French defence and industrial electronics group Thales has fulfilled 30% of its national industrial obligation linked to its commitments under the Corvette programme.

The programme is one of the arms deals packages, and Thales says the 30% has been fulfilled after only two years, even though the requirement is for the obligation to be fulfilled in seven years.

Arms suppliers obliged to deliver investments and exports totalling $14bn over 11 years in terms of the arms deal commitments are on track and have even exceeded their interim targets.

Last year Deputy Defence Minister Nozizwe Madlala- Routledge said Thales led the pack in terms of defence industrial participation, having delivered 27% of its commitment.

Government's arms procurement agency, Armscor, awards credits or points to the companies in recognition of payments received by SA manufacturers in respect of their work.

Thales which was known as Thomson-CSF said on Tuesday it had signed three different contracts in SA in three business areas. These are driving licenses, civil radars for airports and combat suites for the Corvettes.

All these contracts bear industrial participation obligations.

Thales says the industrial participation obligations of the civil radars were "now totally and successfully fulfilled", while those of the driving licences would come into effect when the contract reaches the threshold of $10m.

With acknowledgements to Bonile Ngqiyaza and Business Day.