Rafale Sale to Saudi Arabia

[Lonewolf_50]

(Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia is considering the purchase of 54 Rafale fighter jets from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation SA, according to a report in La Tribune.

The Gulf kingdom has asked the company to submit a proposal for a potential deal by Nov. 10, the newspaper said, citing people it didn’t identify. The country has never before ordered French military planes. Dassault Aviation and Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries declined to comment.

Dassault Aviation is treading carefully around the potential sale because of the Royal Saudi Air Force’s historic reliance on F-15 jets made by Boeing and planes from the Eurofighter partners that include BAE Systems Plc, Germany-based Airbus Defense and Space and Leonardo SpA, La Tribune said.

Riyadh has been the top export customer for the Eurofighter in the past, but Germany suspended approvals for weapons sales to the oil-rich state after the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. They had been in talks for an order for 48 jets.

Not sure if I should have posted this in the thread about the Typhoon sale being in jeopardy, but as I noted there, if the Typhoon can't be sold another vendor will offer up a proposal ...

[Asturias56]

Saudis using orders for political reasons as ever

[DaveReidUK]

Is there ever a foreign military customer who doesn't use an order as leverage ?

[melmothtw]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

Saudis using orders for political reasons as ever

Let's face it, they didn't order the Tornado ADV for its superior capabilities.

[Paying Guest]

..... they largely decided to order the ADV because it had a 2 person crew - one to pole the jet, one to operate the weapons system. This division they were comfortable with.

[BEagle]

From elsewhere:

In 1985, the UK and Saudi governments signed an initial Memorandum of Understanding, that led to a series of contracts for combat aircraft and a variety of other military equipment and support services over the period 1985-93. Allegations of corruption surfaced almost immediately, but investigations were thwarted until a large cache of documents was leaked in the early 2000s. An investigation by the UK government’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) uncovered ‘commission’ payments, or bribes, totaling as much as GBP 6 billion paid by BAE Systems to members of the Saudi royal family and others. A key recipient of these payments, including over GBP 1 billion, was Prince Bandar bin Sultan, son of the Saudi Crown Prince. However, the SFO investigation was shut down by the British government in 2006, under heavy pressure from the Saudis.

In GW1, Saudi Tornado ADV back seaters referred to themselves as 'Tornado co-pilots'. Was it loss of face to be a navigator?

[iRaven]

They weren’t bright enough to be called Navigators…

[Commando Cody]

Saudis have also said that the Typhoons they want to order must come with ECRS.Mk2 and the Large Area Display. The former is already going to be in UK Typhoons, not sure if the latter is a definite go for the UK.


...and as Bloomberg said, there's the German issue.

[golder]

Originally Posted by Commando Cody

...and as Bloomberg said, there's the German issue.

I would also add CAATSA, putting Russia out of the picture for most. It has been a windfall for France.

[Grimweasel]

France doesn't have a National Security Bill that's as wide open to interpretation as driving a pedal cycle through the Grand Canyon LOL

I can only imagine BAE lawyers having kittens esp now that Saudi has pivoted to the BRICS and German Greens said 'Nein!' to WEF Interloper Rishi!!!!

[Martin the Martian]

As I recall, France and Germany are co-operating on their future combat aircraft. Wrangling over exports between those two might prove to be interesting.

[sandiego89]

Originally Posted by Paying Guest

..... they largely decided to order the ADV because it had a 2 person crew - one to pole the jet, one to operate the weapons system. This division they were comfortable with.

And well paid contractors to wash the windows, change the oil, run the training program, take out the trash....because the Prince's cousin can't be bothered to worry about such small stuff (or fly in the dark). The Saudi way....

[Paying Guest]

..... absolutely!

[Bob Viking]

A new development

The Times is reporting that Germany is currently considering lifting the ban on sale of Typhoons to Saudi (money trumps morals!) and also that they are looking to join Tempest and ditch France as a partner in their future combat aircraft quest.

BV

[unmanned_droid]

<holds head in hands>

[rattman]

Originally Posted by Martin the Martian

As I recall, France and Germany are co-operating on their future combat aircraft. Wrangling over exports between those two might prove to be interesting.

Not according to todays news, claims germany is looking to withdraw and its also going to greenlight the eurofighter sale (the times article seems to be not loading)
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0...1-bff63f5f7486

[Lonewolf_50]

Interesting development, but I wonder if it won't change again? Seems that there's a bit of maneuvering going on here. Changing energy states ....