Title: Dassault Rafale Fighter
Description: News, infos and updates
Description: News, infos and updates
Singa Lion - October 5, 2004 11:43 AM (GMT)
Chirac To Discuss Fighter Jet Orders with Singapore
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, PARIS
French President Jacques Chirac will hold talks with Singapore’s political leaders this week about supplying French Rafale fighter jets to the Asian city state, Chirac’s spokesman said Oct. 4.
The issue would be raised during Chirac’s flying visit to Singapore on Oct. 6, spokesman Jerome Bonnafont told a news conference.
"But we don’t expect the Singaporean government to make a decision before the start of next year," he added.
Chirac is to have a meeting and working dinner Oct. 6 with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, son of Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew, who was appointed Aug. 12.
The French government is the only customer to have purchased the Rafale, manufactured by France’s Dassault Aviation, since its launch in 1988. The French military has several of the jets already and is expected to order another 59 by the end of the year.
France enjoys close economic and military ties with Singapore, which is the only foreign country to have pre-selected the Rafale for possible purchase.
Singapore conducted tests throughout the summer on the French fighter jet and two rival planes, the U.S. F-15 and the Eurofighter, manufactured by a consortium of several European companies. It could order around 20 aircraft, in two batches, in late 2004 or early 2005.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=386186&C=airwar
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, PARIS
French President Jacques Chirac will hold talks with Singapore’s political leaders this week about supplying French Rafale fighter jets to the Asian city state, Chirac’s spokesman said Oct. 4.
The issue would be raised during Chirac’s flying visit to Singapore on Oct. 6, spokesman Jerome Bonnafont told a news conference.
"But we don’t expect the Singaporean government to make a decision before the start of next year," he added.
Chirac is to have a meeting and working dinner Oct. 6 with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, son of Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew, who was appointed Aug. 12.
The French government is the only customer to have purchased the Rafale, manufactured by France’s Dassault Aviation, since its launch in 1988. The French military has several of the jets already and is expected to order another 59 by the end of the year.
France enjoys close economic and military ties with Singapore, which is the only foreign country to have pre-selected the Rafale for possible purchase.
Singapore conducted tests throughout the summer on the French fighter jet and two rival planes, the U.S. F-15 and the Eurofighter, manufactured by a consortium of several European companies. It could order around 20 aircraft, in two batches, in late 2004 or early 2005.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=386186&C=airwar
knightshade - July 1, 2006 12:43 AM (GMT)
French Air Force Adds Home-Grown Fighter to Its Arsenal
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Wed, 28 Jun 2006, 01:30
The French air force took delivery of its first batch of the Frence-made Rafale fighter planes on June 27, with the manufacturer of the long-delayed jet, Dassault Aviation, still looking for the first foreign order for the aircraft.
French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin attended a ceremony at an army base in Saint Dizier, northeast France, where 20 models of the Rafale were delivered.
The Rafale, which is the successor to the Mirage jet, entered service in the French navy in 2004 and 10 models are based on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, The Charles de Gaulle.
French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who attended the ceremony, called the planes “quite exceptional” and the “most comprehensive and most high-performance” fighter jets in the world.
Dassault Rafal Fighter, French Air Force. View More Pictures of Rafale Fighter in our Military Gallery
Referring to the delays suffered by the project since the first Rafale prototype appeared in 1986, she added: “I regret only one thing. It’s that it did not enter the French army at the moment it was conceived.”
The French air force had waited 10 years longer than expected for its first Rafales, a record delay in the industry, mainly because of “budgetary problems”, according to Dassault.
The French government has so far ordered 120 Rafales, of which 82 are earmarked for the air force and 38 for the navy. Under the latest defense spending program, which runs from 2003-2008, the government is expected to order up to 294.
Dassault Aviation has fallen from the heights of its success in the 1980s when it sold its Mirage jets to about 10 countries, particularly in the Middle East.
The market for fighter planes has changed since the beginning of the Rafale project, with the Europe-made Eurofighter aircraft, the U.S.-made F-15 Eagle and the new F-35, as well as Russian models, now competing for national defense budgets.
Dassault has been unable to sell the Rafale to foreign governments and has suffered a series of setbacks since it began marketing the plane abroad in 1994, notably with the Dutch, South Korean and Singaporean governments.
In a high-profile sales pitch, French President Jacques attempted to convince his Saudi Arabian allies to place an order for the plane during an official visit to the country in March.
The Arab nation has still not made a decision, with the trade press suggesting that the defense ministry is ready to buy 48 planes from a foreign manufacturer.
”This plane is a good plane in the opinion of all its pilots, if not the best in its class,” said the chief executive of Dassault Aviation, Charles Edelstenne, in April. “We will export it one day.”
URL of this article:
http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/article_006619.php
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Wed, 28 Jun 2006, 01:30
The French air force took delivery of its first batch of the Frence-made Rafale fighter planes on June 27, with the manufacturer of the long-delayed jet, Dassault Aviation, still looking for the first foreign order for the aircraft.
French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin attended a ceremony at an army base in Saint Dizier, northeast France, where 20 models of the Rafale were delivered.
The Rafale, which is the successor to the Mirage jet, entered service in the French navy in 2004 and 10 models are based on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, The Charles de Gaulle.
French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who attended the ceremony, called the planes “quite exceptional” and the “most comprehensive and most high-performance” fighter jets in the world.
Dassault Rafal Fighter, French Air Force. View More Pictures of Rafale Fighter in our Military Gallery
Referring to the delays suffered by the project since the first Rafale prototype appeared in 1986, she added: “I regret only one thing. It’s that it did not enter the French army at the moment it was conceived.”
The French air force had waited 10 years longer than expected for its first Rafales, a record delay in the industry, mainly because of “budgetary problems”, according to Dassault.
The French government has so far ordered 120 Rafales, of which 82 are earmarked for the air force and 38 for the navy. Under the latest defense spending program, which runs from 2003-2008, the government is expected to order up to 294.
Dassault Aviation has fallen from the heights of its success in the 1980s when it sold its Mirage jets to about 10 countries, particularly in the Middle East.
The market for fighter planes has changed since the beginning of the Rafale project, with the Europe-made Eurofighter aircraft, the U.S.-made F-15 Eagle and the new F-35, as well as Russian models, now competing for national defense budgets.
Dassault has been unable to sell the Rafale to foreign governments and has suffered a series of setbacks since it began marketing the plane abroad in 1994, notably with the Dutch, South Korean and Singaporean governments.
In a high-profile sales pitch, French President Jacques attempted to convince his Saudi Arabian allies to place an order for the plane during an official visit to the country in March.
The Arab nation has still not made a decision, with the trade press suggesting that the defense ministry is ready to buy 48 planes from a foreign manufacturer.
”This plane is a good plane in the opinion of all its pilots, if not the best in its class,” said the chief executive of Dassault Aviation, Charles Edelstenne, in April. “We will export it one day.”
URL of this article:
http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/article_006619.php
strikeeagle - June 9, 2008 02:38 AM (GMT)
As the continued sales of the F-16 make clear, you should never discount a fighter from the previous generation. Now the Rafale is illustrating that you should never give up on a fighter of the latest generation. Lockheed has just received the contract to build 24 Advanced Block 52 F-16C/Ds for delivery to Morocco beginning in 2011, 34 years, 25 customers and 4,400-plus aircraft after the "electric jet" first flew.
Dassault, meanwhile, has struggled unsuccessfully to secure just one export order for the Rafale, most recently losing to the F-16 in Morocco. Now the United Arab Emirates has confirmed preliminary discussions with France on the potential purchase of Rafales to replace its 63 Mirage 2000-9s beginning in 2013. The UAE already operates F-16E/F Block 60s alongside its Mirages, so it's hard to see Dassault losing this one.
Between the UAE and all the fighter competitions that are queuing up around the world, it looks like Dassault will at last secure the long-sought export endorsement, or two, for the Rafale. Pretty though it is, the Rafale will never beat the F-16 on price. But cost is only one factor in a fighter purchase.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defen...2f-1b2b41451b7b
Dassault, meanwhile, has struggled unsuccessfully to secure just one export order for the Rafale, most recently losing to the F-16 in Morocco. Now the United Arab Emirates has confirmed preliminary discussions with France on the potential purchase of Rafales to replace its 63 Mirage 2000-9s beginning in 2013. The UAE already operates F-16E/F Block 60s alongside its Mirages, so it's hard to see Dassault losing this one.
Between the UAE and all the fighter competitions that are queuing up around the world, it looks like Dassault will at last secure the long-sought export endorsement, or two, for the Rafale. Pretty though it is, the Rafale will never beat the F-16 on price. But cost is only one factor in a fighter purchase.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defen...2f-1b2b41451b7b
strikeeagle - October 31, 2008 03:06 PM (GMT)
October 31, 2008: France has ordered another 60 Rafale jet fighters, to be delivered over the next five years. Ultimately, France plans to buy 294, and 60 have been delivered so far. Two years ago, the French Air Force activated its first squadron of Rafale fighters. The navy had received ten navalized Rafales two before that, for service on the nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The first prototype of Rafale was shown in 1986, and the aircraft should have entered service in the late 1990s.
While one of the more modern combat aircraft in the world, development of the Rafale was delayed by technical problems, and shortages of money. Entering development just as the Cold War ended meant that there was little enthusiasm to spend billions on an aircraft that would face no real opposition. But, facing the need to eventually replace all those Mirage fighters, development did get restarted, creating an aircraft superior to the American F-15s and F-16s, very similar to the F-18F, but inferior to the F-22 and F-35.
The Eurofighter was another competitor for scarce export sales. By 2006, the French armed forces have only ordered 120 Rafales (82 for the air force, 38 for the navy), although eventually over 300 are expected to be ordered. The 28 ton aircraft sell for about $100 million each, and so far, there have been no export orders.
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htproc/ar...s/20081031.aspx
While one of the more modern combat aircraft in the world, development of the Rafale was delayed by technical problems, and shortages of money. Entering development just as the Cold War ended meant that there was little enthusiasm to spend billions on an aircraft that would face no real opposition. But, facing the need to eventually replace all those Mirage fighters, development did get restarted, creating an aircraft superior to the American F-15s and F-16s, very similar to the F-18F, but inferior to the F-22 and F-35.
The Eurofighter was another competitor for scarce export sales. By 2006, the French armed forces have only ordered 120 Rafales (82 for the air force, 38 for the navy), although eventually over 300 are expected to be ordered. The 28 ton aircraft sell for about $100 million each, and so far, there have been no export orders.
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htproc/ar...s/20081031.aspx
saver111 - February 12, 2009 08:54 AM (GMT)
080521-N-5283L-122 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (May 21, 2008) Two French Raphael Jets perform launch and recovery operations from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ricardo J. Reyes (Released)
080521-N-2984R-077 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (May 21, 2008) A French Navy Rafale jet launches from the flight deck of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) during carrier launch and recovery qualifications. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ricardo J. Reyes (Released)
080521-N-2984R-150 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (May 21, 2008) A French Navy Rafale jet approaches the flight deck as it prepares to execute a touch and go on the flight deck of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ricardo J. Reyes (Released)
080521-N-2984R-157 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (May 21, 2008) A French Navy Rafale jet approaches the flight deck as it prepares to execute a touch and go on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ricardo J. Reyes (Released)
080521-N-2984R-066 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (May 21, 2008) A plane director assigned to Air Department's V-1 division guides a French Navy Rafale jet to one of the catapults on the flight deck aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ricardo J. Reyes (Released)
080521-N-2984R-072 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (May 21, 2008) A French Navy Rafale jet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) during carrier launch and recovery qualifications. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ricardo J. Reyes (Released)
http://informationdissemination.blogspot.c...lk-in-2008.html