Qatar To Procure Dassault Rafale Aircraft?

Qatar could intensify its interest in procuring Rafale jets when its new Emir, Sheikh Tamim Ben Hamad Al Thani visits Paris on June 23, the La Tribune financial website reported on Wednesday.

La Tribune, citing various sources, said that the Emir might announce during his visit that Qatar had opted for the Rafale and would open exclusive talks with Dassault Aviation.

Negotiations would last about a year but the contract would be less complex than one signed with India, a source close to the matter told La Tribune.

France, which expects to slow down the rate of production of the planes owing to a lack of export orders, and Qatar resumed talks on the matter in March, according to reports.

The Rafale is in competition with the Eurofighter built by British group BAE Systems, Finmeccanica of Italy and by the defence arm of the European conglomerate Airbus Group.