September 21, 2007 -- French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation SA will probably lose a 2.0 bln euro ($2.8 bln) worth Rafale combat aircraft order from Morocco to second-hand F-16 fighter jets, according to a report in French daily La Tribune. Quoting sources within the industry, La Tribune said that U.S. aircraft and defence group Lockheed Martin Corp had offered Morocco 36 second-hand F-16 fighter jets for less than $2.0 bln (1.4 bln euro) while the French company offered 18 Rafale for 2.3 bln euro ($3.2 bln). Dassault Aviation has raised its offer to 24 Rafales for 2.0 bln euro ($2.8 bln) but still there is little likelihood for closing the deal, La Tribune said.
The Rafale is a fourth-generation twin-jet combat aircraft combining both fighter and bomber roles and is capable of carrying out a wide range of short- and long-range missions. The fighter is produced in three variants - M, B and C. The M variant is a single seater carrier-based version for the Navy while the B variant is a two seater and the C - a single seater version for the Air Force. The combat aircraft has been a flagship programme for France's defence industry, but has found no foreign buyers so far.
The Moroccan order would have been the first export contract for the fighter jet, after Dassault had previously failed to sell the planes to the Netherlands, South Korea and Singapore.
La Tribune noted that Moroccan King Mohammed VI was reportedly not happy with the choice of French President Nicolas Sarkozy to visit Algeria first and then Tunis and Morocco in July 2007 as part of his first trip outside Europe since taking office.
Source: French News Digest
