The agreement to buy the versatile Airbus Caracal helicopters is part of a 2.5bn package of deals that the two countries agreed in October 2015.

'With this deal, Kuwait further strengthens the strategic partnership which has bound together our two countries for several decades, while we are currently engaged side-by-side in the fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria,' said Le Drian.

Kuwait's army will use 24 of the helicopters mainly for search and rescue missions and for transport purposes, while the Kuwait National Guard will operate the remaining six helicopters.