Team Rafale confident of UAE order
Officials from Team Rafale are quietly confident that a deal for up to 60 airplanes will be made with the United Arab Emirates.

Officials from Team Rafale are quietly confident that a deal for up to 60 airplanes will be made with the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, they are signing agreements here at the show with local entities that further strengthen the French influence in Emirati education and industry.

Eric Trappier, executive v-p international, Dassault Aviation, confirmed here yesterday that the UAE air force had been offered the “F3 Plus” standard of the Rafale, also known as “the Roadmap.” (See Sunday’s Dubai Airshow News, page 6 and 8). A complete service and support package is also on the table. He also confirmed that the UAE has been offered the more powerful version of the M88 turbofan engine, rated at nine metric tons thrust, which Snecma has proposed but not yet developed because the French air arms do not require it. “It’s up to the UAE to decide whether they want this,” Trappier added.