UAE Buy 80 Rafale

[ORAC]

Twitter

Macron on Friday signed an historic €17 billion (£14.5bn) defence deal with the United Arab Emirates, in what experts said was part of an effort for France to replace Britain as the European powerhouse in the Gulf.

The deal was announced at the start of a two-day trip to the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia as Mr Macron held talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed (pictured below)……

Friday’s Rafale deal - which was over a decade in the making - also deepens existing security ties between France and the UAE at a time when diplomats say US allies in the Middle East are questioning the commitment of the United States following its exit from Afghanistan.

The deal with the French is widely seen as a signal of impatience as the US Congress hesitates on approving a separate deal to sell F-35s to UAE amid concerns about its relationship with China, including the prevalence of Huawei 5G technology in the country.

It includes the purchase of 80 Rafale warplanes, 12 Airbus helicopters and missiles - the largest-ever overseas weapons sale…..

The first French warplanes will be delivered from 2027, say officials, and would create some 7,000 jobs.

France has particularly deep ties to the UAE, where it has a naval base and French warplanes and personnel also are stationed in a major facility outside the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi.

Mr Macron travelled there shortly after his 2017 election to inaugurate Louvre Abu Dhabi, built under a $1.2 billion (£903.8m) agreement to share the name and art of the world-famous museum in Paris. On Friday, the contract was extended another 10 years to 2047…..

[Mr Mac]

Orac
Perhaps the UK could sell them some cheese Sorry you are still off JB.
Cheers
Mr Mac

[West Coast]

Can AUKUS now be used as a verb, as in the French got AUKUS’d on the Rafale sale as well?

[mopardave]

I know this thread is about Rafale but does the Typhoon have a healthy order book? Rafale does seem to be doing rather well.

[ASRAAMTOO]

Notwithstanding any comparison beteween the relevant merits of the two aircraft, the involvement of the UAE in Yemen would cause political difficulties in the UK. Particularly when the UK press got on the case. The French press generally seem more concerned with the preservation of jobs and national infrastructure than we do.

[Martin the Martian]

Originally Posted by mopardave

I know this thread is about Rafale but does the Typhoon have a healthy order book? Rafale does seem to be doing rather well.

In terms of export sales:

Rafale: Croatia 12 ex-French aircraft, Egypt 54 (inc.30 on order), Greece 6 (with 12 ex-French aircraft), India 36, Qatar 36, UAE 80 on order for a total of 212 new build and 18 refurbished aircraft.

Typhoon: Austria 15, Kuwait 28, Oman 12, Qatar 24, Saudi Arabia 72 (MoU for another 48 but no order yet) for a total of 151 confirmed sales.

[air pig]

Originally Posted by Martin the Martian

In terms of export sales:

Rafale: Croatia 12 ex-French aircraft, Egypt 54 (inc.30 on order), Greece 6 (with 12 ex-French aircraft), India 36, Qatar 36, UAE 80 on order for a total of 212 new build and 18 refurbished aircraft.

Typhoon: Austria 15, Kuwait 28, Oman 12, Qatar 24, Saudi Arabia 72 (MoU for another 48 but no order yet) for a total of 151 confirmed sales.

The French are not averse to paying 'facilitation' fees, which is illegal in the UK.

[The Helpful Stacker]

Originally Posted by air pig

The French are not averse to paying 'facilitation' fees, which is illegal in the UK.

In the UK the term "douceurs" is preferred.

The Al-Yamamah deal featured a fair few of them apparently.

[ASRAAMTOO]

Originally Posted by test1234

How would that be different to the use of Typhoon and its associated weapons by Saudis in Yemen? Genuine question.

Possibly because the Saudis had ordered the jets before the pictures and videos of the damage on the ground in Yemen hit the western press/TV

[Mr Mac]

Originally Posted by The Helpful Stacker

In the UK the term "douceurs" is preferred.

The Al-Yamamah deal featured a fair few of them apparently.

The Helpful Striker
Many filled boots on that deal, both in UK and in the Gulf 🙂
Cheers
Mr Mac

[Kovy]

Originally Posted by Martin the Martian

In terms of export sales:

Rafale: Croatia 12 ex-French aircraft, Egypt 54 (inc.30 on order), Greece 6 (with 12 ex-French aircraft), India 36, Qatar 36, UAE 80 on order for a total of 212 new build and 18 refurbished aircraft.

tiny correction :
New : 54+6+36+36+80 = 212 (+6 more confirmed but not yet signed for Greece)
Refurbished : 12+12 = 24

[Asturias56]

"Many filled boots on that deal, both in UK and in the Gulf 🙂"

The CIty of London has a long record of facilitating all sorts of financial deals - some of them are even legit

[chopper2004]

Dubai Air Shows

Thing is though over the 4 x Dubai Air Shows I have attended, the Rafale has performed solo and kinda wows the crowd. I have only seen one Typhoon appearence and that was in 2017 show (my pics below) and got to sit inside it lol as it made an appearence only for one day only on the second day.




If I read correctly the UAE deal also includes the H225M ?? Back when I attended my first Dubai Air Show 2015 I saw their AS532U with AM39 Exocet (my pics below)





SO figured it be a nutral progression and was surpirsed they had not bought any H225M in recent years. Mind you last months DAS 2021, the Airbus Hellicopter chalet had a Kuwaiti Air Force H225M (my pics below) so wondered if that would sway the UAE into buying some ?




cheers