The French armament firms and the Spanish market, 1948-75

This article examines the evolution of French-Spanish military relations during the major part of General Franco's government in Spain. Special attention is given to the sales of arms and licences for manufacturing them in Spain. During the Cold War, Spain was part of the western bloc, led by the US. Nevertheless, the country's military equipment was not only supplied by US armament firms, but also by French ones, proving the limits to Americanisation in this sector. After several decades of contacts and negotiations between (mainly state-owned) French and Spanish companies, the most important results appeared at the beginning of the 1970s, being consolidated and extended during the democratic period.