The French aerospace industry achieved its best ever order intake last year - but industry association Gifas says it is getting "too little support" from Paris in pushing exports, compared with the backing given by governments in the USA, Germany and the UK.
Charles Edelstenne, president of Gifas member Dassault Aviation, cites the Greek Government's selection of Eurofighter ahead of its own Rafale fighter. Eurofighter won, he says, only after "a lot of visits from German ministers". He adds: "Our government does not provide the same weight as our competitors when it comes to visiting potential customers."
Gifas members saw orders rise 40% last year compared with 1999, to Fr245.9 billion ($35 billion), driven by record civil sales by Airbus, Eurocopter and Dassault Aviation. Exports accounted for 54%. Domestic business rose 16%, thanks to military orders for the NH90 transport helicopter, M51 nuclear missile and Mica air-to-air missile.
Sales rose 12.8%, to Fr162.7 billion, with exports totalling Fr100.3 billion, some Fr90 billion of them from the civil sector, continuing a steep increase from a low of Fr33 billion in 1995. Military sales will improve, says Gifas president Jean-Paul Béchat, as export deliveries of Mirage 2000s and domestic deliveries of the Rafale, NH90 and Tiger attack helicopter kick in.
Source: Flight International
