grim news for the Raf not going to help it anywhere else as France just cannot seem to shift the the Raf anywhere, not even in a Francophone nation
Rafale loses out again?
- Thread starter Musashi_kenshin
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Musashi_kenshin
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- #102
Morocco would only buy French trains if it had a requirement for them. Either they're favouring France over other bidders, or they're planning to expedite the purchase to make up for the lost Rafale sales.
As you said, it's not official yet. But the optimism in the French media has turned to doom-and-gloom.
If the Morocco deal falls through it'll be Taiwan or nothing (as I said earlier in this thread), as least in terms of significant sales.
what about insignificant sales? 18 planes isn't much unless its launch order
Musashi_kenshin
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- #104
Ok, I guess you wouldn't see an order for much less. So maybe it's Taiwan or nothing if Morocco doesn't go for them.
Mr Ignorant
New Member
Going back to the main point, I don't think so. The Rafale is extremely expensive and for the same amount of money, you get more bang for your buck with the F16, Mig 29 or even SU 30 Fighter.
I think the Moroccans should just stick to buying Russian planes. THe parts would be easily obtainable and they can maintain it on the cheap for the next 40 years.
[Pedantic mode]
They can't stick to doing it until they've started doing it. Morocco has always bought French or American fighters up to now.
[/Pedantic mode]
Scorpion82
New Member
And there I see the problem. The Rafale might be expensive in purchase but it's cheaper to operate and has a longer life span than the MiG-29 or Su-30.
so Brazils out then they are the only contry i can think of a part from taiwan who would be able to afford a decent number of Raf's.
How about kuwait would they wan't Raf's to replece their F15.
dam it a struggle trying to find any contires which would be intersted in the Raf
. the EF realy took the Raf thunder
Brazil isn't out yet. They'll need something to replace their F-5Es. The upgrade will only delay things.so Brazils out then they are the only contry i can think of a part from taiwan who would be able to afford a decent number of Raf's.
How about kuwait would they wan't Raf's to replece their F15.
dam it a struggle trying to find any contires which would be intersted in the Raf
the EF realy took the Raf thunder
Scorpion82
New Member
The Swiss is another possibility though it is said that they prefer the Eurofighter (at least rumours from the Swiss say so). Bulgaria and if I'm not mistaken Denmark still look at the Rafale as well and don't forget about India.
To make Rafale commercially viable and fund the next step of its development, the Indian order is probably the only way forward now for Dassault.
Potential deals with Brazil, Libya and other traditional Dassault export customers would be unlikely to provide the necessary cash funding for serious further development.
I think France's new defence minister Herve Morin summed up the wows of Rafale when he described it this last September as "sophisticated and formidable, but difficult to sell..."
Potential deals with Brazil, Libya and other traditional Dassault export customers would be unlikely to provide the necessary cash funding for serious further development.
I think France's new defence minister Herve Morin summed up the wows of Rafale when he described it this last September as "sophisticated and formidable, but difficult to sell..."
No, the F-15s and the F-16s did. :mad
Actually our air force officers never did. More so now, when we are about to sign a contract for the production of 4 french corvettes at "Fleet Arsenal" in Varna and as an offset program we will produce hulls for the future exports of the Gowind class. Considering that our government is much more keen to establish strong ties with Washington or with Berlin. Actually one competition here was already won by the Super Hornet, but another one is to be held in a couple of years. Whatever we choose to buy we will be able to do so not sooner than at least 5-6 years. Main cmpetitors are the F-16C-Blk 50/52+, F/A-18E/F and EF-2000. So, sorry, but the door is closed for the Rafale here, in a way to my dislike. I almost forgot refurbished MiG-29 (already in service) and second-hand F-16MLUs are also options.
Scorpion82
New Member
The Gripen is considered as well. Hasn't Dassault received a RfP for the Rafale? I might mix up things here, but I thought the Rafale was in the competition as well.
Indeed, thanks for the update. I had the funny feeling I am missing something. We just received an option to rent Gripens the way the czechs did, but I would hate to fill that thread with off-topic. So I would only point out that the guys from Dassault haven't promoted the Rafale at all here with us. Whatever sugestions there may have been they have all been about the Mirage 2000, actually the same way they entered the polish fighter contest with the M2000-5PL. Our aviation forum will be augmented by an english section very soon and you will be able to get more info.
That must be out of date, since Dassault stopped production of the Mirage 2000 early last year, & used M2Ks are like hens teeth.
Exactly. It's out of production because they lost the polish contest, the hungarians and the czechs rented Gripens and they realized that even if they win our contest or the romanian one that isn't enough to make sence of possible production.
Your contract & the Romanian one were too far in the future to be taken into account when the line was closed down. The decision of India to change their new fighter requirement from something closely matching the M2K to something which it would need major changes to meet, & delay purchase for a few years, was what finally killed it. There were no other potential orders on the horizon, & neither Dassault nor the French government had money to burn keeping the line intact & idle.
How long before the line of Rafale will be closed?
For that I know, french gouvernment wants 293 Rafale for the armed forces. How many Rafale were already produced til today?
Reducing the production rate will permit to keep the line opened for extra time.
Keeping the line opened for more time will rise the unit price of the following Rafale?