After placing a firm order for 80 Rafale fighter jets from France, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is preparing, according to the news site El Espanol, to sell a fleet of 68 Mirage 2000-9 fighter jets in Morocco and Egypt.
Almost five years ago, the UAE signed a contract with Dassault Aviation to modernize around sixty Mirage 2000s, a multi-purpose combat aircraft (air-to-air and air-to-ground). The amount of the modernization contract would amount to around 300 million euros. The planes will be delivered to the UAE from 2027 to the F4 standard, a developing program of nearly two billion euros to be delivered in 2024 and presented as a “Technological, industrial and strategic leap”. This order aims to replace the 60 Mirage 2000-9 acquired in 1998 by the Emirates.
However, the Royal Air Force (FRA) is about to acquire 8 Caracal H225m helicopters, which will be added to the already well supplied Moroccan military fleet. This timely contract and the conclusion of negotiations on a contract to acquire eight H225M Caracal helicopters from Airbus Helicopters which brought together the Moroccan and French parties.
The ARF had entered into military agreements under which it was agreed to allow the Kingdom to have a group of aircraft designated for military activities. This contract is part of the strategic partnership between France and Morocco.
Regarding the characteristics of this device, ” Caracal helicopters are exceptional defense and sovereignty tools. This contract concretely reflects the density of our defense relationship with the United Arab Emirates. It is a mark of confidence in the European industry, of which Airbus is one of the flagships ”, declared Florence Parly, Minister of the French Armies during negotiations of eleven of these devices with the UAE.
The Caracal H225M has largely proved its worth in several operations, the helicopter has unparalleled operational capabilities in the field of search and rescue missions in combat, in particular thanks to its in-flight refueling capabilities, its port armaments, its equipment. night vision and its air-rope capabilities allow it to drop commandos in places that are very difficult to access. The H225Ms will be entirely produced and assembled in France, at the Airbus Helicopters industrial site in Marignane.
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