French authorities have given approval for industry to offer a Thales RC 400 airborne fire control radar and MBDA Mica air-to-air missiles to Pakistan, to be fitted on the JF-17 jet fighter built under license from China, a Pakistani official said.
They are cleared for export negotiation, the official said.
The sale has raised concerns of a potential breach of the EU military embargo on China.
Pakistan and France have drawn up a memorandum of understanding in which Islamabad promises not to release technology to China, the Pakistani official said. French industry submitted prices about a year and a half ago for the gear and these were no longer valid. With export clearance, commercial negotiations can take place.
The Délégation Générale pour lArmement arms agency, MBDA and Thales declined comment.
Source: DefenseNews.com