European Arms Company to Build Missiles for French Combat AircraftThe European arms company Matra BAe Dynamics France has signed a contract worth 900 million euros (US$820 million) with the French armed forces to build air-to-air missiles to be equipped on combat aircraft.The General Delegation for Armament (DGA) of France, which is in charge of buying equipment for the French armed forces, said Thursday in a communique that the Missile of Interception and Self- defense Combat missiles will be put into service by 2004. The French combat aircraft Rafale and Mirage 2000-5 will be carrying the short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles, which are expected to greatly increase their fire power and increase their chances of surviving enemy fires, said DGA. The Matra BAe is owned by the French-German-Spanish European Aeronautics, Defense and Space group and the British Aerospace. |
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