On 29 December 2022, Dassault Aviation’s Mérignac plant delivered Rafale B359 (F3R standard) to the French DGA procurement agency.
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Press Release, Saint-Cloud, 10 January 2023: On 29 December 2022, Dassault Aviation’s Mérignac plant delivered Rafale B359 (F3R standard) to the Direction Générale de l’Armement (French defence procurement agency).
This event marks the resumption of Rafale deliveries to France after an interruption of four years. The Rafale B359 is for the French Air and Space Force. It is part of the ‘tranche 4’ order for 60 aircraft awarded in 2009.
In accordance with the various Military Programming Acts, deliveries to France were interrupted for budgetary reasons. The Rafale production line was then dedicated to export orders.
A further 27 Rafale are still to be delivered for tranche 4, plus 12 Rafale ordered by France in 2021 to make up for the 12 aircraft sold to Greece. Tranche 5 should be awarded in 2023.
In the current strategic context, the Dassault Aviation group is particularly proud to be a partner in equipping and supporting the French Air Force, as it has done for more than a century.
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