Summary
- Dassault will increase Rafale production to 3 per month by 2024.
- Despite supply chain issues, production could go up to 4 with more orders.
- France to add 42 Rafales, totaling 234, not pursuing 5th-gen jets.
Sales of the French Dassault Rafale fighter jet have skyrocketed in recent years, while Russia’s fighter jet exports have collapsed to the point of almost non-existance. The tried-and-tested Rafale is now 37 years old and is becoming more popular around the world (especially with non-aligned countries). The Rafale is broadly a competitor with the Typhoon Eurofighter and the F-16 Block 70/72 Fighting Falcon.
Dassault plans to produce 3 Rafales per month
Dassault Aviation has stated it will increase the monthly production of Rafale fighter jets from two to three by the end of 2024. While this may be low by US standards (e.g., compared to full-rate F-35 production), it does represent a significant increase for France. Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier stated that Dassault produced almost less than one a month in 2020.
Photo: Dassault
The Defense Post writes that the increase in production is likely to be achieved despite some supply chain issues with Dassault’s subcontractors. Dassault also stated that the monthly production of Rafales could even be raised to four per month if enough orders were to be placed.
Time will tell if this is an achievable goal. After all, Dassault only produced 13 Rafales in 2023, even though its goal was 15.
Related
5 Amazing Facts About The Dassault Rafale
A few interesting pieces of information about the fighter over its 37-year history.
Rafales’ growing backlog
Not all of the increase in orders has come from export customers; France ordered another 42 in December 2023, bringing the total number of Rafales ordered by France to 234. Notably, France is not planning to build or acquire 5th-generation fighter jets; instead, it is acquiring 4.5th-generation Rafales and is currently working on developing a 6th-generation fighter with Germany.
Photo: VanderWolf Images | Shutterstock
“The Rafale is the world’s only fully “omni-role” aircraft and can be operated from a land base or an aircraft carrier, and can carry 1.5 times its own weight in weapons and fuel. It was designed to perform all combat aviation missions.” – Dassault
The total number of export orders for the Rafale is now 261, and notable customers include India (36), Egypt (55), the UAE (80), Qatar (36), Greece (12), and Indonesia (42). Dassault now has a production backlog of 228 aircraft. Other countries (such as Serbia) are reportedly negotiating to purchase Rafales from France.
Russian fighter jet export collapse & rise of Rafale
Regarding fighter jets, France is sometimes seen as an alternative supplier to Russia and the United States. India has recently placed a large order for France Mirages as it diversifies away from traditionally Russian jets (often produced in India under license). Even Serbia, which has long enjoyed close relations with Russia, is buying French Rafales.
Rafale sales helped catapult France into displacing Russia to become the world’s second-largest exporter of military equipment, according to data gathered by SIPRI for the years 2019-2023. While Russia’s decline happened before the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine, since early 2022, Russia’s military exports (including jets) have fallen off a proverbial cliff. Almost no countries are placing new large orders (the US and Europeans have largely stepped in and filled the void).
Photo: Dassault
One outlier is Iran, which is trying to purchase Russian Su-35s. However, even this tells a story of Russia’s fighter jet export woes. Iran is believed to be negotiating to purchase jets originally built for Egypt before Egypt canceled the order.