Status: 03.12.2021 12:53 p.m.
France will sell 80 fighter jets and twelve helicopters to the United Arab Emirates. The agreement is in the tens of billions.
The United Arab Emirates is buying 80 French Rafale fighter jets. The store is the largest international bulk purchase of its type; Most recently, the manufacturer Dassault Aviation had sold units to Greece, Egypt and Croatia. So far, more than 230 units of the fighter aircraft have been delivered. This puts the model well behind its direct competitor, the Eurofighter, of which almost 600 units have so far been put into service.
The contract with the manufacturer Dassault Aviation was signed today during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron in Dubai. This was announced by the Elysée Palace in Paris, the official seat of the French President.
Also sold helicopters
In addition, the Arab state is buying twelve tactical multi-purpose and transport helicopters of the Caracal type from the European aviation and defense company Airbus. Airbus has a one-third share in the Eurofighter consortium.
The entire agreement is worth at least 15 billion euros. Macron traveled to Dubai on Friday to begin a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. He is accompanied by a business delegation and parts of the cabinet, including Economics Minister Bruno Le Maire and Defense Minister Florence Parly.