France Could Secure Another Sale for its Rafale F4: Greece Colombia Iraq India or Morocco as Potential Clients.

In an interview with Europe 1 on August 30, Dassault Aviation CEO Éric Trappier mentioned the possibility of signing a new sales contract by the end of the year, in addition to the 12 Rafale jets already sold to Serbia. However, he did not specify the identity of this potential buyer, fueling speculation.
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The Rafale F4 is a French multirole aircraft built by Dassault Aviation. (Picture source: Dassault Aviation)

Several possibilities are being considered. Greece, for example, could be this client, as it plans to strengthen its Rafale fleet after retiring its Mirage 2000-5 jets. Colombia, which has expressed interest in Dassault’s aircraft, could also be in the running, along with Iraq, which has been frequently mentioned. Furthermore, the contract could pertain to the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine jets by India, a deal that appears close to receiving approval from Indian authorities.

However, another country might surprise observers: Morocco. In recent days, rumors of a Rafale order have been gaining momentum within the kingdom. Until now, Morocco had been mentioned as a candidate to acquire around 30 Mirage 2000-9 jets from the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, the Royal Moroccan Air Force had shown interest in Boeing's F-15EX, although this has not been confirmed.

The specialized site Defense Arabic was one of the first to suggest this possible acquisition by Morocco. According to them, this move would be part of a strategy to "diversify" its sources of defense equipment, as the country has mainly relied on American arms manufacturers in recent years.

The Rafale F4 is a state-of-the-art multirole aircraft built by Dassault Aviation, designed to perform a wide range of missions, from air interception and ground attack to reconnaissance and nuclear deterrence. Introduced into service in the early 2000s for both the French Navy and Air Force, this aircraft has continued to evolve, with improved versions such as the F4 model.

Powered by two Snecma M88-2 turbofan engines, the Rafale F4 is capable of delivering a maximum thrust of 75 kN per engine with an afterburner, allowing it to reach a top speed of Mach 1.8, or around 1,912 km/h at altitude. Its ability to supercruise at Mach 1.47 enables it to maintain supersonic speed without using an afterburner, enhancing its operational efficiency.

With compact dimensions—an 10.86-meter wingspan and a length of 15.27 meters—the Rafale is highly maneuverable. It is equipped to carry a wide range of armaments, including an internal 30 mm Nexter DEFA cannon and an external capacity of up to 9,500 kg of missiles or bombs. Its load-out varies depending on the mission: it can carry up to six MICA air-to-air missiles for air superiority missions or up to 3 tons of bombs in ground attack configuration.

With a flight endurance of 12 hours due to in-flight refueling and a range of up to 1,759 km in air-to-air missions, this aircraft is designed for long-distance operations. Its rate of climb—18,290 meters per minute—allows it to quickly reach its operational ceiling of 15,240 meters (approximately 50,000 feet), making it highly effective for high-altitude missions.

The Rafale F4 can handle load factors ranging from -3.2 g to +9 g under normal conditions, but it can reach +11 g in emergencies. This versatility, combined with an internal fuel capacity of 4,700 kg, which can be extended to 6,700 kg with external tanks, makes it an extremely adaptable and high-performing combat aircraft capable of meeting a wide range of modern military needs.

The Rafale F4 is a technological evolution of the renowned French fighter, combining superior performance, diversified armament capability, and impressive autonomy, all in an aircraft capable of fulfilling a wide variety of strategic missions.