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There seems to be some rumour that Qatar has also signed for options on
another 36 Rafales, which would bring the total to 72 Rafales if Qatar exercises all options...
Or is this a case of "lost in translation"?
http://www.janes.com/article/76230/qata ... e-fighters
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https://www.defensenews.com/global/mide ... -vehicles/
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https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... er-443973/
http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2017/12 ... taires.phpThe agreement, which adds to Qatar’s previous buy of 24 Rafales signed in May 2015, was penned during a visit to the Gulf state by French President Emmanuel Macron. While the initial 2015 contract was valued at USD7.02 billion (including weapons), no figure was given for this follow-on buy.
Of the first 24 Rafales, 18 are to be single-seat and six are to be twin-seat variants. It has not yet been disclosed as to which variants will make up the exercised options, but assuming that the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) does not plan to use the twin-seat aircraft in an operational capacity (as the Egyptians appear to have done), it will likely only consist of single-seaters.
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https://translate.google.com/translate? ... edit-text=
Qatar orders 12 additional Rafale
Update the 07/12/2017 at 21:47 /
Qatar has decided to buy 12 additional Rafale.
Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation *, signed the contract in Doha, in the presence of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron.
Doha has indeed decided to lift the option taken on May 4, 2015, as part of a first contract for 24 Rafale. In total, the Qatari air force ordered 36 French fighter jets in Paris.
Dassault Aviation plans to deliver the first Rafale in Qatar from late 2018-early 2019. The aircraft ordered is a Rafale F3R - the standard of the French Air Force - with several specific options.
A total order of 72 Rafale?
"This new agreement was built on the privileged relationship that exists between the two countries and on the determination shared by the Ministry of Defense of Qatar and Dassault Aviation * to go further together," said Eric Trappier . The aircraft manufacturer and its partners "thank the Qatar authorities for giving them the opportunity to strengthen their cooperation by reiterating their confidence in the Rafale's qualities and expressing their satisfaction with the smooth execution of the main contract", Dassault Aviation said in a statement.
In the wake, Qatar has taken a new option for 36 more Rafale. Which, if this option is lifted, would bring to 72 aircraft its total order.
Qatar is a loyal customer of the manufacturer to which it has purchased, over the years, Mirage F1, Alpha Jet and Mirage 2000. The Qatari Air Force now has 12 Mirage 2000-5, delivered in the 1990s, which took part in operations in Libya alongside France, as part of the international coalition in 2011. The new contract also strengthens the strategic partnership between Paris and Doha set up in the framework of the intergovernmental agreement of bilateral cooperation signed in May 2015.
Good news for French industry
This is great news for the French armaments industry. And, first and foremost, for the GIE Rafale, which includes Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of the Rafale, Thales, the supplier of its electronic equipment as well as Safran, its engine manufacturer. But also for the 500 SMEs and 7000 employees working on the Rafale program.
With this new contract signed this morning in Doha, the fighter plane, flagship of the French armies,
accumulates 96 orders for export,
with three customers: Egypt, Qatar and India.
* The Dassault group owns Figaro