UAE receives first F4 Rafale fighter jet from Dassault

Dassault Aviation CEO, Éric Trappier, joined French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu and UAE Defense Affairs Minister Mohamed bin Mubarak Fadel Al Mazrouei in launching the new aircraft.

Al Mazrouei said: “Our defence partnership with the United Arab Emirates is based on a high level of interoperability between our armies, particularly in the air sector.”

The new fighter will add to the UAE’s existing Mirage 2000 fleet and future US-made F-35s.

It will be used for testing before the start of deliveries of the 80 Rafale ordered. These are expected to begin from 2027.