saudi National Guard. That does not prevent other countries to activate. Thus, the Pentagon informed Congress of the possible sale for more than 6 billion of dollars of military equipment to Saudi Arabia. In the menu, armoured vehicles light, Black Hawk helicopters, assault rifles...