France seeks UAE support for Rafale jet upgrade after FCAS collapse

France is in talks with the United Arab Emirates over a potential defence partnership involving its Rafale fighter jet, following the collapse of a joint next-generation combat aircraft project with Germany.

French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin said Paris was discussing a “collaboration” with the UAE on the future upgrade of the Rafale, produced by Dassault Aviation and expected to enter a new phase of development from 2030, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Financial Times.

The planned upgrade would not replace the now-defunct Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which was intended to deliver stealth and other advanced capabilities.

That programme collapsed after Germany withdrew amid unresolved disputes between Dassault and Airbus’s German division.

A separate Franco-German tank development project has also suffered major delays, further highlighting strains in defence cooperation between Europe’s two leading military powers at a time when Berlin is driving wider rearmament efforts in response to Russia and uncertainty over US security commitments.

A potential agreement with the UAE could help France secure funding and industrial support for the Rafale’s next generation, as it looks to develop a future fighter for the 2040s without German involvement. The UAE already operates Rafale jets.

Vautrin said discussions were ongoing, describing the UAE as a “big client” for the upgraded Rafale F5, though she did not specify the exact form the partnership might take.

The UAE could potentially contribute financing and procurement commitments in exchange for industrial participation, while France seeks to balance the project within tight public spending constraints.

Talks on a wider sale of up to 114 Rafale jets to India are also progressing and could be concluded by the end of the year, according to the minister.

France has also been exploring cooperation with Sweden’s Saab, according to people familiar with the matter.

Meanwhile, Vautrin criticised delays in another major Franco-German defence initiative, the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) tank programme, saying France could no longer wait for progress and may pursue interim solutions.

Industry officials have warned that the project timeline — with potential deployment in the 2040s — may be too slow to meet urgent defence needs, while uncertainty remains over its future funding and viability.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov