France, UAE relaunch Rafale warplane development program

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France, UAE relaunch Rafale warplane development program

October 24, 2026

DUBAI — France and the United Arab Emirates have revived talks on jointly developing an upgraded Rafale fighter jet after negotiations stalled earlier this year, officials said.

The renewed effort gives Paris another opportunity to advance its flagship defense program as budget pressures mount.

France’s draft 2027 budget allocates €3 billion ($3.36 billion) to the Rafale F5 upgrade.

The project has gained importance following the collapse of plans for France and Germany to jointly develop a next-generation fighter aircraft.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the region this week and agreed with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan to deepen the strategic defense agreement between the two countries.

The UAE is the largest foreign customer for the Rafale, manufactured by France’s Dassault Aviation. France also operates military bases in the UAE.

Abu Dhabi has viewed Paris as a reliable security partner during the current Gulf conflict after France supplied air defense systems and used its fighter jets to intercept Iranian drones.

Macron told reporters on Wednesday that his visit had strengthened defense ties and produced an important agreement to establish a joint strategy for the Rafale’s fifth-generation capabilities.

Two people familiar with the matter said the next stage would focus on costs and technical requirements, with discussions involving the companies participating in the project.

Before negotiations stalled, French newspaper La Tribune reported in April that the program’s cost had reached €5 billion. The UAE was expected to cover about two-thirds of the total.

The project has become increasingly important as France seeks to accelerate military rearmament while facing large budget deficits and rising public debt.

The Rafale F5, also known as the F5 standard, is designed to modernize the fighter and strengthen France’s future air combat capabilities.

The upgrade is expected to add advanced weapons and improved connectivity, keeping the aircraft relevant into the 2040s while supporting the transition to future European combat aviation programs.

Foreign financing would ease pressure on France’s defense budget while helping preserve key industrial and technological capabilities.

The UAE is likely to seek technology transfers or the relocation of some production to its territory as part of any agreement.

Analysts have noted that such demands have caused tensions between defense suppliers and foreign customers, as manufacturers often resist sharing sensitive technology or moving production abroad.

A senior French official said Abu Dhabi had made a firm commitment to work with France. Dassault is also working with EDGE Group, an Emirati defense conglomerate.

Safran Chief Executive Olivier Andries, whose company manufactures the Rafale’s engines, called the development “very good news” on Friday.

During a call with reporters, he declined to identify which technologies or production activities could be transferred under the deal.

(With files from Reuters)