Rafale soars in Asia-Pacific, Mideast with edge over F-16

BulgarianMilitary.com carries an article about Dassault Aviation which is once again in the spotlight experiencing a surge in orders for its fifth generation variant, Caliber.Az reprints the article.

If you’ve been keeping tabs on Dassault Aviation’s activities, you’ll realize they’ve been making waves in the aerospace industry. Particularly in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions, orders have been pouring in at an astounding rate. So what makes their product, the Rafale, so irresistible? It seems to hold a special sort of allure for these regions. This ultimately driving impressive growth for the somewhat stagnant European aerospace industry. 

Rafale offers certain unique benefits that its competitors lack, and that uniqueness is really paying off for Dassault Aviation. Not only are they receiving a robust order influx, but they’re also significantly bolstering their finances in the process. The impressive sales statistics Rafale has garnered for Dassault Aviation over the past years are a testament to that. 

Here are the numbers to show you just how successful they’ve been. In 2022 alone, they were able to secure orders for as many as 92 Rafale units. Then, they took it a step further in 2023 by selling 60 more units. Just this year, they’ve already sold eighteen units in the export market. It’s worth noting that these eighteen units are the result of a final payment from Indonesia, made when they placed their order back in September 2022.

Increase production

Experiencing a surge in orders for its fifth generation variant [F5 or Super Rafale], Dassault Aviation is once again in the spotlight, this time domestically, with an impressive order tally of 42 units. The increase in demand has spurred plans to accelerate production rates. Initially, the firm was producing a mere two units of the Rafale per month, but this figure is poised to shoot up to three or maybe even four units monthly. 

CEO of Dassault Aviation, Eric Trappier, affirms that the firm is fully equipped and ready to handle the augmented production of Rafale, in both an infrastructural and personnel capacity. Leading the field, he discloses that they can manifest up to four units of their premier fighter per month. 

The vibrant CEO exclaimed to the French newspaper, Le Tribune, “Our production went from under one unit in the grim year of 2020, to three units. We have currently regulated it to two units”. So it’s clear to see that the sales potential for Rafale exports is not about to hit a ceiling. Given the ability of vital customers like Indonesia to show resiliency, it could very likely persuade neighboring countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore, to join the bandwagon.

A fighter for everything

Do you ever wonder why the Rafale, from Dassault Aviation, is so in demand in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions? According to Dassault Aviation’s official site, the Rafale’s appeal lies in its versatility—it’s ingeniously designed to fulfill a myriad of roles in all areas. 

This impressive fighter jet, a product of French prowess and 4.5 generation technology has a repertoire of tasks it can undertake. Ranging from air defense, nuclear deterrence, power projection, and executing deep-strike missions. Rafale offers air support to ground troops and performing reconnaissance tasks. And last but not least training pilots for surprise attacks. 

Rafale’s global popularity can be attributed to its powerful trifecta: Flexibility, interoperability, and sustainability. Technically, the Rafale is a powerhouse with twin Snecma M88-4e turbofan engines, each boasting a thrust of 50.04 kN when dry and 75 kN with afterburner. This mighty engine set-up gifts the aircraft a top speed of 1.8 Mach and a respectable combat range of 1850 kilometers.

Competitive arms

When it comes to weaponry, this combatant is outfitted with a 30mm GIAT 30/M791 autocannon housing 125 cartridges. Its impressive assemblies of missiles include the MBDA Meteor, MBDA MICA, MBDA Apache, Paveway II, and ASMP-A. Furthermore, it’s supplied with Thales-supplied reconnaissance and guidance pods. 

Just as crucial, the Rafale comes replete with cutting-edge avionic systems such as the AESA radar, as well as electronic warfare and infrared search and track [IRST] systems – all of which are provided by Thales.

The acquisition process

Non-technical attributes also contribute to Rafale’s allure. They ushering in an array of orders for Dassault Aviation from regions, especially in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. This allure is further accentuated by the potential ease of acquisition by buyers. This characteristic owing to the manufacturer’s policies which remain largely unswayed by geopolitics. This contrasts with the influences impacting rivals like Lockheed Martin, Airbus, or BAE systems. 

To paint a clearer picture, consider Turkey’s attempt to purchase the F-35, which was denied due to its acquisition of the S-400 air defense system. The same nation faced rejection when trying to buy the Eurofighter Typhoon due to its stance condemning the controversial actions of the Israeli army against Palestinians.