Belgium rejected the French offer for Rafale

[Thunder]

France has promised to Belgium a compensation of 20 billion Euros if the nation will buy the Rafale fighter jet from the French aircraft manufacturer Dassault. Belgium has not considered it a formal response to its tender.
http://bit.ly/2CwCPIY

[FredL]

As far as I know and after checking the main Belgian medias, no information in the Belgian News, those days, about the French offer being already officially rejected.
Of course we may consider that the chances for Dassault to win the race are low.
But I think that it is too early to consider, at this moment, that the offer has already been turned down.
The issue is - in Belgium especially - a political one as the French speaking side of the country doesn't sound to consider F-35 in a very positive way.

[Thunder]

As far as I know and after checking the main Belgian medias, no information in the Belgian News, those days, about the French offer being already officially rejected.
Of course we may consider that the chances for Dassault to win the race are low.
But I think that it is too early to consider, at this moment, that the offer has already been turned down.
The issue is - in Belgium especially - a political one as the French speaking side of the country doesn't sound to consider F-35 in a very positive way.

The French proposal was rejected, not the aircraft. If French will send a formal offer following the right procedure, Belgium will evaluate the Rafale. Several local online newspapers and european aviation websites posted the news. You can check for example the one at the link https://t.co/PSWZIKLqfn

I think that the Rafale has good chances to win, it is a proven multirole fighter and cheaper than the F-35. Dassault has subsidiaries in Belgium and often the industrial impact is crucial for choice. The Eurofighter has just acquired a limited air-to-ground capability, Sweden declined Belgian RFI in June 2017... It's just my opinion, we'll see in the middle of this year.

[Alpha Kilo One]

They can as well buy a mix of American and French hardware. They did it before. Certainly the JFF is that expensive..... Rafale could well improve total numbers of aircraft. And ....... Is already proven.

[Hornet69]

What I understand for the Belgium bid replacing the F16 there are only two aircraft left to choose from. F35 Lightning II and the Typhoon. Choice will not be that difiicult I think as the F35 is the latest generation fighter, has stealth capabilities and has itself proven during exercises in the USA. They are even deployed outside teh USA to Asia.

[Thunder]

What I understand for the Belgium bid replacing the F16 there are only two aircraft left to choose from. F35 Lightning II and the Typhoon. Choice will not be that difiicult I think as the F35 is the latest generation fighter, has stealth capabilities and has itself proven during exercises in the USA. They are even deployed outside teh USA to Asia.

Currently only 2 companies submitted on offer: BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin, but the deadline to send to Belgian Government an offer was set for mid-februray 2018.

[Trabanti]

With more and more synergy between NATO allies, like sharing processes and even platforms (not yet mentioning a combined air force), the choice will likely to be influenced by the ability to integrate and share with its closest allies. Just like with the F-16. There it seems the odds are in favor of the F-35 at the moment.

However, this might be more something for Praathuis or another forum, not for the Military News itself.

[pjotrtje]

However, this might be more something for Praathuis or another forum, not for the Military News itself.

Indeed, I feel a 'why didn't they choose the Gripen: much less cost so more units, so a muuuuch better product and better looking'-kind of discussion coming up...
On topic: the Rafale offer was made outside the required legally binding format and framework, and considering it in the competition in this way would expose the Belgian government to legal ramifications. As such, it had to be rejected. It does not say anything about the qualities of the weapons system.

[Stratofreighter]

Praethuys
Yep, zie
http://forum.scramble.nl/viewtopic.php? ... 8&start=30
en terug...