IDEX: France's Nexter Deals With Mideast Firms

22 Feb 2011 By PIERRE TRAN DefenseNews

Abu Dhabi - Nexter has signed a number of deals for munitions and local industrial cooperation aimed at boosting its business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Middle East region, an executive of the French land systems company said at the IDEX show here.

Among recent contract wins:

* The supply of 30mm ammunition for the Dassault Mirage 2000-9 fighters of the UAE Air Force, a deal signed with the International Golden Group, based here, in early 2011.

* Supply of a "very significant number" of Bonus 155mm, 52-caliber anti-tank artillery rounds for an undisclosed Middle East country, signed toward the end of 2010. Nexter has sold its Caesar truck-mounted artillery to Saudi Arabia and Thailand, as well as the French Army. 

* A deal with the International Golden Group to supply the Azur up-armor kit for the UAE Army's Leclerc battle tank. The kit includes extra protection for combat in urban zones.

Nexter executives are looking to that recent sale of Bonus rounds to provide a sales platform for the UAE Army.