France’s Dassault Aviation, maker of the Falcon private jet and Rafale fighter plane, said on Tuesday that sales in 2011 fell by 21 percent from the level in 2010, in line with forecasts.
Sales for the year reached 3.3 billion euros ($4.4 billion), down from 4.18 billion euros a year earlier, the firm said in a brief statement.
Dassault warned last year that sales would decline significantly in 2011.
The company said sales improved in the fourth quarter, falling only four percent from a year earlier compared to a 43 percent falloff in the second quarter and 18 percent in the third quarter.
Dassault is in exclusive talks with India for a massive order for 126 Rafale fighters worth $12 billion.
The Rafale, Dassault’s state-of-the-art jet designed to replace the Mirage, has so far only been sold to the French military.
Dassault will announce earnings for 2011 on March 22.
