• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Sarkozy in India lobbying for billions of arms, reactor sales

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Paris, Dec 7, IRNA -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy, seeking a slice of Indian multi-billion dollar military spending, said on Tuesday he signed agreements to sell nuclear reactors worth billions of dollars to India.

France said it signed a 'framework agreement' that paves the way for French state-owned nuclear company Areva SA to sell reactors for a project in India's western state of Maharashtra, along with nuclear fuel for 25 years. Pricing has yet to be finalized, and the countries still have to sort through various technical issues before completing the deal.

To boost French economic and employment recovery amid Europe’s debt crisis, Sarkozy will push for sales of submarines as well as combat jets, plus transport and renewable-energy deals.

Sarkozy also lobbied for France to win a contract for an estimated $11 billion of fighter jets, a deal for which companies from the U.S. and other countries are also vying.

Sarkozy escorts 50 chief executives, including those of France-based aircraft-makers Dassault Aviation and EADS, on a presidential sales trip sandwiched between those of U.S. President Barack Obama and Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev.

Each has companies racing for contracts, including India’s planned purchase of $11 billion in jet fighters.

France intends to supply a total of six nuclear reactors to India in coming years. India wants to develop nuclear electricity as a cleaner alternative to coal-fired power to help meet the energy-hungry country's needs.

India has about 4,560 megawatts of nuclear power now, but wants to expand that roughly 14-fold by 2032.

Local media reported that the value of the first two French reactors is estimated at €7 billion ($9.4 billion).

The agreements set contractual conditions and break down roles and responsibilities of the parties, Areva said in a statement. Next steps include studies to enable excavation at the Maharashtra site and approvals from India's nuclear-safety authority, the company said.

Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30114042