Cost of Rafale per unit can lower with French government support

France’s Dassault Aviation may be about to enjoy government financial support of the type that would enable its Rafale fighter to push into export markets.

Both the contract announced earlier this year for 24 aircraft to be sold to Egypt, as well as a proposal made in mid-March for what is anticipated to be a request for proposals for a 16-18 aircraft buy from Malaysia, feature loans backed by French government guarantees as the financing mechanism for the sales.

The twin-engine French fighter has a number of attractive features from the perspective of the nations that have considered purchasing it.

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