"French arms exports rose 18 percent in 2014, according to a defence ministry report published Tuesday, the country's best export performance for 15 years. France sold €8.2 billion ($9.1 billion) of weapons last year, mainly due to clinching five "large" contracts (defined as more than €200 million)... France's main markets over the period 2010 to 2014 were the Middle East (38 percent), followed by Asia (30 percent)."