French get kick in the teeth...... personal blow to Chirac....
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sverdlovsk
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
French get kick in the teeth...... personal blow to Chirac....
Saudi Arabia’s decision to choose the Eurofighter Typhoon as the backbone of its future defence needs is set to deal a fatal blow to Frances hopes of securing a rival deal for its own Rafale combat aircraft, reports the Times.
With details of the multi-million-pound defence package being finalised between Saudi officials and BAE Systems for the delivery of up to 72 Typhoons over the coming decade, hopes are fading for Dassault, the French manufacturer of the Rafale, in its bid to provide 48 warplanes to the Saudis with an option of another 48 aircraft.
Over the past few months, rival defence contractors, diplomats and Cabinet ministers -and even Tony Blair and President Chirac - have been engaged in a furious battle behind the scenes to secure the Saudi defence contract for its next generation of fighters.
Eurofighter, a joint four- nation project, had the advantage of lobbying from Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain. In addition, BAE Systems had 20 years of close co-operation with the Royal Saudi Air Force after the purchase of Tornado and other aircraft under the al-Yamamah project secured by Margaret Thatcher.
If the Typhoon deal is finalised, it will be a huge personal blow to M Chirac, who has invested his credibility in securing the Rafale contract with the Saudis. The first sign that the French were losing the race came in March, when the French leader visited Riyadh but failed to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Saudis for the aircraft. Britain and Saudi Arabia had signed a memorandum in December.
Nevertheless, it is possible that the Saudis, flush with a mighty petro-dollar windfall, will still buy some French war-planes or will compensate Paris by purchasing other defence equipment from their lengthy military shopping list.
The Saudis are planning to spend billions upgrading defences of their long and vulnerable borders with Iraq and other unstable neighbours. They also want to protect their oil facilities, which came under attack last month from al-Qaeda suicide bombers, and create a new airborne helicopter regiment for the Armed Forces.
The agreement to replace British-made Tornados and other jets in the Saudi Air Force with Eurofighter Typhoons was seen as a significant break-through for the Eurofighter, which so far has been sold only to the air forces of the home manufacturing countries and Austria. The huge order is seen as confirmation that the jet can sell around the world. The contract also safeguards jobs at BAE Systems.
GengisK
With details of the multi-million-pound defence package being finalised between Saudi officials and BAE Systems for the delivery of up to 72 Typhoons over the coming decade, hopes are fading for Dassault, the French manufacturer of the Rafale, in its bid to provide 48 warplanes to the Saudis with an option of another 48 aircraft.
Over the past few months, rival defence contractors, diplomats and Cabinet ministers -and even Tony Blair and President Chirac - have been engaged in a furious battle behind the scenes to secure the Saudi defence contract for its next generation of fighters.
Eurofighter, a joint four- nation project, had the advantage of lobbying from Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain. In addition, BAE Systems had 20 years of close co-operation with the Royal Saudi Air Force after the purchase of Tornado and other aircraft under the al-Yamamah project secured by Margaret Thatcher.
If the Typhoon deal is finalised, it will be a huge personal blow to M Chirac, who has invested his credibility in securing the Rafale contract with the Saudis. The first sign that the French were losing the race came in March, when the French leader visited Riyadh but failed to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Saudis for the aircraft. Britain and Saudi Arabia had signed a memorandum in December.
Nevertheless, it is possible that the Saudis, flush with a mighty petro-dollar windfall, will still buy some French war-planes or will compensate Paris by purchasing other defence equipment from their lengthy military shopping list.
The Saudis are planning to spend billions upgrading defences of their long and vulnerable borders with Iraq and other unstable neighbours. They also want to protect their oil facilities, which came under attack last month from al-Qaeda suicide bombers, and create a new airborne helicopter regiment for the Armed Forces.
The agreement to replace British-made Tornados and other jets in the Saudi Air Force with Eurofighter Typhoons was seen as a significant break-through for the Eurofighter, which so far has been sold only to the air forces of the home manufacturing countries and Austria. The huge order is seen as confirmation that the jet can sell around the world. The contract also safeguards jobs at BAE Systems.
GengisK
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: East Midlands
Age: 84
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Saudi Typhoon contract
In the few years that I worked in BAe sales I saw that the way contracts went was in no way related to the merits or otherwise of the product on offer but the movement of 'facilitating payments' behind the scenes - how much and to whom. One contract, in which I was involved, only as a pilot, involved a 6% of the contract value payment to the Minister of Defence who signed it! I heard that on the civil (Airbus) side, salesmen negotiated with the buyer for a % age of the % age and managed to retire after being involved in one big sale of a fleet of aircraft. Most places East of Cyprus the business goes with the greased palms.
But it's as the old saw has it, we don't pay bribes - we pay commission.
The difference being timing..
I liked that crack about Chirac and his investment.. nearly bit straight through my NAAFI sponge finger..
sv
The difference being timing..
I liked that crack about Chirac and his investment.. nearly bit straight through my NAAFI sponge finger..
sv
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 887
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I once saw a pre-sale greaser from somewhere east of Cyprus described as 'a show of gratitude for considering our product'. Put like that it would be the height of bad manners to refuse.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm reminded of the jet that made an emergency diversion into Cairo. The spares were held in customs until a wodge of moolahs greased the palm of the customs official in exchange for a signature. It was cheaper to do that than to continue to pay bills for the crew stuck there. The air attache's office advised payment, which was paid under a 'misc expenses' voucher heading. It would have made for an interesting reaction if the paperwork revealed that a 'bribe' had been paid.
When in Rome...
When in Rome...
Rupert, in his haste to post
Forgot the thing that matters most
Alas our brave intrepid bare
didn't take sufficient care
to ensure that we understood
(which really wasn't very good)
So please, dear Rupert, do come clean
What the f**k does all that mean?
What is being limited by our namby pamby employment regs, and what/who is still in with a chance?
Forgot the thing that matters most
Alas our brave intrepid bare
didn't take sufficient care
to ensure that we understood
(which really wasn't very good)
So please, dear Rupert, do come clean
What the f**k does all that mean?
What is being limited by our namby pamby employment regs, and what/who is still in with a chance?
In his haste to turn to rhyme
Jacko failed to take the time
To study closely what he writ
And lo, his spelling went to sh*t
But the verse, as it ran
Nicely flowed and did scan
And thus, 'tis only fair to state:
Jacko for Poet Laureate
Any chance of sending the key setting for your post, Rupert?
(and yes, I know 'writ' is strictly incorrect, but people like Andrew Motion have got away with using it for years. Makes them great poets, apparently...)
Jacko failed to take the time
To study closely what he writ
And lo, his spelling went to sh*t
But the verse, as it ran
Nicely flowed and did scan
And thus, 'tis only fair to state:
Jacko for Poet Laureate
Any chance of sending the key setting for your post, Rupert?
(and yes, I know 'writ' is strictly incorrect, but people like Andrew Motion have got away with using it for years. Makes them great poets, apparently...)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Middle Drawer
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dassault promo vid for Rafale.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/93826/rafale/
Hope Mr Chirac grasps the irony of the traditions of freedom.
TW
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/93826/rafale/
Hope Mr Chirac grasps the irony of the traditions of freedom.
TW
Actually FJJP, 'gratuities' on a miscellaneous payment vouchers are not new. I have had to do several in the past and command accounts realise that in some countries (all African) nothing gets done without a handout. I was asked where the receipt for a 'gratuity' was after one trip to Egypt. I had to point out that corrupt govermemt officials rarely gave receipts. It was accepted!
Back to the thread, perhaps the Saudis saw that new French movie about Mirage 2000 pilots. I recently bought a copy (for my son!) in a street market in Beijing. The Engrish sub titles are hilarious. They were obviously translated from French into Chinese and then into Engrish. For a start, the Mirage 2000 is referred to as the 'Image 2000', and 'Look out behind' translates as 'Alert! - he is in your bottom'.
But what do you expect for 5 Yuan (about 35p).
Back to the thread, perhaps the Saudis saw that new French movie about Mirage 2000 pilots. I recently bought a copy (for my son!) in a street market in Beijing. The Engrish sub titles are hilarious. They were obviously translated from French into Chinese and then into Engrish. For a start, the Mirage 2000 is referred to as the 'Image 2000', and 'Look out behind' translates as 'Alert! - he is in your bottom'.
But what do you expect for 5 Yuan (about 35p).
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Shropshire
Age: 73
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's not true what they say about the Navy Jacko,... is it ? As one who spent some time bobbing in the briny waiting for someone to invent the GPS or "charts" for the Navy.........
