Photo: Ludovic MARIN / AFPSource: AFPFrance said Wednesday its arms exports hit a record last year, helped by Rafale aircraft sales, in a context of rising global defence spending after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A contract with the United Arab Emirates for 80 Rafale combat aircraft alone contributed more than 16 billion euros to the French total. Greece last year also ordered three French defence and intervention frigates, and signed maintenance and associated weaponry contracts. The French arms exports record comes as global military spending is higher than at any point in the past three decades. Nearly two thirds of French arms exports went to the Middle East, some 23 percent to Europe and eight percent to Asia and Oceania.

Source: Daily Nation July 26, 2023 14:27 UTC