France is in the process of negotiating initial foreign sales of the Dassault Rafale combat jet, according to information that emerged on June 18^th.

Now in service with both the French Air Force and the French Navy, the Rafale has, so far, failed to win any export orders whatsoever, although it is one of the types in the running to fill the Indian Air Force’s requirement for no less than 126 new fighters.

Speaking to Europe 1 Radio, French President Nicholas Sarkozy’s General Secretary, Claude Gueant, confirmed the prospect of imminent sales for the jet.

“Finally, after 23 years, we are going to sell some Rafale”, he said.

“France is in negotiations and we have strong hopes of selling about one hundred Rafale.”

United Arab Emirates, Libya Interested

Mr Gueant provided no information on which countries would be acquiring the type. However, both Libya and the United Arab Emirates have shown interest in it, with the latter country having expressed keenness in recent days.

In December 2007, sources in France raised the possibility of Libya purchasing 14 Rafales in a combined deal alongside 35 new helicopters and other weaponry.

Typhoon Consortium

France was originally a member of the consortium that went on to develop the Eurofighter Typhoon, but withdrew early in the programme to forge ahead with its own design. The prototype Rafale A first flew in 1986, with the first examples delivered in 2000.

Mirage Replacement

If purchased by the United Arab Emirates, the Rafale would replace another French-built type within its inventory, the Dassault Mirage 2000.

Another operator of the Mirage is Brazil. It, too, has recently been linked to a Rafale purchase, according to comments made by the country’s defence minister earlier this year.

Source – Armed Forces International’s Aviation Expert

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