The France will train the gendarmes of Bahrain

And if, finally, the weapons market was also caught by the crisis This is what suggests Antoine Bouvier, CEO of the European missile manufacturer MBDA subsidiary to EADS, BAE and Finmeccanica on the Gulf countries, very large customers of the Western, French defence industry in particular. "Since a few weeks, we feel a slowdown in negotiations, threats on certain programs, or ambition weakened on upcoming programs", he said on the sidelines of the exhibition Idex of United Arab Emirates (water) which opened its doors this weekend. Nothing serious for the moment, but a "first Harbinger" which is difficult to quantify the impact for 2009, he added.

Regalian expenditure par excellence, the weapons for the time being passed between drops in exporting countries because the benefits in terms of employment are immediate (in France, stimulus devotes so much money to military equipment). But also in the client countries, that influence more purchases to important technology transfers. Addition to the countries of the Gulf the great fear of the Iranian neighbour, which promotes the modernization of the armed forces.

Americans in place

MBDA is all the more reasons to worry for historic opportunities in the Gulf that Americans are now prevail in the area of missile defence, a strategic market for which the Europeans have nothing to offer. For example, the water, signed a contract of $ 7 billion, according to the local press, for the purchase of the future American system THAD (1), in addition to Patriot missiles $ 4 billion. In the face, MBDA has certainly advanced technologies (VL Mica, Mistral, or SAMP-T), but for short or medium-sized litters. The challenge for the European missile manufacturer is to extract the part of the DGA a few tens of millions of euros to launch the evolution of the Aster missile. "We must show our clients a start to the roadmap," said Antoine Bouvier.

Other industrial share the fears of MBDA In saffron, very well established in the Gulf, it is still evidence of optimism, even if it is in a very measured way. "The crisis has not yet had impact in the field of defence and security", provides Jean-François Coutris, Deputy General Director of Sagem Défense Sécurité. The Group developed including on the adjustment of the Emirates Leclerc tanks (and their Russian armoured). "RAS for the moment." "Military budgets have been wedged on a barrel at about $ 40", complete Alexandre de Juniac, Thales for the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Unless the price of black gold rises quickly, yet it seems difficult to think that the crisis will not leave some trace. But step market securing of borders, which has beautiful days before him, taking advantage of the priority given by the States in the fight against immigration, the trafficking of all kinds or terrorism. The France will train the gendarmes of Bahrain. On the other hand, arms could be victim the year next adjustment in investment priorities. "We do are not immunized", warned the week last Ian King, the Chairman of BAE Systems, just after having promised results in increase for 2009.