Saudi Arabia and Dassault Aviation: Towards an Order of 54 Rafale Fighter Jets?.

Saudi Arabia is currently exploring cooperation with Dassault Aviation, potentially marking a significant turning point for the group, which has previously struggled to establish a presence in the country. Following difficulties with other international partners, including a blockage by Germany concerning the purchase of 48 Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft and Japan's refusal to participate in the "Global Combat Air Programme," the kingdom appears to be turning to France to meet its aerial defense needs.
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The Rafale boasts impressive capabilities, featuring an advanced avionics suite with the SPECTRA electronic warfare system, providing robust protection against airborne and ground threats (Picture source: Dassault Aviation)

The Dassault Rafale is a twin-engine, delta-wing, multi-role fighter aircraft made in France by Dassault Aviation. Its production officially began in December 1992 but was suspended due to political and economic uncertainties until January 1997, when production resumed following an agreement between the Ministry of Defense and Dassault Aviation. The Rafale entered service in 2000 with the French Air Force for land-based operations and the French Navy for carrier-based operations. To date, 120 Rafales have been officially ordered, with various models, including the Rafale B (two-seater for the Air Force), Rafale C (single-seater for the Air Force), and Rafale M (naval version).

The Rafale boasts impressive capabilities, featuring an advanced avionics suite with the SPECTRA electronic warfare system, providing robust protection against airborne and ground threats. It is equipped with the Thales RBE2 passive electronically scanned multi-mode radar, capable of early detection and tracking of multiple air targets, terrain-following, and high-resolution ground mapping. Its propulsion is provided by two M88-2 turbofan engines, designed for high reliability and reduced operating costs. The Rafale's versatile armament includes MICA air-to-air missiles, AASM air-to-ground weapons, SCALP missiles, EXOCET anti-ship missiles, and an internal gun, allowing it to perform various combat roles simultaneously.

This rumor of cooperation is not unfounded. Last October, La Tribune and Europe 1 reported that Riyadh had submitted a request for a "priced proposal" to Dassault Aviation for the acquisition of 54 Rafales. This development followed a meeting in September between French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his Saudi counterpart Khalid bin Salman, where they discussed "opportunities for joint military cooperation and coordination" and ways to strengthen and develop these relations.

However, this interest in the Rafale might also have been a maneuver to advance the Typhoon case. In January, Germany announced that it would lift its veto on arms destined for Saudi Arabia, potentially allowing the sale of Eurofighters by the United Kingdom. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock praised Riyadh's "constructive role" in the Middle East crisis as a key factor in this decision.

Despite this, discussions between Saudi and French authorities have intensified in recent months, suggesting that the kingdom is genuinely interested in the Rafale. In May, Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Talal Bin Abdullah Al-Otaibi met with Dassault Aviation CEO Éric Trappier in Paris, and three months later in Bordeaux-Mérignac, to discuss "production capacities."

On July 30, the Saudi Ministry of Defense posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) mentioning "promising cooperation opportunities in the military industry," also discussing technology transfers and research and development initiatives within the framework of the "Vision 2030" project aimed at developing the kingdom's industrial capacities.

The evolution of this situation could significantly enhance Saudi Arabia's aerial capabilities while paving the way for increased military and industrial cooperation with France. The coming months will be crucial to determine if this order for 54 Rafales materializes, symbolizing a new era of strategic cooperation between Riyadh and Paris. However, the interest shown by Saudi Arabia in the Rafale could also be a way to pressure Germany into lifting its blockage.