Qatar : The Rafale favourite
Diplomatic relations between France and Qatar are reportedly excellent. Emir Tamim ben Hamad Al-Thani has paid a visit to François Holland on 23 June in Paris. Even if no contract has been signed for the Dassault Rafale aircraft, the French presidency is “confident about a positive issue”. Already Qatari Air force that has tested the French aircraft and would be much eager to purchase the latest standard, the F3R fitted with an active array radar. Qatar is currently operating 12 Mirage 2000-5. Qatar could be interested in acquiring 36 to 72 Rafale aircraft. Doha is looking to diversify its armament suppliers, today very dependant from the U.S. In that respect Qatar could purchase both Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon.
The Dassault combat aircraft is also under discussion in India. New Delhi could be close to a deal with the Team Rafale (Dassault, Safran, Thales) and the contract for the acquisition of at least 126 aircraft could be announced soon.
An export contract is absolutely necessary for the French programming law (Loi de programmation militaire), as the French defence resources are planning a diminution of the Rafale deliveries to the French air force that have to be counterbalanced by an export contract, in order to save the Dassault Rafale assembly lines
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