The UAE will buy a record number of Rafale fighters from France, Dassault Aviation reported. In July, the head of the Rostec state corporation, Sergei Chemezov, called this French aircraft an analogue of the promising Su-75.
The corresponding contract, involving the supply of 80 fighters, was signed in the presence of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Muhammad bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyani and French President Emmanuel Macron.
“This contract, which is the largest ever awarded by the French military aviation industry, consolidates a national industrial base that is undoubtedly unique in Europe,” said Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier.
According to The Drive, the total contract value is $ 16 billion, with the first Rafale due to arrive in 2024.
The publication notes that initially the UAE wanted to buy American fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters, which the United States did not dare to do because of Israel's position, as well as Abu Dhabi's cooperation with Beijing. The Drive recalls that earlier Russia offered the UAE cooperation in the creation of a fifth-generation Su-75 single-engine fighter.
In November, Defense Blog, citing Dassault Aviation, reported that Croatia had signed a contract to purchase 12 Rafale fighters to replace the Soviet MiG-21.
