Gilbert Sedbon/PARIS
SAGEM OF FRANCE has signed a Fr500 million ($97 million) contract with Pakistan for the sale of up to 40 upgraded secondhand Dassault Mirage III fighter aircraft.
The upgrade of the aircraft includes avionics, navigation systems and day/night attack capability. The aircraft have been acquired from the French air force, which completed phasing out 185 E versions in June 1994.
Pakistan is a long-term client of Dassault, having purchased more than 150 Mirage IIIs and Mirage 5s, plus 50 secondhand aircraft acquired recently from Australia.
The Sagem deal was clinched several months ago in the face of fierce international competition, but kept secret pending French export authorisation.
Meanwhile, longstanding negotiations for the purchase of the Dassault Mirage 2000-5 is being actively pursued, according to French officials .
Source: Flight International
