Rafale deliveries fell to single figures in 2015

Dassault delivered eight Rafales in 2015, the French manufacturer has announced, with its annual output having for the first time included aircraft delivered to an export customer.

Outlining its business activities for last year, Dassault on 5 January said: “Eight Rafale (five to France and three to Egypt) were delivered in 2015, in accordance with our forecasts.” The latter received its first three Rafales – all twin-seat examples – last July.

Anthony Pecchi/Dassault

The production total represented a decrease of three units from the combined 11 aircraft handed over to the French air force and navy during 2014. Additional work on the programme conducted last year included continuing activities linked to the nation’s F3-standard fleet retrofit, the manufacturer states.

Dassault says that as of 31 December 2015, its production backlog for the Rafale stood at 83 aircraft: 38 for France and 45 for international customers. The latter includes another 21 examples for the Egyptian air force and 24 for Qatar. Both nations signed up to acquire the type during 2015.

“The success of the Rafale on the export market and its deployment in numerous theatres of operations by the French air force and French navy confirmed Rafale’s intrinsic qualities,” the company says.