Extent of UAE's role in French Rafale jet's upgrade not yet decided, French minister says

Dassault Aviation SA

27/10/2026 17:04

PARIS, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The extent to which the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would participate in the development of an upgrade to the Dassault AM.PA Rafale fighter jet has not yet been decided, said French Defence minister Catherine Vautrin on Tuesday. 
France and the United Arab Emirates have revived plans to jointly develop an upgraded Rafale fighter jet after talks stumbled earlier this year.
During a hearing in a parliamentary committee, Vautrin  declined to comment on whether sensitive technologies could be transferred when asked by a Senator on this issue, only saying that contracts would mention industrial aspects that are "absolutely critical." 
Vautrin said that changing from an abandoned European FCAS fighter jet project to a national project would have an "almost neutral" impact financially.

 (Reporting by Florence Loeve;
Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta/Inti Landauro)
 ((sudip.kargupta@thomsonreuters.com;))