Saudi Arabia Mulls Buying 54 Dassault Fighter Jets, Tribune Says

[SBD-3]

• Gulf state has asked Dassault Aviation for quotes on Rafales
• Saudi Arabia has bought US, UK military planes in the past

Saudi Arabia Mulls Buying 54 Dassault Fighter Jets, Tribune Says

Saudi Arabia is considering the purchase of 54 Rafale fighter jets from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation SA, according to a report in La Tribune.

www.bloomberg.com

Meanwhile

France Budgets €11.7 Billion For Dassault Rafale Investments​

PARIS—France is to invest €6.41 billion ($6.75 billion) into the Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft program between 2023 and 2026 and has earmarked an additional €5.36 billion after 2026.

In total, the spending commitment budgeted for the fighter jet program amounts to €11.7 billion.

France continues to invest in its combat aircraft capabilities, particularly the Dassault Rafale, as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) will not be operational until 2040-45.

The appendix to the country’s defense budget bill for 2024 shows the French Ministry of Armed Forces will spend €1.66 billion on the Rafale in 2023, €2.29 billion in 2024, €1.69 billion in 2025 and €764.8 million in 2026.

The French government already has planned to spend €1.38 billion on the Rafale’s F4 standard between 2024 and 2026, with a focus on bolstering the platform’s connectivity.

The F4 upgrade includes enhanced weapons capability, improved sensors, elevated cyber resiliency and better availability, the Thales Scorpion head-mounted display and the 1,000-kg (2,200-lb.) Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) precision-guided bomb, among other equipment.

The report also notes qualification of the F4.2 standard has been postponed to 2025 from 2024. The qualification of the F4.1 standard was announced in March 2023, instead of 2022.

The F5 standard will require €211.9 million over the period. The budget will be used to continue risk-mitigation studies, as well as work on the Thales RBE2 XG radar. The F5 upgrade is aimed at maintaining proficiency for air combat operations and integrating a higher level of connectivity, while waiting for the Next Generation Weapon System, within the FCAS program. The Rafale F5 upgrade is seen as a precursor to the Next Generation Fighter that is part of the FCAS.

Funding additionally will be allocated for the preparation of a future uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) to support the Rafale F5 at €128.09 million between 2024 and 2026.

An amendment to the French Military Programming Law specifies the Rafale F5 could include “the development of a drone to support the Rafale, based on the Neuron [UCAV] demonstrator.”

The French government launched the Neuron program in 2003 with Dassault Aviation as prime contractor in collaboration with Airbus Spain (formerly EADS-CASA), Hellenic Aerospace Industries, Leonardo (formerly Alenia Aermacchi), RUAG and Saab.

By the end of 2023, France is expected to order 42 Rafales; negotiations are still ongoing with Dassault Aviation for this fifth batch. Deliveries initially were planned to start in 2029 but discussions are underway to deliver them starting in 2027.

Thirteen aircraft have been delivered in 2023, with 13 more to arrive in 2024, 12 in 2025 and one in 2026. The French Military Programming Law sets a fleet target of 178 Rafales—137 for the Air Force and 41 for the Navy—by 2030 and 225 by 2035.

France Budgets €11.7 Billion For Dassault Rafale Investments | Aviation Week Network

France is to invest €6.41 billion ($6.75 billion) in the Dassault Rafale fighter program between 2023 and 2026 and has earmarked €5.36 billion after 2026.

aviationweek.com

 

[FuturePAF]

The Saudis should consider the Turkish KAAN Fighter instead, IMHO, in light of what’s happening in Palestine. It could really help speed up the program and allow the Saudis to get the ToT to do domestic production on a true 5th Gen fighter.

It’s a safer bet, vis a vi relations with the west, then buying a Chinese platform.

 

[Veritas01]

The Saudis should consider the Turkish KAAN Fighter instead, IMHO, in light of what’s happening in Palestine. It could really help speed up the program and allow the Saudis to get the ToT to do domestic production on a true 5th Gen fighter.

It’s a safer bet, vis a vi relations with the west, then buying a Chinese platform.

These purchases are as much political as they are for military use. Saudi will always prefer Western support in that regard.

 

[FuturePAF]

These purchases are as much political as they are for military use. Saudi will always prefer Western support in that regard.

That is true. It is more political than practical, but perhaps they need a bit of both. Even if 20% of the fleet is made up of the KAAN it would be a shift to more politically robust Air Force.

The UAE was promised F-35s but they didn’t materialize. The Saudis want an article 5 level deal with the US, but congress doesn’t want to give it. Being able to not rely so much on political ties gives them more options. Besides, Turkey is no friends of the Iranians. The Turks and the GCC have that in common.

 

[Total Destruction]

These purchases are as much political as they are for military use. Saudi will always prefer Western support in that regard.

Not really. The germans refuse to sell saudis more tayphoons thats why they consider buyong rafales which is a good move considering 3 arab states bought them (egypt,uae and qatar) so that will help with the intergation.

Saudis also want to be part of the english sixth generation fighter jet.

 

[Indos]

The Saudis should consider the Turkish KAAN Fighter instead, IMHO, in light of what’s happening in Palestine. It could really help speed up the program and allow the Saudis to get the ToT to do domestic production on a true 5th Gen fighter.

It’s a safer bet, vis a vi relations with the west, then buying a Chinese platform.

Saudi has already been considering Kaan, there is already Saudi visit to TAI to inspect Kaan, but it doesnt materilize, it means what Saudi wants could not be met by Turkish.

I dont think it is easy to ask for local production. So far only Saab who offer thing like that but they dont offer it to all countries, but only to selected country that has already had good aerospace industry like Brazil.

Saab is also a fighter plane with difficulty to find any foreign buyer.

Strong reason to buy Rafale is because it is almost 100 % French made components, French is not like USA or Germany who like to restrict or sanction other nations

 

[FuturePAF]

Saudi has already been considering Kaan, there is already Saudi visit to TAI to inspect Kaan, but it doesnt materilize, it means what Saudi wants could not be met by Turkish.

I dont think it is easy to ask for local production. So far only Saab who offer thing like that but they dont offer it to all countries, but only to selected country that has already had good aerospace industry like Brazil.

Saab is also a fighter plane with difficulty to find any foreign buyer.

Strong reason to buy Rafale is because it is almost 100 % French made components, French is not like USA or Germany who like to restrict or sanction other nations

Fair points and issues for Turkish industry to address.

 

[FuturePAF]

@Indos
Outside of the engine, what else is the Turkish KAAN still dependent on foreign components?

 

[Muji.Iqbal]

Saudi Arabia needs to stop being reliant on the West. Do joint ventures with China like Pakistan is doing.

Thats more wise.

 

[Indos]

@Indos
Outside of the engine, what else is the Turkish KAAN still dependent on foreign components?

I dont know, but I think the localization is not yet exceeding KF21. For KF21, around 60 % components are made by South Korean companies. There are many SK companies become supplier. This is also one of the thing that Indonesian team has some resenment because Indonesia only has Indonesian Aerospace who is part of the program.

SK until now is still blocking Indonesian avionics company, InfoGlobal, to participate. I think Info Global should enter the program and at least supply avionics componen for IFX.

 

[Whirling_dervesh]

Too little too late

 

[NG Missile Vessels]

Strong reason to buy Rafale is because it is almost 100 % French made components, French is not like USA or Germany who like to restrict or sanction other nations

 

[Indos]

View attachment 964369

Can you provide the link, dude people in here has good critical thinking and not just believing on thing like this without credible evidence, we are not in Indian Defense Forum but Pakistan Defense Forum............

 

[air marshal]

 

[hussain0216]

That is true. It is more political than practical, but perhaps they need a bit of both. Even if 20% of the fleet is made up of the KAAN it would be a shift to more politically robust Air Force.

The UAE was promised F-35s but they didn’t materialize. The Saudis want an article 5 level deal with the US, but congress doesn’t want to give it. Being able to not rely so much on political ties gives them more options. Besides, Turkey is no friends of the Iranians. The Turks and the GCC have that in common.

Yeah the UAE came off looking like some real goofy idiots,, accept Israel and make good relations in exchange we will make you look like dickheads