Dassault Aviation Secures Major Deal: 42 Rafales En Route to the French Air and Space Force
At the conclusion of December 2023, the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) granted Dassault Aviation a contract for 42 Rafale fighter jets, referred to as “tranche 5”, for the French Air Force (AAE).
“On behalf of Dassault Aviation and the 400 firms engaged in the Rafale initiative, I want to express our gratitude to the Ministry for the Armed Forces, the DGA, and the AAE for their continued trust. We are prepared and eager to apply our expertise as the primary contractor and complex systems integrator to uphold the sovereignty of our nation. This industrial military sovereignty is unique in Europe, ensuring the superiority of our aerial combat capabilities. It also serves as an asset for diplomatic clout and a robust economic advantage in export markets,” remarks Éric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.
The Rafale represents a technological, operational, and commercial triumph that maintains France’s standing at a global echelon in fighter aircraft.
The Rafale has been engineered to update through successive standards, enabling the incorporation of cutting-edge technologies to meet user demands. Standard 4, emphasizing connectivity, is currently in development. Standard 5, which is on the verge of implementation, will introduce enhanced capabilities in collaborative warfare.
The Rafale has achieved notable success in the international market, with seven customer nations to date. The current order backlog, alongside the new “tranche 5” agreement, ensures production activity for the forthcoming decade.
