Rafale fighter jet offer falls short of UAE expectations

Dubai: The UAE yesterday said Dassault Aviation's bid to supply it with as many as 60 Rafale warplanes is uncompetitive, boosting prospects that rivals Euro-fighter or Boeing may secure the order.

While French President Nicolas Sarkozy has made every effort "diplomatically and politically" to win the contract for the Rafale, Dassault's proposals still come up short, General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said while touring the Dubai Airshow yesterday.

"Thanks to French President Sarkozy, France could not have done more diplomatically or politically to secure the Rafale deal. Bilateral relations have never been stronger and his constant personal intervention in this process has sustained Dassault at the forefront of our considerations.

"Regrettably Dassault seems unaware that all the diplomatic and political will in the world cannot overcome uncompetitive and unworkable commercial terms," he said.

A Dassault spokeswoman didn't immediately respond.

The UAE asked Britain for data on the rival Typhoon when officials met in Abu Dhabi last month, manufacturer Eurofighter said this week at the airshow, while Boeing said yesterday it has pitched two aircraft options for the contract.

The UAE's requirement is for planes to replace ageing Mirage fighters that were made by Dassault, according to an official at Eurofighter.