Whoa ! May I first point out a few things here ? First, the present French government is not leftist, but conservative. Second, FN-FALs are Belgian assault rifles, not French. The French assault rifle is the FA-MAS, a bull-pup model you won't find in the arsenal of Iranian-backed terrorists since its only user is the French Army.
I don't have any info about French firms modernizing Russian tanks, so please forward any link to articles hinting at that. What I know, though, is that French aeronautic firms work with both Russian and US counterparts to develop new propulsion systems (US and Russian firms already working together on the same topics). Isn't it a consequence of the global economy ?
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/index.html Though I don't agree with FAS's political niavity, they have good references. Look at the Russian vehicles (T-55 to T-72) and search for the word 'French'. You will also see several other countries named, including South Africa (they have quite a few dealings in the world arms trade). Also look at the BMP-3.
This is, unfortunatly, the only "open source" (non-classified) info I can find on the web. Most "arms control" websites only attack US policy and defense contractors and no one else.
http://www.thalesgroup.com This is the only French defense contractor website I found.
I will admit I thought a French firm had aquired FN Manufacturing, but their website doesn't discuss it. I will have to see why I thought that was so.
I would argue the conservativness of the current French gov't, but I would also argue that, as far as domestic policy goes, the Bush Presidency lacks conservatism also. I have written the RNC about this many times (things like the prescription drug bill, the Ted Kennedy "education" bill, etc.. the "New Tone").