TSAMTO, December 6. France will supply the UAE Air Force and air defense with Rafale F4 fighters, H-225M Karakal helicopters and ammunition worth about 16 billion. euro ($18 billion).
According to the French company Dassault Aviation, on December 3 in Dubai, in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a contract was signed on December 3 for the supply of 80 Rafale F4 fighters produced by Dassault Aviation to the UAE Air Force and air defense.
The document was signed by Tarek Abdul Rahim Al Hosani, Director General of the Tawazun Economic Council, responsible for the acquisition of PVN, and Eric Trapier, Head and Chief Executive Officer of Dassault Aviation.
The contract for the supply of Rafale fighters was signed during the two-day tour of the French President to the Persian Gulf countries. Emmanuel Macron also visited Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
In addition to the purchase of Dassault Aviation fighters, the UAE Armed Forces signed a contract for the purchase of 12 H-225M "Caracal" military helicopters from Airbus, which will be assembled at the enterprise in Marignane.
As noted, the agreement on the purchase of Rafale fighters is the result of more than 45 years of cooperation between Dassault Aviation and the United Arab Emirates as part of the supply of Mirage family fighters. Two years ago, the company began to modernize the Mirage-2000-9 fighters of the UAE Air Force. Currently, about 44 aircraft of this type remain in service.
As stated, "the UAE Air Force will become the first foreign buyer of the Rafale F4 version of the aircraft, which will provide them with a tool to guarantee sovereignty and independence."
The F4 standard provides for equipping Rafale with an improved RBE2 radar with an AFAR with electronic scanning, a TALIOS target designation container, a Reco-NG reconnaissance container, upgraded communications equipment, an improved helmet-mounted display system, and a new engine control unit developed by Thales. The aircraft will be able to use new weapons, including MICA NG (Next-Generation) air-to-air UR and AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire) air-to-ground modular ammunition weighing 1000 kg. In addition to software and hardware improvements, the F4 update will include a satellite antenna and a new self-diagnosis system. The F4 standard aircraft is currently undergoing flight tests.
It is assumed that deliveries will be made in the period from 2027 to 2031. The French government estimates the deal at 16 billion. Euro ($18 billion): 14 billion euro for planes and 2 billion. euros for ammunition.
The deal with the UAE became another export contract of the French company, which had previously received orders for the supply of new Rafale fighters to India (36 units), Egypt (54 units), Greece (6 units) and Qatar (36 units). Greece and Croatia will also receive 12 Rafale aircraft from the French Air Force.
