French Equipment Proposals
Date: 2 December 1997
France has unveiled its $2.6 billion new arms package proposal.
In addition to throwing in a free Daphne-class submarine (the SAN already has three), France has offered a 'buy now, pay later' option to defer first payments until 2001 and thereafter pay off at an exceptionally low fixed interest rate of 2.4%.
Aviation elements of the package include Mirage 2000-5 fighters for the SAAF, six long-range Eurocopter AS 532 Couger helicopters for operation from new corvettes which are being offered for the Navy and some 60 EC 635 light utility helicopters as replacement for the SAAF Alouette IIIs.
Air International (January 1998)
