Saudi Arabia Mulls Buying 54 Dassault Fighter Jets, Tribune Says

[alphapak]

Will they get long range missiles or will they end up like the Egyptian Air Force?
Why do they want so many 4th Gen fighter jets? they already have F15's and Eurofighters.

 

[MajesticPug]

Will they get long range missiles or will they end up like the Egyptian Air Force?
Why do they want so many 4th Gen fighter jets? they already have F15's and Eurofighters.

I agree. Rafales at best are just incremental improvement over their existing fleet. If it's for political reason, buying a small squadron is enough.

 

[alphapak]

I agree. Rafales at best are just incremental improvement over their existing fleet. If it's for political reason, buying a small squadron is enough.

They need to move onto the 5th Gen either go for J31 or Kaan project with Turkey.

 

[Ali_Baba]

• Gulf state has asked Dassault Aviation for quotes on Rafales
• Saudi Arabia has bought US, UK military planes in the past

Saudi Arabia Mulls Buying 54 Dassault Fighter Jets, Tribune Says

Saudi Arabia is considering the purchase of 54 Rafale fighter jets from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation SA, according to a report in La Tribune.

www.bloomberg.com

Meanwhile

France Budgets €11.7 Billion For Dassault Rafale Investments​

PARIS—France is to invest €6.41 billion ($6.75 billion) into the Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft program between 2023 and 2026 and has earmarked an additional €5.36 billion after 2026.

In total, the spending commitment budgeted for the fighter jet program amounts to €11.7 billion.

France continues to invest in its combat aircraft capabilities, particularly the Dassault Rafale, as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) will not be operational until 2040-45.

The appendix to the country’s defense budget bill for 2024 shows the French Ministry of Armed Forces will spend €1.66 billion on the Rafale in 2023, €2.29 billion in 2024, €1.69 billion in 2025 and €764.8 million in 2026.

The French government already has planned to spend €1.38 billion on the Rafale’s F4 standard between 2024 and 2026, with a focus on bolstering the platform’s connectivity.

The F4 upgrade includes enhanced weapons capability, improved sensors, elevated cyber resiliency and better availability, the Thales Scorpion head-mounted display and the 1,000-kg (2,200-lb.) Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) precision-guided bomb, among other equipment.

The report also notes qualification of the F4.2 standard has been postponed to 2025 from 2024. The qualification of the F4.1 standard was announced in March 2023, instead of 2022.

The F5 standard will require €211.9 million over the period. The budget will be used to continue risk-mitigation studies, as well as work on the Thales RBE2 XG radar. The F5 upgrade is aimed at maintaining proficiency for air combat operations and integrating a higher level of connectivity, while waiting for the Next Generation Weapon System, within the FCAS program. The Rafale F5 upgrade is seen as a precursor to the Next Generation Fighter that is part of the FCAS.

Funding additionally will be allocated for the preparation of a future uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) to support the Rafale F5 at €128.09 million between 2024 and 2026.

An amendment to the French Military Programming Law specifies the Rafale F5 could include “the development of a drone to support the Rafale, based on the Neuron [UCAV] demonstrator.”

The French government launched the Neuron program in 2003 with Dassault Aviation as prime contractor in collaboration with Airbus Spain (formerly EADS-CASA), Hellenic Aerospace Industries, Leonardo (formerly Alenia Aermacchi), RUAG and Saab.

By the end of 2023, France is expected to order 42 Rafales; negotiations are still ongoing with Dassault Aviation for this fifth batch. Deliveries initially were planned to start in 2029 but discussions are underway to deliver them starting in 2027.

Thirteen aircraft have been delivered in 2023, with 13 more to arrive in 2024, 12 in 2025 and one in 2026. The French Military Programming Law sets a fleet target of 178 Rafales—137 for the Air Force and 41 for the Navy—by 2030 and 225 by 2035.

France Budgets €11.7 Billion For Dassault Rafale Investments | Aviation Week Network

France is to invest €6.41 billion ($6.75 billion) in the Dassault Rafale fighter program between 2023 and 2026 and has earmarked €5.36 billion after 2026.

aviationweek.com

Saudia Arabia is ONLY mulling Rafale buys, because it cannot buy more Eurofighter Typhoons as Germany refuses to approve the sale.

German opposition to Saudi Eurofighter exports a 'real problem' - Airbus CEO

Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury hit out at the German government for its strict line on arms exports in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday, with Berlin blocking the delivery of Eurofighter combat aircraft to Saudi Arabia.

www.reuters.com

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far pushed back against pressure to unblock delivery of the Eurofighter jets to Saudi Arabia. His coalition partner, the Greens, firmly opposes the move, pointing to human rights concerns and Saudi Arabia's role in the Yemen war.

It is not because Rafale is better(it is not ) - it is the Germans doing their usual lack of approval routine. That is why the UK is not letting Germany get invovled in Tempest/GCAP - we have had enough of this nonsense.

 

[Bengal71]

The Saudis should acquire Chinese jets, they are relying too much on the west. Although knowing how shit they are, I would love to see the westerners fvcking them over.

 

[MMM-E]

I dont know, but I think the localization is not yet exceeding KF21. For KF21, around 60 % components are made by South Korean companies.

The localization far exceeding KF21.
around 85 % components are made by Turkish companies.

Except Engine and Ejection Seat , KAAN is full of indigenous including all missiles

Turkiye also develop 35.000 lbs turbofan Engine for KAAN Fighter Jet


after AKINCI UCAV to S.Arabia
Türkiye can offer a great suggestion for future tactical air combat

KAAN
KIZILELMA
ANKA-3

 

[Indos]

The localization far exceeding KF21.
around 85 % components are made by Turkish companies.

Except Engine and Ejection Seat , KAAN is full of indigenous including all missiles

Turkiye also develop 35.000 lbs turbofan Engine for KAAN Fighter Jet


Türkiye can offer a great suggestion for future tactical air combat

KAAN
KIZILELMA
ANKA-3
View attachment 965084

60 % is only South Korean suppliers, then you need to add Indonesian supplier as well who will make wing (1 wing for every KF21), tail (Half of the tail), and pylon (all pylons) for the airframe to every KF21, so the total localization is exceeding 60%,

This if we are talking how independence the KF21 from Western suppliers. South Korea has also developed the indigenous engine, but maybe only around 2035 or 2040 we could see KF21 using Korean developed engine.

Current KF21 engine is also supplied from HANWA Korea, they assemble F414 and made several components of it. Their engine subsidiary company is JV with GE, the same like Turkish TEI who also has JV with GE

 

[Indos]

Recent meeting between SK President and Saudi Prince also discussed about defense cooperation, including KF21. You can Google the news

Saudi Arabia, South Korea Boost Ties with Several Agreements

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz received South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol where discussions focused on the bilateral ties and efforts to promote cooperation in various sectors. The talks culminated in the signing of several bilateral agreements and memorandums of...

english.aawsat.com