The transition from Dassault’s Mirage 2000 fighter jet to the Rafale is accelerating worldwide as nations section out older fleets in favor of the French firm’s most superior multirole plane, Dassault Aviation CEO Éric Trappier instructed French lawmakers on September 24.
Speaking earlier than the National Assembly, Trappier highlighted that a number of nations — together with India, Qatar, Egypt, Greece, and the United Arab Emirates — are actually planning to exchange their Mirage 2000 fleets with Rafale fighters.
“The Mirage 2000 is reaching the top of its service life. It continues to be flying in France, however it is going to quickly cease as a result of we have to transition fully to Rafale. This can be true for all our export shoppers, who’re shifting from the Mirage 2000 to the Rafale,” Trappier mentioned.
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The Mirage 2000, as soon as a spine of many Western-aligned air forces, stays in restricted service however is step by step being retired. Dassault and its export clients now view the Rafale as the long run, providing far larger multirole functionality, superior avionics, and next-generation fight efficiency.
However, not all operators are able to transition instantly. Peru, for instance, is anticipated to announce in October the winner of its competitors for twenty-four new fight plane. Rafale is competing towards Saab’s Gripen and Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Viper. Rumors have urged that the Gripen is presently favored, however Lima has made no remaining choice.
In parallel, Peru’s protection ministry has confirmed the deliberate buy of 12 subsonic coaching plane able to conducting counter-narcotics missions, with deliveries anticipated to start in July 2026. Aircraft into account embrace Leonardo’s M345 and M346 and Aero Vodochody’s L-159 Alca.
Meanwhile, Taiwan intends to maintain its Mirage 2000-5 fighters operational for so long as doable. Acquired within the late Nineties for 20 billion francs, these plane stay succesful platforms. However, the rising tempo of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) operations close to Taiwan is making upkeep and sustainment harder. In January 2024, Taiwanese media reported that Taipei would allocate €300 million for the acquisition of M53 engine components from Safran Aircraft Engines, alongside two extra assist contracts signed discreetly.
Trappier acknowledged the challenges of supporting an growing old fleet however mentioned Dassault continues to ship.
“Even if the commercial dynamics of spare components and repairs for the Mirage 2000 are barely declining, Dassault Aviation continues to be offering glorious assist for Taiwan’s plane. It is a little more tough than earlier than, however we’re doing it very effectively,” he instructed lawmakers.
Despite this ongoing assist, Taiwan’s long-term ambitions are clear.
“You know very effectively what the Taiwanese need. What they need is the Rafale. But that doesn’t rely upon me. I’m not saying that promoting to Taiwan is nice or unhealthy. That isn’t my accountability — it’s the accountability of the state,” Trappier mentioned.
Selling superior navy programs to Taiwan stays politically delicate for France, which has sought to keep away from antagonizing Beijing. In 2020, a modest €24 million contract for decoy launchers on Taiwan’s La Fayette-class frigates drew an offended response from China.
The geopolitical backdrop intensified in May, when a short border conflict between India and Pakistan noticed China launch an info marketing campaign claiming its J-10 fighter, outfitted with the PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile, was superior to the Rafale. The Indian Air Force rejected these claims and responded by recommending the acquisition of 114 extra Rafale fighters.
