Rafale output rose in 2016, Dassault says
11 JANUARY, 2017 SOURCE: FLIGHTGLOBAL.COM BY:
CRAIG HOYLE LONDON
Dassault delivered nine newly-built Rafale
fighters in 2016, according to a financial update issued by the company on 5
January. The total was in line with plans for the year, and represents an
increase of one unit over the eight shipped in 2015, it adds.
Six examples of the twin-engined type were
handed over to the French military, with the other three delivered to export
customer Egypt, which has now received six aircraft from its order for 24.
The French air force and navy and Egyptian
air force are current Rafale operators, with Qatar’s 2015 order for 24 of the
type having been followed by an Indian order for 36, signed last year.
Concluded after a protracted negotiation process with New Delhi, the deal –
valued at €7.75 billion ($8.1 billion) – “demonstrates once again the Rafale’s
performance”, the company says.
Dassault says its Rafale order backlog stood
at 110 aircraft as of 31 December 2016. This total comprised 32 for the French
military, plus a combined 78 for export buyers Egypt (18), India (36) and Qatar
(24).
In addition to producing the nine new
Rafales, Dassault also in 2016 returned a pair of M-model fighters to French
navy service, after completing work to upgrade them to the F3 operating
standard. The service's strike fighters are now entirely Rafale Ms, following
the retirement last year of its last Dassault Super Etendards. Flight Fleets
Analyzer records the navy as having current active fleet of 39 examples.
Original post flightglobal.com
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