France and the United Arab Emirates have revived plans to jointly develop an upgraded Rafale fighter jet after talks stumbled earlier this year, officials said, giving Paris a fresh opportunity to advance its flagship defence programme.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron travelled to the region this week and agreed with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan to deepen a strategic defence agreement between the two countries. The budget squeeze has added importance to the Rafale F5 programme — also called F5 standard — which aims to give the fighter a mid-life upgrade and is seen as a cornerstone of France’s future air combat capabilities. Securing external partners and financing for the programme eases pressure on France’s defence budget while preserving critical industrial and technological capabilities.
Two people familiar with the matter said the focus would now turn to the cost and technical details of the programme during talks that will take place between the industrial players. A senior French official said there was a firm commitment from Abu Dhabi to work with France now, and Dassault was working with Emirati defence conglomerate EDGE Group. Olivier Andries, chief executive of Safran, which manufactures the Rafale’s engines, said on Friday that the agreement was “very good news”.
