French aviation giant Dassault Aviation is preparing for a tough stretch with its pledge to deliver 20 Rafale fighter jets in 2024, against a backdrop of persistent supply-chain problems. The Rafale is an “omnirole” fighter jet adaptable to a wide range of missions that has seen intense demand, notably from India and the Middle East most recent interest pushes Dassault’s 36-month delivery pledge to the breaking point.
The IISS recently flagged the growing backlog of 228 aircraft by Dassault, anchoring the recent Indonesia order for the final 18 aircraft out of a previous 42-unit commitment alongside the 42-jet order for France in December 2023.
The Rafale was designed to replace seven different types of combat aircraft for the French military and is a multi-mission marvel capable of accomplishing air defense, air superiority, reconnaissance, close air support, and even nuclear deterrence missions. Its popularity comes from the fact that it can act like a “force multiplier” and its appeal to countries seeking alternatives to American and Russian jets.
Success has, however, also brought out several challenges: Dassault remains heavily dependent on a local supply chain- insulated from but not immune to global disruption-and engineering talent shortages further complicate the company’s efforts to scale up production in an attempt to keep up with the surging demand.
The Rafale is originating from the Avion de Combat Experimental-Acx program in the early 1980s. Initially developed as a technology demonstrator, the Rafale A first took to the skies in July 1986, leading into the Rafale C, which first took to the skies in May of 1991. The fly-by-wire control system and widespread use of composites have established the aircraft as a dangerous fourth-generation combat aircraft.
Key specifications of the Dassault Rafale C include a maximum take-off weight of 24,500 kg, a top speed of 1,913 km/h, and a service ceiling of 16,765 meters. The aircraft is armed with a 30mm cannon and can carry up to 9,500 kg of disposable stores on 14 stations.
The Rafale has been chosen by air forces such as those of Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, Indonesia, and the UAE. Its military interventions have taken place in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq, and Syria.
Meanwhile, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has catalyzed a transformation in the European defense industry. Across Europe, countries have nearly doubled their defense budgets and accelerated equipment modernization programs. These new developments create opportunities for an unprecedented rate of modernization of armed forces arsenals across NATO and EU member states.
Many former Warsaw Pact countries have donated Cold War-era machinery to Ukraine, creating capability gaps that members are eager for NATO to fill. That has put pressure on defense manufacturers to keep up with a growing demand for NATO-interoperable kits, opening the door for European companies to step in.
For example, the Czech Republic has undertaken an extensive modernization of its military hardware. Already, the Czech government has signed a bill that would bring defense spending in line with NATO’s standards by 2024 and allow the acquisition of 24 F-35A combat aircraft, among other advanced systems.
Some countries have suffered from delays in acquiring requested military systems as the U.S. focuses on their armed forces and then on key allies. This has become a motivation for countries such as South Korea, Germany, and Israel to be in a position to offer indigenous products to replace U.S. systems, thereby encouraging diversification of suppliers and production lines.
The war in Ukraine and the resultant backlog in US military equipment procurement create significant opportunities for European and other defense manufacturers. This shift signifies a strategic hedging approach by European countries in pursuit of continuity in their military readiness and greater autonomy in key areas of defense technology and capability.