AP, France and Israel are expected to announce the signing of the biggest weapons deal between the two countries since the French embargo on weapons sales to Israel prior to the Six-Day War.
The $150-200 million deal, to be signed during the Eurosatory 2004 international exhibition for land and land-air defense that opens today at Villepinte, north of Paris, will formally commission Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) to sell expertise for the manufacture of drones for France's major defense industries, combat aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS).
Defense Ministry director-general Amos Yaron will participate in the ceremony marking the opening of the Israeli pavilion at the exhibition, along with the Israeli ambassador to France, Nissim Zvilli. French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie is due to visit the Israeli pavilion.
According to the contract, IAI will supply the expertise to manufacture the Eagle 1 drone, whose development is based on the strategic drone now in the service of the Israel Defense Forces. Three years ago, IAI sold this type of drone to the French army as part of cooperation with EADS. Now, with the encouragement of the French Defense Ministry, a consortium of French industries is to be established to manufacture drones in France – for, among other purposes, export to other countries.
Israeli security sources emphasize that in contrast to relations with the French Foreign Ministry, relations between the defense establishments of the two countries have been on the upswing since the mid-1990s.
A delegation of the IDF's technology and logistics wing, headed by Brigadier General Yaakov Nakash, visited France this week to meet with senior officers in the technology and logistics wing of the French army, to discuss options for various cooperative ventures.
