France has concluded a four billion franc (about $850 million) arms deal with Saudi Arabia involving tanks, airplanes and missiles, official sources here announced today. At the. same time in Bahrein, Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Sultan The Abdulaziz; announced during a televised press conference that his country had ordered French missiles. He added that they were mobile and provided with an armored surface, the first of this type in the Middle East.
The sources here say the sale involved antiaircraft and anti-tank missiles as well as 38 Mirages of the 3-E type. 200 AMX-630 tanks, and 250 armored troop transports and light armored cars. Construction of the military equipment has already begun and delivery is expected to take place within the next four years. Saudi Arabia has already purchased 15 million francs ($3.25 million) worth of arms from France this year.
Responsible French sources indicated that some of the arms from the previous contract had subsequently been delivered to Egypt. The same sources declared that since the lifting of the arms embargo. France has found it difficult if not impossible to abide by the clause on non-reexportation of arms to third countries.
France is also teaching Saudi Arabian soldiers and officers in the use and handling of the tanks and planes. A new group of 30 Saudi Arabian pilots recently arrived in Dijon for training.
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