Dassault and the UAE have signed off on a huge order for new fighter jets, helicopters and weapons.
Dassault and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to an extraordinary order for 80 Rafale F4 fighter jets, in a contract labelled by the manufacturer as ‘the largest ever obtained by the French combat aeronautics industry’.
Various reports estimate the contract to be worth €16 billion ($18.1 billion), including €2 billion set aside for MICA NG air-to-air missiles and Black Shaheen long-range cruise missiles – the latter a modified Emirati variant of the French SCALP.
The F4 standard includes improvements to Rafale’s fire protection and avoidance system, frontal optronics, TALIOS long-range airborne targeting pod and the RBE2 electronic scanning radar, according to the French Directorate General of Armament (DGA). F4 also lets Rafale carry MICA NG and AASM munitions.