Dassault Aviation officialy promotes its Rafale for the Belgian F-16s fleet replacement.

Technology transfer will ensure a "total commonality" between Belgian and French (Rafale) aircrafts, but also the possibility for the Belgian industrialists to be "fully associated in the support of the fleet" of the two devices countries, he said before an audience of industrials and Belgian and French soldiers. Regarding industrial cooperation, French companies - the three members of the EIG - Dassault Aviation, Snecma (Safran group) and Thales and their 500 subcontractors - "do not favor an accounting approach but rather a medium and long term cooperation strategy which is really structuring for the future of the Belgian aviation industry".

Mr. Robins also said that the cost of purchasing and using the Rafale lifetime of the aircraft were "known, moderate proven, guaranteed and without drift" and removing in passing a rival, the American jet fighter F-35 Lightning II, of which development has experienced delays and cost overruns. The head of Dassault also promised "full integration of Belgium as a partner in the Rafale program for defining future standards in the next 40 years".

By opening an office in Brussels, the French aerospace industry "enters officially in competition" for the market for the replacement of the F-16s, said M. Valero, expressing the hope that the "contest" must be "as fair as possible" . He also stressed the character "omnirole" of the Rafale, a multirole combat aircraft that has been combat proven in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali and more recently in Iraq against the Islamic State (EI). As French ambassador, "I am pleased to participate in this adventure," told Mr. Valero.