ISLAMABAD, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) and a French company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on upgrading the capabilities of 122 mm rockets used by the Pakistani armed forces, local TV channel reported Wednesday.

    The MOU was signed on behalf of POF by its chairman Shujaat Zamir Dar and by David Quancard, president of Roxel company on the sidelines of the Defense Systems and Equipment International Exhibition which opened in East London Tuesday, according to the private TV ARY News.

    The contract when materialized will help Pakistan armed forces to enhance the firing range of the present stock of 122 mm rockets in its arsenal from its current range of 20 km to 40 km and beyond.

    The French company chief sales executive Francis Rodriguez said the present Pakistani rockets are equipped with the Russian technology and are quite outdated and once actual agreement is signed with his company, the induction of new technology will not only increase the range but make the weapon more lethal and effective.

    Roxel company is a leading French company dealing in rocket technology.

    Rodriguez said since the induction of a democratic government in Pakistan, its relations with France has deepened and both President Asif Ali Zardari and Nicholas Sarkozy are keen to see that these are further consolidated in all fields particularly in the defense sector.

    France is already a major defense supplier to Pakistan including Mirage warplanes and submarines and other equipment for its forces.