SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - UAE signs for 80 Rafale

With that political biography of the two, this choice of the UAE is probably no surprise.

There have been several deals in recent years with the Rafale, which is a bit surprisng, since it indicates it was a late starter, regarding contracts. For many early years France was the only operator of the plone and did not manage to get it sold to anyone. I could imagine though that in the past 5 years or so, with the plane not being the newest and latest anymore, conditions and prices asked by France have been toned down so to enjoy potential customers, of which there now are quite some.

Rafale usually is estamiated to be the slightly better bomber and dogfighter, but the Eurofighter has slightly better avionics and superior radar. Wargames and excercises imo reported a misleading image of all-out-superiority of theurofighter, after all i have not forgotten - and forgiven - that many years ago they tried to beautify the number so much as to imply the Eurofighter were almost in the league of the F-22 and F-35 when it comes to being stealthy. It is a bit stealthed, yes - but in no way to that degree. The French jet also has the smaller radar signature.

One only wonders how France is fulfilling such contracts. Australia's outspoken argument to jump out of the submarine deal last but not least was that the French were lagging behind timetables, did not catch up with them and the time gaps despite warnings becoming bigger and bigger. This all indeed is fact, but the real reason behind that of course was that the Aussies had reevaluated their needs in face of the growing Chinese menace and now wanted nuclear subs - something the French were not willing to sell them. On the other hand, a fighter is no submarine. But then I recall the long long list of issues with the Eurofighter - some of them until today not really being solved. There is a pandemic and it effects global economy chains. It remaisn to be seen when the UAE will get its planes. I have no clue.

For Macronman, its a boost in his bid for next year's election, no doubt.