Gilbert Sedbon/PARIS
A DASSAULT RAFALE multi-role fighter is to be flown to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Tanagra air force base for evaluation, immediately after the Dubai air show ends on 16 November.
The continuing evaluation of combat aircraft is the clearest indication to date that the UAE has not yet determined which competitor will meet its strike-fighter requirement.
Some UAE air force pilots have already flown the Rafale for evaluation purposes from the Istres flight-test centre in southern France.
Defence analysts had previously thought that a decision could be made to coincide with the end of the air show, but a choice is now unlikely before the end of the year.
Dassault is competing with McDonnell Douglas, offering the F-15U; Lockheed Martin, pushing the F-16C/D; British Aerospace, proposing the Panavia Tornado GR1 and the Eurofighter 2000; Sukhoi, offering the Su-27M (Su-35); and MAPO-MiG, marketing a modified MiG-29.
Reports that the latter, will be equipped with an avionics suite, derived from French manufacturer Sextant Avionique's development for the MiG-AT advanced jet trainer, remain unconfirmed.
Dassault's proposal will include both the Matra Mica medium-range air-to-air missile and the Matra Apache stand off weapon. Chairman and chief executive Serge Dassault says that he is offering the Rafale equipped with the same types of radar and weaponry as those in the French air force.
US bidders are unclear on whether the Hughes AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile can be exported. The UAE wants an active-radar air-to-air missile, and is unlikely to settle for a semi-active weapon when the active Mica and missiles such as the Russian Vympel R-77 are also on offer.
Source: Flight International
