France warns of end of Rafale fighter jet production

[SpArK]

France warns of end of Rafale fighter jet production



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PARIS: France warned on Wednesday that defence giant Dassault would halt production of its Rafale multirole fighter jet if it remains unable to sell any abroad.


"If Dassault doesn't sell any Rafales abroad, the production line... will be stopped" once France has received the 180 aircraft it has ordered, Defence Minister Gerard Longuet told a small group of journalists including AFP.


France considers the twin-motor delta-wing Rafale a state-of-the-art warplane but has struggled to find any foreign buyers to support the project that has so far cost over 40 billion euros (53 billion dollars).


Longuet said maintenance arrangements would continue for all completed aircraft and that French Rafale orders alone would keep the production line going until 2018 "at least".


Then "it will be over for the manufacturer, not for the user," he said of the plane that has been deployed in NATO operations in Afghanistan and Libya


It is mainly built by Dasault, electronics company Thales and motor manufacturer Snecma, part of the Safran group, but a total of over 1,500 French companies are involved in the programme.


Longuet insisted that the Rafale remained in competition with European manufacturer EADS' Eurofighter Typhoon for a large Indian contract and that "we are in tough negotiations with the United Arab Emirates".


However, the UAE, which was said to be in final talks with France to buy 60 Rafales, said last month that the French offer was unworkable and uncompetitive.


A US cable leaked by Wikileaks in 2010 quoted King Hamad of Bahrain as mocking the Rafale as "yesterday's technology".


Switzerland in November became the latest country to choose another fighter over the Rafale, opting for the Swedish-made Saab Gripen to replace its ageing fleet.


The Rafale and Typhoon are in the final stage of a massive duel to meet India's 126-unit medium multi-role combat aircraft requirement. Final bids were opened earlier last month, with a decision possible within weeks.


Asked why Dassault was having trouble selling the plane abroad, Longuet said the multirole jet was "more expensive than American planes which are produced in much greater numbers."


"While we order 200 Rafales for a 10-15 year programme, the Americans make 3,000 aircraft," he said.


"However, for top level missions of high military value, the Rafale is undeniably well-positioned."


Development of the Rafale began in the 1980s, with a first prototype built in 1991. The first plane for delivery to the French military rolled off the production line in 1998.


- AFP/de



France warns of end of Rafale fighter jet production - Channel NewsAsia

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[trackwhack]

We must buy the Rafale. France is severely anti China. After Russia, France has always been our strongest supporter in the P5. Dealing with a clumsy 5 nation setup like EADS will bring us nothing in terms of leverage. France is struggling right now and this would be the ideal time to start building a partnership that will be very valuable to India in the long run. The Rafale is a bloody good plane - as good as if not better than the EF.

 

[Yusuf]

Why is it titled warning? Is it warning the world to buy Rafales or it will close the line? Lol

 

[nrj]

Thats but natural. No orders, no production.

 

[nitesh]

When did French got converted to pakis?

 

[LETHALFORCE]

This is a stupid move for a plane that is a finalist in the MRCA. What security does it provide that parts will be available in the future?

 

[asianobserve]

Don't you think this provides an excellent opportunity for the IAF to exact a very hard bargain from the French? Much like how rich Middle Eastern clients do. Dassault is in no position to object as they desperately need a first batch of order, any order for that matter.

 

[IBSA]

Interesting

In the Project FX, name of the program of Brazilian fighters modernization, the Rafale was the favorite, but if it ends the production, somethings will change in the choice process.

 

[kumar khokhar]

rafale fail to sale

rafale i basically a ground attack fighter,advances in missile technology will reduce the value rafale offers.

 

[sayareakd]

we will go for EF since it has L1, later on when they are closing in Rafale production line we will buy it.

BTW it is high time Rafale makes good offer to us or they are out of business soon.

 

[asianobserve]

This is a stupid move for a plane that is a finalist in the MRCA. What security does it provide that parts will be available in the future?

Makes you ask why was it included in the final list...?

 

[KS]

Another reason why we should go for Rafale. Strike a hard bargain..C'mon 126 (+ optional 50 or more) is by no means a small deal. Also Snecma expertise in engine can be utilized for Kaveri along with a partnership in the Neuron program.

Why is it titled warning? Is it warning the world to buy Rafales or it will close the line? Lol

...Pak style negotiating - with a gun to its head..

 

[Bhadra]

French companies and the govt were defeated in India by East India Company and the British Govt. The French lost India for more than 100 years. If the French do not win this contract, they would have lost India once again.

Come on French, offer the aircraft at cost price !!

 

[illusion8]

LOL the french are poor at marketing.

 

[Ray]

Since France is in a tight spot since closing down will also mean job cuts and that will not be a happy state for France which is already reeling under the shadows of the EU economic crisis, India will be able to drive a hard bargain for all defence products ex France.

 

[Zebra]

Thales To Continue Rafale Electronic Gear Support

By PIERRE TRAN , Published: 12 Jan 2012 11:16

PARIS - France has renewed with Thales a 10-year service contract for an undisclosed sum to support electronic equipment on the Rafale fighter, the company said in a Jan. 10 statement.

The fixed-price contract includes a power-by-the-hour feature, with an agreed price for guaranteed availability of the equipment, a Thales spokeswoman said.

"The ten-year contract, known as Maestro, is a renewal of the current through-life support contract and broadens the scope of responsibility to ensure that Thales works more closely with operational personnel to guarantee fleet availability," Thales said in the statement.

The contract was awarded at the end of November, the spokeswoman said. No financial details were available, although the contract is understood to be worth several million euros.

The joint aircraft service support department, Structure Intégrée de Maintien en Conditions Opérationelle des Matériels, awarded the contract.

Under the arrangement, Thales guarantees fleet availability by boosting equipment reliability and will deploy company personnel on site to be closer to the operator, the spokeswoman said.

On the Rafales flown by the French Air Force and Navy, Thales will maintain the aircraft's phased array radar, electronic warfare suite, avionics, front-sector optronics and cameras, and communications.

Thales To Continue Rafale Electronic Gear Support - Defense News

 

[sukhish]

if france wants it they will have to go out of the way to get it. they still can outcompete EU guys. but for that they will have to give something big.
EU as a continent is on a decline. german economy has stalled and french just got downgraded. also british economy had a negative GDP growth last quater. it is a perfect time to go for a hard bargain, and that's what GOI is doing. all these rumors of EU typhoon as L1 bidder are in the trash bin now.

 

[Yusuf]

Learn from Pakis. Buy one get one free