First foreign sales likely for Dassault’s Rafale, if deal with Libya goes through
12 Dec 2007
Libya has apparently expressed a "strong intention" to buy 14 Rafale fighter jets as well as 35 helicopters and military equipment in a deal that may be worth 4.5 billion euros ($6.6 billion), a French presidential source said Dec. 10.
The two countries signed a ''memorandum of understanding'' detailing a list of military hardware, including the Rafales and helicopters, which will be negotiated in detail on July 1, sources said.
The memorandum of understanding was one of around 10 contracts signed by French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Moamer Kadhafi on Dec. 10, the first day of the Libyan leader's five-day visit.
Other items on the list include six boats, armoured vehicles, radars and the delivery of upgraded Mirage F-1s already bought by Libya.
The sale of the Rafales ''if it goes through'' will be the first foreign sale of the French-made aircraft.