News from Dassault

UAE contract enters into the order backlog

“On 19 April 2022 we received the first down payment of the contract for the acquisition of 80 Rafales by the United Arab Emirates. Signed on 3 December 2021 in the presence of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, this contract, by its exceptional scope, attests to Dassault Aviation’s technological expertise and the Rafale’s unique operational qualities. It also illustrates the strength of the strategic partnership between the United Arab Emirates and France,” stated the company. This contract testifies to the ‘historical and privileged’ relationship between Dassault Aviation and the United Arab Emirates Air Force & Air Defence (UAE AF & AD) since its creation and reaffirms the Emirates’ satisfaction with Dassault Aviation fighters as demonstrated by the modernisation of the Mirage 2000-9.

Greece acquires six additional new Rafales

Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, and Vice- Admiral Aristidis Alexopoulos, Director General of Armaments and Investments of the Greek Ministry of Defence, signed in Athens, in the presence of Mrs. Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces, and Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, Greek Minister of National Defence, a contract for the acquisition of six additional new Rafale aircraft. This new contract, which follows Greece’s acquisition of 18 Rafale in January 2021, will increase to 24 the number of Rafale operated by the Hellenic Air Force. Following the arrival at Tanagra Air Base of the first six Rafale of the Hellenic Air Force on 19 January 2022, the 18 Rafale relating to the first contract will be fully deployed in Greece by the summer 2023.The six additional Rafale will then be delivered to the Hellenic Air Force shortly thereafter, starting from the summer 2024.

Falcon 6X successfully completes cold soak trials

The Falcon 6X has completed cold weather testing, passing another major milestone towards certification, expected later this year. The test team of engineers, consisting of technicians and pilots from Dassault Aviation and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Canada endured bone-chilling temperatures as low as -37°C (-35° F) during the long trial runs in Iqaluit, a tundra town in the far north of Canada. These tests, which were completed at the end February, followed an initial series of cold weather tests in Iqaluit in December, when temperatures dipped as low as -25°C (-13°F). The 6X endured a total of 50 hours of Arctic cold tests and has now accumulated some 650 flight hours, and completed over 220 flights.