Armament: Beirut has completed its list of equipment purchases with Paris

By Alain Ruello | 10/03 | 6:00 | updated at 14:46

France and Lebanon have approved the list of Saudi Arabia funded equipment.
Odas negotiate contracts for a total of $ 3 billion.
We know a little more about the very large arms contracts that Paris is preparing to negotiate with Beirut, with the support of Saudi Arabia. During the visit of François Hollande in Riyadh in December, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud had promised to fund up to $ 3 billion modernization of the Lebanese army in France. Since then, high-level exchanges have taken place and the list of materials involved, new and used, is now stopped, Has one source close.

France will provide helicopters used Gazelle battle tanks equipped with anti HOT missiles. But also EC725 transport helicopters, new this time. The devices are manufactured by Airbus Helicopters, former Eurocopter.

Sea, Lebanon has opted for four patrol Adroit built by DCNS and a copy of which was made available to France. A two differences. The Lebanese have opted for a 76 mm cannon (of Italian origin) more powerful than 20 mm which equips the ship of the French Navy, but especially for Mistral missiles. The issue of missiles has sparked a lot of debate, not so much by the potential threat to Israel, but rather because of the risk that these weapons falling into the hands of Hezbollah.
Light armored

In terms of ground equipment, the list includes a number of light armored vehicles, the LAV PVP Renault Trucks Defense. It does not include Leclerc tanks however. Not that the Lebanese army does not want to have - she even made the request. But the French have advised against this option, the road infrastructure in the country accommodating a lot of gear over 50 tonnes. Finally, by the width of its product portfolio, Thales should be served in the field of communications in particular.

The "shopping list" is stopped remains to negotiate contracts. Two options were on the table: industrial leave (for new equipment) and the French Ministry of Defence (for the occasion) treat each of its side with Beirut, or centralize everything. This second option seems to have been favored by entrusting the matter to the company Odas. Owned by the state and some major traffic arms manufacturers (Airbus Group, Dassault, DCNS ...) Odas handle weapons state contracts state between France and Saudi Arabia. Admiral Guillaud, former Chief of Defence Staff, will take the lead in a few days.

François Hollande has requested that the contracts are concluded faster. To get there, Odas will have to negotiate with the Lebanese army, a partner he does not know. In terms of payment, however, things are simpler, since the Saudis required to make checks on presentation of invoices by the Lebanese. It is a condition that the Saudis had asked during the visit of François Hollande in Riyadh.

Helicopters used Gazelle battle tanks equipped with anti HOT missiles and helicopters EC725 transport, new part of the list of materials to be supplied by France in Lebanon. - Photo Fred Dufour / AFP
If these contracts are signed by the end of the year, the year 2014 exports of French armaments include an unusually high proportion of used equipment.

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