Breaking news
Good things come in threes: Qatar becomes the 3rd export customer of the Dassault Rafale 3004154.
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World
Defense & Security News - France and Qatar |
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| Good things come in threes: Qatar becomes the 3rd export customer of the Dassault Rafale | |||
According to an
official statement by the French presidency, Qatar announced today its
intention to purchase the Dassault Rafale multirole fighter aircraft,
for a total amount of about 6.3 billion euros ($7.06 billion). The Emir
of the state of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani confirmed
over the phone yesterday to French president François Hollande
his intention to procure 24 fighter aircraft, with an option for 12
other planes.
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The
French President will go to Doha on May 4th to attend the official signing
ceremony between Dassault Aviation, MBDA and the state of Qatar. The deal includes a firm order for 24 jets with an option on 12 other planes, as well as missiles, the training in France of 36 pilots and 100 mechanicians. Having struggled for years to sell any of its Rafale jets abroad, Dassault has recently scored several multi-billion-euro, high-profile contracts with Egypt, India, and now Qatar. Earlier this year, Egypt bought 24 Rafales in a 5.2-billion-euro ($5.8-billion) deal negotiated in just three months, prompting hopes in Paris that the agreement would act as a catalyst to unblock hoped-for sales to other countries. Sure enough, India followed suit and this month announced the order of 36 Rafale jets during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France. Dassault is also involved in talks with the United Arab Emirates, and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has recently hinted that these are evolving "in the right direction." |
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