F-35's French rival pitches 'Canadianized' fighter jet

Dassault Aviation of France is making an aggressive bid to sideline the F-35 and to sell its own jet fighter to Canada, offering to transfer technology, create jobs and share billions of dollars in business if Canada buys its Rafale fighter to replace its outdated fleet of CF-18s.

Dassault leads the French consortium that makes the twin-engined Rafale for the French air force. The Rafale, unlike the F-35, has been combat-tested in Afghanistan, Libya and Mali.

Although not yet sold outside France, India has announced plans to buy the Rafale on the strength of pledges to transfer the technology. The agreement provides that 108 out of 126 Rafales will be built in India, not France.

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