COVID-19 and lack of big-money deals hit French exports in 2020
Morocco ordered 300 VLRA vehicles in late 2020; pictured recently is a vehicle in final production. (Photo: Jean-Marc Tanguy)
Official figures show that French defence equipment export orders took a big hit last year.
French defence companies recorded a 40% year-on-year slump in overseas orders to €4.9 billion ($5.97 billion) in 2020, according to the latest annual report provided by the MoD to parliament on 2 June.
However, strong demand for Rafale is driving a rebound in 2021.
MoD spokesman Hervé Grandjean attributed the sharp fall mainly to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, although the decrease accelerated a recent trend: in 2019, exports decreased by 8.5%.
Grandjean explained that multiple small contracts characterised sales to overseas customers in 2020, as no major deals exceeded €500 million ($609 million).
‘This absence is
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 1 free story per week
- Personalised news alerts
- Daily and weekly newsletters
- Free magazine subscription to all our titles
- Downloadable equipment data handbooks
- Distribution rights (Corporate only)
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
- 10-year news archive access
- Downloadable equipment data handbooks
- Distribution rights (Corporate only)
More from Defence Notes
-
![US Army enlists Raytheon to build TITAN prototype]()
US Army enlists Raytheon to build TITAN prototype
The US Army has contracted Raytheon to develop a prototype for the TITAN programme to support Joint All-Domain Command and Control.
-
![Companies vie for JADC2 work]()
Companies vie for JADC2 work
USAF issues major five-year IDIQ contract to mature, demonstrate and spread the JADC2 capability across platforms and domains.
-
![Sweden reiterates backing for Ukraine with additional military aid]()
Sweden reiterates backing for Ukraine with additional military aid
Sweden has announced its fifth arms package for Ukraine.
