Procurement: December 5, 2000

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French Armed Forces chief of staff Jean-Pierre Kelche told the French parliament that the 2001 budget of $10.3 billion to buy new weapons was not adequate to make up for the shortage in arms purchases over the previous five years. The heads of the French Air Force and Navy, however, told Parliament that they were satisfied that their 2001 procurement budgets showed an increase. Air Force chief of staff General Jean-Pierre Job said that he also needed new tankers and anti-radar missiles, which are not covered by the present budget.--Stephen V Cole