Maud Descamps and Jacques Serais, edited by Manon Fossat 2:17 p.m., December 3, 2021
The Emirates signed an agreement with France on Friday for the purchase of 80 Rafale. A "historic contract" worth around 17 million euros, which involves several issues. On the economic front, both the fallout for France will be important, but also on the political level, especially for Emmanuel Macron.
The United Arab Emirates signed an agreement on Friday to acquire 80 Rafale fighter jets, built by the French group Dassault Aviation, on the occasion of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Dubai.
In addition to the Rafale, the Emirates have also signed an agreement for the purchase of 12 Caracal helicopters.
"This is a major achievement of the strategic partnership between the two countries", welcomed the French presidency in a press release.
Especially with this contract, the stakes are multiple for the country and for the Head of State.
Create "thousands of jobs"
First, the economic benefits for France will be very significant.
These are "thousands of jobs" that will have to be created to manufacture and deliver 80 Rafale to the United Arab Emirates between 2027 and 2031, we assure the cabinet of Florence Parly, the Minister of the Armed Forces.
In detail, this order of approximately 17 billion euros includes 14 billion for the Rafale, two billion for their armament and one billion for the 12 combat helicopters.
What "to give visibility to the aeronautical sector for the next 10 years", since it is the contract "the most important ever signed by the sector".
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The Rafale is in fact 90% manufactured in France by 400 companies - with Dassault aviation as the main player - which work directly for the sector and concern 7,000 jobs.
These companies will therefore have to put themselves in order of battle: currently a Rafale leaves French factories every month.
But with this new order, it will be necessary to increase the rate, one explains in the entourage of the minister, "and to pass to two, even three Rafale per month".
These planes will be equipped with very high quality technology, known as connected combat, which allows them in particular to communicate with each other without going through the voice of the pilots.
Wash France's honor on the international scene
The stake is also political, because this contract should make forget the fiasco of the Australian submarines.
It is in a way the revenge of France on the United States, which had won the contract with Australia, because until now the United Arab Emirates mainly favored American F35 planes.
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But it is also a revenge for Emmanuel Macron, who washes his honor on the international scene with this historic sale. And this announcement comes at the right time for the Head of State, a month before the French presidency of the Council of the European Union. Emmanuel Macron intends to convince our neighbors of the European defense project and this firm order will precisely help to strengthen the attractiveness of our military industry to members of the Union.
Behind the scenes, the United Arab Emirates had already expressed interest in the Rafale a year ago, but France did everything to ensure that this contract was quickly concluded.
Florence Parly was even personally involved in the negotiations, according to her entourage.
Because beyond the financial question represented by such a contract, the political symbol is just as important for Emmanuel Macron, four months now from the presidential election.