On Sunday, Le Drian said France should build up its capacity to make unmanned aircrafts, adding that, “We need this capacity in the short term.”
On May 17, a report published by Air et Cosmos specialist magazine revealed that following a deal reached between Paris and Washington, France will buy two American medium-altitude Reaper drones to back up its military operations against fighters in the crisis-hit Mali.
The report added that the French Air Force, which has already deployed Israeli-made armed unmanned drones to the West African nation, intends to acquire more modern drones rapidly.
On May 18, the daily Le Monde reported that Paris was considering purchasing a total of five or seven US-made unarmed Reaper surveillance drones at the cost of 300 million euros (USD 384.72 million).
In February, a report published by the World Tribune indicated that the French military has used “Harfang” medium-altitude long endurance (MALE) drones manufactured by Israel in war-torn Mali.
France launched its war on the resource-rich West African country in January under the pretext of fighting al-Qaeda-linked extremists.
The French-led war on Mali has caused a serious humanitarian crisis in the northern areas of the country and has displaced thousands of people, who now live in deplorable conditions.
MAM/SS
Source Article from http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/05/19/304305/france-to-buy-drones-from-us-israel/
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