French Defense Minister Florence Parly signed a contract covering the production of 12 replacement Dassault Rafale fighters for the French air force, less than a week after Greece completed the procurement of 18 aircraft, including a dozen aircraft from second hand.
Signed with Dassault CEO Eric Trappier at the company's Argonay plant on January 29, the agreement will lead to delivery of the aircraft in 2025 to the latest F3R production standards.
"This order will allow the Rafale fleet of the French troops to be renewed: the replacement of the sensors and second-hand aircraft bought by Greece will allow [the air force] to have new equipment with the latest standards, therefore, at the best possible level of capacity, "he added. said French defense procurement agency DGA.
Describing the January 25 Athens order as "historic," Parly noted: "In today's economic environment, it is imperative to secure export contracts. Because at Dassault, we know better than anyone, our defense industry works on two legs: the defense of our country and the defense of our country and the defense of our economy. And for the former to work, it is imperative that the latter remain strong. "
Parly noted that a production rate of one Rafale per month supports 7,000 jobs at Dassault and throughout its supply chain.
"The [French air force] contracts are very satisfactory for Dassault Aviation, Thales, Safran and the 500 French companies involved in this program, in the very difficult conditions our aeronautical sector faces in the context of the Covid crisis "Trappier said.
The DGA noted that the new order for the standard F3R fighter jet would ensure that the French army would have a fleet of 129 Rafales in the period of the 2019-2025 Military Programming Law.
Paris will introduce more Rafales between 2027 and 2030, through the fifth planned production phase. France expects to continue operations with the type until around 2070, Parly said.
Separately, the Indian air force welcomed the three newest Rafales on January 27, following a delivery flight from the Istres air base in France. The transfer includes the air refueling support of the Airbus Defense & Space A330 multifunction tanker transport of the UAE air force.
Cirium's fleet data shows that the service has now received 11 types of multiple functions, out of an order for 36 units signed in 2016.
On January 26, the Rafale Air Force participated for the first time in the annual Indian Republic Day celebrations. New Delhi received its first batch of five fighter jets last July.
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