Replies

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").

I didn't know we were producing electronic equipment that could fit into Russian-made tanks. Maybe you see too much malignity in what basically looks like the development of add-ons aiming at improving the armored divisions in Eastern Europe, though, like the Slovenian T-55s. There's a market to share, as shown by the German, British and Israeli add-ons.

Of course, Eastern Europeans are not the only ones to use Sov tanks, so I guess these pods or range-finders are quite common in the middle-east. When you're one of the three or four big weapons producers in the whole world, and you're pretty deeply involved into world politics, I guess it's pretty common to find the equipment of your competitors (or even your own) aimed at your soldiers. The hostile thing would be to refuse to give the weapons specs to your allies when their enemies have been clients, I guess.

As for aerospace industry, as I told you, it's true that EADS has a strong partnership with Russians - as they enjoy a strong partnership with American firms. A good friend of mine who works in the propulsion field recently gave a lecture to US Navy officers about the progress in "pulse detonation reactors" (something he tried oh so many times to explain to me, but I'm about as technical-wise as a goldfish).

You may be right about the FN being sold to some other non-Belgian company, though, your last message did ring a bell. Whether this company is French or American or something else, I don't know.