The Rafale in Abu Dhabi will be expensive for Paris
La Tribune , June 15
The cost of developing the modernized fighter aircraft according to UAE wishes would be 4-5 billion euros.
The sale of 60 Rafale United Arab Emirates (UAE) is likely to be costly to France. If Paris acceed to all the wishes of Abu Dhabi, the cost of developing the modernized fighter aircraft would reach, according to several sources, between 4 and 5 billion euros, some people felt closer to 5 billion. With slightly more than 1 billion for the engine to move from 7.5 to 9 pounds of thrust, at the request of Abu Dhabi. [...]
To date, manufacturers and Gov. did not despair to persuade Abu Dhabi to reduce the bill, including revising downward their wishes. However, work on the specifications of the aircraft is almost complete, one says to "La Tribune". "We keep the schedule, the pace of negotiations is steady," . Because Abu Dhabi has put all its purchase teams from the Department of Defense on this issue, a priority since the beginning of the year. So, Paris and Abu Dhabi could conclude the sale of the rafale itself before the end of July. Currently, both parties begin to discuss the financial aspect.
Serious lead in Qatar
Who will pay? The UAE will finance a part of these developments. "at best the client will pay only half " one says to "La Tribune". "The remainder will be paid by the Ministry of Defence and the industrialists who will share in proportion to their participation (Dassault Aviation 37.5%, Thales 37.5% and Safran 25%). According to our information, the Ministry of Defense will anticipate developments planned later in the current law on military programming (LPM) to modernize the Rafale for the air force and naval aviation. The aim is to bring the aircraft to the F4 standard in 2015-2020, whereas currently the Rafale is now moving to F3. "Some applications for UAE match developments which are a part of the LPM. We merely advances a number of projects," one says at the ministry. But to date, future specifications of the Rafale for the AdA are not yet fixed.
Last section of the folder, the resale of UAE Mirage 2000-9. A very sensitive issue in the UAE, which do not want that Paris sees to it. According to reports, Abu Dhabi and Qatar have done, with the benevolence of France, a joint proposal to sell their 72 Mirage 2000 (60 for UAE and 12 for Qatar) to India. This would open a serious lead for the Rafale in the very francophile Qatar . Nicolas Sarkozy had praised the qualities of the aircraft to the Emir of Qatar at the Elysee Palace this year. India could therefore find themselves at the head of a fleet of more than 120 cheap and efficient Mirage, counting the 51 Mirage 2000 it already has, to be upgraded by Thales and Dassault Aviation, finally convinced. This led some to say that India could then take his time to manage the call for tenders for 127 new generation aircraft it has launched