By akademiotoelektronik, 28/01/2023

Rafale: the reasons for a historic breakthrough in the Arabian peninsula

Crown prince Mohammed ben Zayed al-Nahyane, known as "Mbz", filled the Christmas hood of the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron beyond the expectations, on the occasion of his visit to the Gulf countries whichDubai conduit in Doha in Qatar, then in Djeddah in Saudi Arabia.The tour opened through the announcement by the United Arab Emirates of the biggest contract ever won by Dassault for the sale of Rafale, with the announcement of a record order of 80 late hunting planes.The country thus becomes the first customer for the export of the Rafale, ahead of Egypt.

The Ministry of the Armed Forces announced that the contract represented an order of around 14 billion euros.An amount rarely approached in the history of the French military industry, even in French industry in short.And to which the order must be added for 2 billion euros in armaments linked to the fighter plane from Mbda and Safran.Finally, the water added in the hood the purchase for around a billion euros of 12 Caracal combat helicopters (H225M) manufactured by Airbus Helicopters in Marignane.

VIDEO.5 things to know about the burst

Long negotiations

In Dubai, President Macron welcomed this signature by stressing that it was the biggest contract in the history of the French defense industry.Because fighter planes, their armaments, as well as helicopters will be well built in France and are not linked as was the contract of the submarines of Naval Group to Australia to transfers of activity in the countries concerned.

This historical agreement was facilitated by the long relationship which unites France and the United Arab Emirates, linked by a defense cooperation agreement since 1995, explains the host of the Elysée."A relationship that has intensified in recent years in the fight against terrorism and efforts to stabilize the region.All this accelerated the discussions that we had sometimes had for a long time and made it possible to conclude this series of agreements on the military level, "he said.

Questioned by "Les Echos", the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, who is delighted with the benefits for French industry, mentioned a year and a half of intense negotiations to reach this order.The decision of the water to make this mega-contract concretize shows their concern to further strengthen links with France in the face of a certain regional disinterest manifested by the Americans.

Washington's recent hesitations on the delivery of F-35 fighter planes were also able to play in favor of the Rafale."Let's say that the unpredictability of the United States has been able to promote this contract," said the French source high placed.The Emiratis, who currently have 60 mirage of Dassault and 80 F-16 hunters from Lockheed Martin, thus put France at the same level as the United States.

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The United Arab Emirates thus become the seventh state to use the Dassault fighter plane, after India, Egypt, Qatar, Greece, Croatia and of course, France.With this order, the bursts sold for export now exceed French orders, with 242 firm orders.

Dassault has equipped the United Arab Emirates since almost their creation, fifty years ago.The story began with the sale of Mirage 5 and continued in the 1980s, by the sale of Mirage 2000, which will then be modernized at the last Standard Mirage 2.000-9 following long negotiations.This time again, Crown Prince Mohammed Ben Zayed chooses the ultimate.

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The prince wants Rafale F4, the future standard of the plane currently in development for the French army.MBZ offers its pilots the model whose tricolor air army itself will not have in 2025."This F4 standard is a technological leap, an industrial jump and a strategic jump" for Dassault, Safran, Thales, Mbda and their areopage of subcontractors, proclaimed in 2019 the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, during the launch of this newdevelopment phase which was to cost 1.9 billion euros.A sum likely to be lowered, since part of the development costs may be amortized by the Emirati command.

Deliveries of 80 devices will spread from 2027 to 2031.Which guarantees a large load plan for the French aeronautical manufacturer to this horizon.Currently, Dassault Aviation assembles a burst per month, a rate of production close to the minimum required by contract between Dassault and the French State to maintain the production chain - which is 11 burst per year.At the Ministry of the Armed Forces, it is ensured that this monster order of the Emirates will require a ramp -up in the production of Rafale to two or three units per month.Excellent news for the tricolor aeronautical industry, which is currently suffering from the air transport crisis.

It is estimated that the production of a burst, composed of some 300.000 documents produced at 90 % in France, provides work at 7.000 people in France over about two years.Some 400 French companies contribute more or less to the manufacture of the Rafale and its armament.This ranges from heavy goods vehicles in the sector, like Safran, which manufactures engines and optronics, or Thales, which delivers the main electronic equipment, to family SMEs like Ametra or Realmeca, which produce some very specific parts of the planefight.

Serial sales

Right now, the group is completing delivery from India and Qatar of 36 fighter planes.He is also preparing to deliver to Egypt a second batch of 30 planes after the 24 commanded in 2015.Dassault will also have to deliver six new planes to Greece.After a three -year interruption, he wishes to resume his deliveries to France.The latter ordered 192 planes and set itself the aim of holding on the horizon of 2025, 210 devices.With 60 mirage, still in a state to steal at least a decade, their F-16 and ultimately, the 80 Rafale, the United Arab Emirates could be almost better lotis than France during the next decade!

VIDEO -5 things to know about the burst

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