Dassault Expecting First Rafale Export Order From Qatar

Dassault is preparing to recieve a contract for 72 Rafale jets from Qatar marking its first export order.

According to a French government official, a contract would probably come in two batches of 36 aircraft. Negotiations would last about a year but the contract would be less complex than one signed with India. 

The deal with Qatar will mark Dassault's first export contract before it completes negotiations with India for 126 fight aircraft. 

The Rafale was in competition with the Euro fighter Typhoon and Boeing’s Super Hornet F-18 and F-15 Strike Eagle.

Benoît Dussaugey, DA’s senior executive vice-president (international), last year, said that the “whole world acknowledges the high performance of Rafale” and also pointed out that while it was true Saudi Arabia went ahead with its Typhoon jet deal, the UAE had backed out of it citing budgetary restraints.