France orders a dozen more Rafale fighters
Twelve Rafale F3Rs for French Air and Space Force to replace the same number of aircraft being sold to Greece.
The French Air and Space Force is to receive 12 new-build Dassault Rafale F3R multi-role fighters, to replace an equivalent number of aircraft being sold to Greece as part of an 18-aircraft deal.
‘The Directorate General for Armaments (DGA) will be launching the first orders from Dassault Aviation, Safran and Thales in February,’ the French MoD announced on 29 January.
Delivery of the 12 new Rafales to the Air and Space Force is expected in 2025. It will conclude a plan (under the 2019-2025 Military Programming Law) to order 28 new multi-role fighters, to be produced from December 2022.
‘This additional order will also ensure the maintenance of the Rafale production chain until December 2025 and the sustainability of its industrial ecosystem, weakened by the [COVID-19] crisis in the civil aeronautics sector,’ the MoD added
Although the MoD did not disclose the value of the latest deal, Shephard Defence Insight describes a unit price of $80 million for the aircraft ordered under the 2019-2025 plan, giving an overall cost of $960 million.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Air Warfare
-
![“Gloves are off” as US Defense Secretary memo calls for sweeping drone procurement reform]()
“Gloves are off” as US Defense Secretary memo calls for sweeping drone procurement reform
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has promised to usher in a new era of “military drone dominance”.
-
![Norway cleared for possible $2.6 billion HH-60W helicopter FMS]()
Norway cleared for possible $2.6 billion HH-60W helicopter FMS
The possible sale for nine HH-60W by the US government could make Norway the first Foreign Military Sale customer for the rescue and combat helicopter and add to the country’s ongoing acquisition of Sikorsky-made helicopters.
-
![Bell selected over Boeing to build DARPA SPRINT X-Plane]()
Bell selected over Boeing to build DARPA SPRINT X-Plane
The programme first began in 2023 with Bell and Boeing’s concepts progressing to Phase 1B, in which testing has been carried out over the last year.
-
![National Audit Office report highlights major delays in UK’s F-35 programme]()
National Audit Office report highlights major delays in UK’s F-35 programme
The report discloses that while the capability provided by the F-35 is superior to previous UK aircraft, delays from the UK Ministry of Defence on the programme have significantly impacted the country’s warfighting capabilities.
-
![Boeing E-7A still in South Korean AEW&C competition, despite dropout reports]()
Boeing E-7A still in South Korean AEW&C competition, despite dropout reports
The E-7A is one of three aircraft submitted for the South Korean AEW&C II competition, which seeks to acquire four more aircraft of the type for its air force by 2028.
