PARIS: France has reported that defence export orders reached an historic high in 2015 with an estimated total of EUR16 billion (USD18.14 billion).
The provisional figure was disclosed by the French military procurement agency, the Delegation General de l’Armament (DGA), on 10 February.
The total represents virtually a 100% increase over the 2014 figure of USD9.1 billion, and compares with 2013 and 2012 results of USD8.8 billion and USD6.7 billion respectively.
The DGA commented in a statement on an “exceptional result”.
It added: “The year 2015 was marked in the field by the confirmation of the changing demands of partners of France and greater support by the Ministry of Defence.