France has sold Pakistan 40 refurbished ex-air force Dassault Mirage III and Mirage V fighters. Under the deal, known as "Blue Flash 6", the aircraft are being upgraded by French companies Sagem and Sogerma.
The contract was organised by the French defence ministry's maintenance division. The first refurbished aircraft was flown in November 1997, and has been delivered to boost the other Mirage types flown by Pakistan. Pakistan and France had been negotiating a deal for years to purchase a similar number of new Mirage 2000s, without agreeing financial terms.
Cash which could have been used for the purchase is locked up in an earlier deal to buy 40 Lockheed Martin F-16s. Although largely paid for, the US Congress will not allow delivery of the aircraft because of alleged Pakistani development of nuclear weapons.
France is also seeking to complete a Mirage 2000 deal with India. A recent visit by French president Jacques Chirac resulted in New Delhi being offered a deal involving the sale of ten Mirage 2000-H fighters to bolster the air force's 36 Mirage 2000s. Part of the negotiations involve a later upgrade.
Source: Flight International
