2023-07-25 09:49:44
During Sbastien Lecornu’s visit to Doha and Baghdad, discussions focused on the Rafale. Qatar wants to modernize its fleet, while Iraq is now showing keen interest in the French fighter.
As soon as the military programming law was adopted, the Minister for the Armed Forces took off on July 16 for a five-day trip to Qatar and Iraq. On the sidelines of Ukraine, Sébastien Lecornu wanted to take stock of the defense cooperation of Middle Eastern countries with France.
Among the points discussed in Doha with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani: a possible new Rafale contract. According the Tribune, it might be 24 aircraft in addition to the 36 ordered in 2015 and already delivered by Dassault Aviation. Following this contract, another option, unveiled in 2017, involved the purchase of 36 additional aircraft.
Modernize the Qatari fleet
Nothing has yet been confirmed by France or Qatar, but sources familiar with the matter clearly mention Doha’s desire to launch the modernization of its fleet of combat aircraft.
“The Rafale is for Qatar a structuring device. The country wants to develop its devices. It wants to follow the roadmap of the Rafale with the evolution towards the F4 standard and eventually F5”, explained this source.
Land priority for Iraq
The Rafales have also been the subject of discussions in Iraq.
“Baghdad has a lot of equipment projects for its air forces. The subject was mentioned, but not as an ‘immediate subject'”, specifies the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
On the other hand, Baghdad asked France to form 5 of its ground battalions. Paris should send between 80 and 100 soldiers to train 2100 Iraqi soldiers who make up these “desert battalions”.
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