La France signe un contrat de plus d'un milliard d'euros avec l'Arabie saoudite
France signed a contract of more than one billion with Saudi Arabia
France signed a contract of more than one billion with Saudi Arabia
According to reliable sources , the company ODAS , representing French interests in Saudi Arabia , has signed a state contract to state in August with Ryad totaling more than 1 billion euros for the modernization part of the military fleet of the Kingdom. DCNS , Thales and MBDA and ODAS share control .
This is a great summer for the French arms industry , which finally garnered large export contracts. After the two contracts signed with a total value of nearly 1 billion euros by EADS and Thales in the United Arab Emirates ( two spy satellites and 17 air defense radars ) , it is the turn of Saudi Arabia to release a long-awaited contract . According to reliable sources , the company ODAS , which represents the kingdom interests of French industrial DCNS , Thales and MBDA , signed in August with Ryad a state contract to state ( or LEX Life Extension Sawari 1) of more than billion euros for the modernization of four Al Medinah class frigates and two oil - tanker of Boraida class commissioned in 1985-1986 (contract Sawari I).
The contract could be put into effect on September 1. Four companies share this command: DCNS with its Saudi partner Zamil ( 700 million euros ) , Thales (less than 200 million), MBDA will equip its new oil surface to air system at very short range of MBDA Sinbad -RC (between 40 and 50 million euros ) , and ODAS ( infrastructure). ODAS was created at the request of the French government to help boost exports in the field of defense , security and high technology. ODAS operates mainly in Saudi Arabia as part of state government contracts or commercial contracts. Its shareholders include alongside the French State , a dozen major companies, including DCNS , Thales and MBDA France .
More than five years of negotiations
DCNS long-awaited signing of the contract expected for nearly two years ( negotiations began there more than five years ) to upgrade a portion of the Saudi fleet. LEX contract will be achieved in part by a Saudi shipyard, the Zamil Group . DCNS , a contract of this type is a first in Saudi Arabia. The French shipyard will have to create an industrial structure in Jeddah on the shores of the Red Sea. In addition, the rehabilitation of poorly maintained vessels will be complicated . So , the challenge for DCNS will control production costs and time in a little known group environment ... and customer satisfaction in this area to win a new contract to upgrade ( Sawari 2).
According to our information , DCNS has already got another contract worth € 150 million for the modernization of Sawari 2 frigate in the context of an overall agreement. Or 850 million total garnered by the shipyard .
FREMM multi-mission frigates to Saudi Arabia ?
But mostly DCNS has much longer term on the sale of at least six FREMM multi-mission frigates ( Sawari III). " The Lex is an important contract for the sale of frigates " were assured there is more than one year " latribune.fr " . Especially since DCNS and Paris via the ODAS structure , offering a comprehensive industrial cooperation with the Saudis assembly futures frigates to Saudi Arabia, accompanied by technology transfer (both on the sheet on the electronics) and a training component. But the first FREMM would be realized in Lorient, explained it to " latribune.fr " .
François Hollande in Saudi Arabia this fall
President Francois Hollande, who has already made an express visit to Saudi Arabia in November 2012 , had to get there this summer but the king had gone to rest abroad. The Saudis have therefore rejected this state visit , which is now scheduled for this fall . The convergence of views between Paris and Riyadh on the Syrian track is no stranger to global Franco- Saudi relations after the cold period of the five year term of Nicolas Sarkozy , as evidenced by the signing of LEX . " Riyadh has taken the time to get an idea of the new French policy makers ," said an expert in the kingdom.
Now the French manufacturers, including Thales , awaiting the signature of mégacontrat Mark 3 on the delivery of new Crotale missiles ( air defense ) . "The discussions have accelerated ," says one to the Tribune.