Cementing ties, UAE buys 80 French-made Rafale warplanes

0
34

DUBAI (Reuters) -The United Arab Emirates ordered 80 Rafale fighter jets on Friday, the biggest order ever for the warplane, a multi-billion greenback arms contract that deepens financial and political ties with France.

French President Emmanuel Macron started a two-day journey to the Gulf on Friday, and also will go to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. His go to comes at a time when Gulf Arab states have voiced uncertainty concerning the United States’ deal with the area whilst they search extra weapons from their key safety ally.

The French chief has cast a superb relationship with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (MBZ) with investments flowing between each international locations. Paris has a everlasting army base within the Emirati capital.

“In addition to the presence of three French army bases on UAE territory, this mutual belief interprets into the acquisition of 80 Rafale planes, 12 Caracal helicopters, and related parts,” the French presidency mentioned in a press release after a signing ceremony between MBZ and Macron on the sidelines of the Dubai Expo 2020.

Dassault shares rose 6% on the announcement.

The deal, which might be price not less than $15 billion, is the most important bulk buy of the Dassault-made Rafale, apart from by the French military, and comes after offers in Greece, Egypt and Croatia this 12 months.

The on-off negotiations for the Rafale fighter jets have been occurring for greater than a decade with Abu Dhabi publicly rebuffing France’s provide to produce 60 Rafale jets in 2011 as “uncompetitive and unworkable.” Abu Dhabi already has Mirage warplanes.

Defence sources mentioned the Rafale would change the Mirage 2000 fleet and is unlikely to displace the American F-35 because the UAE continues to hedge its safety with two main suppliers, France and the United States.

(Additional reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Tim Hepher, Karishma Singh and David Evans)



Source link