Analysis: European defense contracts

BRUSSELS, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- French arms sale task force

After France’s failure to sell its Rafale fighter jet (built by Dassault) to Morocco during French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit, the French government has set up a new high-level unit consisting of the president, the prime minister, the ministers of defense, finance and foreign affairs and the commander in chief of the army, according to Le Figaro.

This unit will serve to remain competitive with U.S. arms sales, which beat the French to the punch by selling the Moroccans F-16 fighter jets, by quickly putting together competitive arms packages when they are most needed. The French arms industry is the world’s second largest, trailing the United States.

Despite 13 years of aggressive marketing, the Dassault planes still haven’t sold to anyone but the French armed forces.

Italy to make acquisitions

Italy’s 2008 defense budget includes money to start acquiring helicopters, submarines, maritime patrol aircraft and signals intelligence planes, Defense News reported.

This comes on the back of an earlier announcement that U-212 submarines, Chinooks and EH101s will be purchased.

Italy also has intentions to replace its Atlantic maritime patrol aircrafts in the next decade or so, according to documents obtained by Defense News.

The Ministry of Defense says it has yet to make its choice for an aircraft, but the ATR 72 is considered to be the front-runner since Italy pulled out of Boeing’s 737 Multimission Maritime Aircraft program because of insufficient funds.

The total 2008 military spending will be $21.93 billion, of which $5.23 billion is earmarked for buying new equipment.

The budget will be voted on by the Parliament before Christmas.

Pakistan purchases Italian air defense system

The Pakistani air force has purchased the Spada 2000 air defense system from MDBA Italia, Defense News reported.

Pakistan had earlier bought the Falco UAV from Galileo Avionica, which is also Italian, delivery of which has already begun.

Spada won the contract amid competition from Raytheon, Diehl BGT and Saab, Defense News reported.