A few news about the Rafale deal with EAU air force.
- the rafale you saw during Sarkozy's visit were actually on their way back from Afghanistan for what i know, and were here to attest the fact that France will have 5 to 6 combat planes on Al Dhafra base from now on. It will not necessarily be rafales, but it was good for the picture, and our president loves pictures...
- the deal is far to be closed. As I said a few weeks ago, EAU want to get rid of the mirages 2000-9, and it will be france's job to sell them on the occasion market which is not that easy in this economy.
- the EAU have not bought the rafale yet for a few reasons. First, there are discussion on price, which is not surprising. But the real problem is that they want planes much more sophisticated than the one operating in the french AF today. Current rafales are standard-1 and standard-2 rafales. Dassault is supposed to deliver standard-3 rafales by 2012. Actually the EAU want a plane ever more sophisticated (they talk about a -4 model), just as they did with mirages-9 (better than the ones in the french AF) and with leclerc tanks later (same thing). They want active antenae, more countermeasure electronics, a plane much more stealthy, an improved engine power, and the ability to carry the new air to air missile "meteor".
My analysis is that they will buy rafales in the end, but not now, and maybe more expensive than expected in the first place. Rumors say 6-8 bn euros, it will probably be 8-10 bn euros in the end. They are ready to pay the price, but they want top aircrafts. We can't blame them, with Iran that close. It's a real challenge for Dassault, because spending so much R&D to develop a plane, for only 60 pieces, is virtually suicidal. Especially since they won't sell these -4 models to the french AF that just can't afford them.
I'll keep in touch if I have news...
Excuse my english, it's late over here and I should probably be sleeping
- the rafale you saw during Sarkozy's visit were actually on their way back from Afghanistan for what i know, and were here to attest the fact that France will have 5 to 6 combat planes on Al Dhafra base from now on. It will not necessarily be rafales, but it was good for the picture, and our president loves pictures...
- the deal is far to be closed. As I said a few weeks ago, EAU want to get rid of the mirages 2000-9, and it will be france's job to sell them on the occasion market which is not that easy in this economy.
- the EAU have not bought the rafale yet for a few reasons. First, there are discussion on price, which is not surprising. But the real problem is that they want planes much more sophisticated than the one operating in the french AF today. Current rafales are standard-1 and standard-2 rafales. Dassault is supposed to deliver standard-3 rafales by 2012. Actually the EAU want a plane ever more sophisticated (they talk about a -4 model), just as they did with mirages-9 (better than the ones in the french AF) and with leclerc tanks later (same thing). They want active antenae, more countermeasure electronics, a plane much more stealthy, an improved engine power, and the ability to carry the new air to air missile "meteor".
My analysis is that they will buy rafales in the end, but not now, and maybe more expensive than expected in the first place. Rumors say 6-8 bn euros, it will probably be 8-10 bn euros in the end. They are ready to pay the price, but they want top aircrafts. We can't blame them, with Iran that close. It's a real challenge for Dassault, because spending so much R&D to develop a plane, for only 60 pieces, is virtually suicidal. Especially since they won't sell these -4 models to the french AF that just can't afford them.
I'll keep in touch if I have news...
Excuse my english, it's late over here and I should probably be sleeping