There are new rumors that the UAE is considering cutting half of its 80 Rafale fighter jets order. However, there is no solid evidence to support this claim so far, and it is mainly being spread by some bloggers on X (formerly Twitter). In 2021, the UAE signed a contract with France for $16.6 billion to purchase 80 Rafale fighters, with the first delivery expected in 2026 and all deliveries completed by 2031.
No matter whether the UAE will really cancel 50% of its Rafale orders, it can be confirmed that the one-sided result of the air battle between India and Pakistan has once again put the already controversial Dassault Rafale fighter jets in the midst of public opinion due to their high price. Currently, Indonesia is reviewing its $810 million contract for 41 Rafale fighters.
For both the UAE and Indonesia contracts, France has not delivered a single Rafale fighter jet yet; thus, there is still a possibility of change.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832161381554507/
Disclaimer: This article only represents the author's personal views.