France has always prided itself on the strategic autonomy of its aerospace sector. This strategic independence means that French jets have been impervious to US export restrictions.
At a time when the US is openly using the export of its military technology to arm-twist foreign governments and dictate their trade policies, this independence from US export restrictions is a key selling point for French fighter jets.
For instance, Turkey was kicked out of the F-35 program to punish Ankara for buying the Russian S-400 air defense system. Recently, President Donald Trump has threatened to alter Canada’s status in NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) if Ottawa dares to buy French or Swedish jets over the F-35.
President Emmanuel Macron has often marketed the Rafale fighter jet as a capable platform that comes with “no strings attached” and is completely independent of US export restrictions.
In defense summits, Macron often highlights that buying Rafale means “no political conditions from Washington” and no risk of U.S. export restrictions blocking future use, upgrades, or re-exports.
In defense-cliché terms, this is also known as ITAR-free status, meaning a product or technology is not subject to the United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
It refers to US federal regulations that control the export of defense systems and technologies listed on the United States Munitions List (USML). In simple terms, any defense platform listed on the USML can not be exported to a foreign country without an explicit export license from the US government.
However, it seems this USP of Rafale is at risk following the sale of shares in the Corrèze-based SME LMB Aerospace to the American giant Loar Group, headquartered in New York State.
Loar announced the completion of its acquisition of LMB Fans & Motors for €367 million (US$ 433 million) in December 2025. The French government approved this sale last week despite strong opposition in the French National Assembly from all opposition parties.
Founded more than 60 years ago, LMB is a global leader in the design and manufacture of customized, high-performance fans and motors. Its fans and brushless motors are widely used across aerospace and defense platforms.
LMB supplies fans for the Rafale fighter jet, French nuclear submarines, Airbus Tiger helicopters, the Leclerc tank, and other army vehicles. The company also supplies American fighter jets, such as the F-15, F-16, and F-18, as well as Apache and Black Hawk helicopters.
LMB also supplies the Naval Group-manufactured nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
The Loar group is a subcontractor for Boeing, Kratos Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, and produces small mechanical components for civil and military aeronautics.
The sale of the company was authorized by the Ministry of the Economy, despite the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) ‘s initial recommendation and strong opposition from almost all opposition political parties.
In fact, it was one of those rare moments in the French National Assembly when both left- and right-wing parties came together to oppose the sale.
Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally (RN), denounced “the sale of a strategic asset at the heart of the French defense industry,” seeing it as “a sale of France.”
Marine Le Pen termed the deal “a true betrayal of national sovereignty,” adding that France would no longer be able to sell Rafale fighter jets “without Washington’s approval, simply because of the presence of an American component in its aircraft.”
Socialist Senator Hélène Conway-Mouret also voiced her criticism. “I am shocked that we are losing all credibility. When we talk about defending French sovereignty and the European economy, if we make these kinds of speeches and then, in reality, give in to a competitor… And it’s not just any company that’s being sold. It directly affects our sovereignty.”
“The Macron government has agreed to cede a jewel of our military industry, LMB Aerospace,” the French Communist Party said, adding, “This company is strategic for national defense. This is treason!”
“Having become entirely US-controlled, it will be subject to the Patriot Act and US extraterritorial laws, particularly the ITAR system. This effectively puts the Rafale in Washington’s hands!” the French Communist Party warned.
However, the Macron government defended its decision, saying it imposed “extremely strict” conditions on the transfer and that it retains a veto over all strategic decisions.
“The State will hold a golden share, a preferred share in LMB’s capital, meaning that any strategic decision can be blocked by the State,” Economy Minister Roland Lescure explained.
The government also imposed the “maintenance of production in Corrèze” and the “respect of contracts with French military companies, without time limit,” Lescure said.
However, notwithstanding the French government’s defense, the US’s acquisition of LMB Aerospace clearly jeopardizes the ITAR-free status of sensitive French military platforms such as Dassault Rafale and Naval Group’s nuclear-powered submarines.
Furthermore, the sale can also impact Rafale’s export success as its ITAR-free status was one of its main selling points.
This independence from US export restrictions is even more critical at a time when the Trump administration has frequently used the export of defense technologies to blackmail and arm-twist foreign governments.
While pitching the Rafale jets to European countries and to countries like Indonesia and India, Macron has often harped on Rafale’s ITAR-free status, underscoring that any future US government cannot jeopardize the maintenance, upgrades, and use of these platforms in a conflict situation.
After the deal, it’s quite possible that LMB Aerospace’s electric fans will eventually fall under ITAR’s regulations. If so, the US federal government will have grounds to veto the export of the Rafale.
French opposition parties are arguing that the sale compromises the sovereignty and independence of the French military industrial complex from US interference, something that Paris has always prided itself on.
For now, the French government’s defense has failed to address these valid concerns. It remains to be seen whether the French government will impose additional conditions and restrictions on the sale agreement, or whether it is already too late for that.
What can be safely said is that US$433 million is too little a price to risk the sovereignty and independence of the French military-industrial complex, built over seven decades at huge cost.
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK.
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