Expal and Rafaut team up for airborne systems
Spanish Air Force single-seater and two-seater Eurofighter Typhoon. (Copyright: Eurofighter/Geoffrey Lee)
Spanish company Expal signed a teaming agreement with French aerospace and defence engineering firm Rafaut during the FEINDEF defence exhibition in Madrid on 3-5 November.
The two companies agreed a ‘joint market approach for some international sales on a range of airborne systems products and mission solutions’, Expal announced.
It added that the teaming agreement will leverage expertise of both companies with aircraft such as the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon.
‘In particular, the two companies wish to intensify their collaboration on the FCAS (Future Combat Air System) programme, which will be a structuring factor for the European aeronautics industry in the coming decades,’ Expal added.
The teaming agreement will also see Rafaut and Expal act as a commercial partner with the defence procurement agencies for France (DGA) and Spain (DGAM in Spain).
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
NHI’s NH90: Europe’s multirole helicopter strives to maintain relevance (updated 2026)
Developed in response to NATO’s needs, NHIndustries’ NH90 remains a cornerstone of European and Middle Eastern fleets – with upgrades planned to extend and improve the capabilities of the versatile and capable platform.
-
April Drone Digest: Why militaries are rethinking high-end drones
From France to Romania, there has been a clear shift away from expensive, vulnerable MALE UAVs in April towards lower-cost, expendable systems. Hard lessons from Ukraine and Iran have driven this shift.
-
Bundeswehr launches loitering munition spending spree with $2.16 billion unassigned
After months of delays, Rheinmetall has inked a €300 million deal with Germany for its FV-014 drone this week as part of a wider framework contract worth €2.4 billion for loitering munition procurement. Shephard looks at how the as-yet-unawarded funds could be spent.
-
Can laser-guided rockets and light aircraft help tackle the CUAS cost-curve?
While the move to integrate lower-cost missiles onto more combat aircraft is long overdue, there is also an opportunity for cheaper turboprop platforms to perform CUAS roles.
-
Industry makes strides on CCA programme as USAF makes nearly $1 billion funding request
Anduril’s YFQ-44A has successfully undergone USAF experimental testing for Increment 1, while an engine has officially been selected for Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A – a potential candidate for Increment 2 of the air force’s CCA programme.