Or the government hoped to export Rafale in order to make it affordable, a cost right now that is unsustainable in it’s current form.

According to the latest figures, Dassault produced only 5 Rafales in the first half of this year. .The lowest number of fighter aircraft in the history of the company . A second assembly line for Mirage 2000 would have reduced the OVERHEADS considerably..

Anyway, the probability of Gripen winning in either Brazil or India is IMHO not very high, and the probability of winning both will be even smaller…[/QUOTE]

I concur.. But the chances of RAFALE winning in INDIA is not very high either. .BRAZIL is a sure thing with LULA winning the next election in October.

merlin,

The point of the thread is not to talk about it because it is in production, but rather to discuss what is going on with the 600 or so Mirages 2000’s that are flying around the world.

Given that it is in service in nine different countries, I’d say you’re quite wrong that it is no longer a factor or that it’s time is up.

I too remember reading that the line was closed due to the attempt to get more Rafale sales, which as another person pointed out might not have been the best idea given that the Rafale itself hasn’t done well in the export market.

A shame really because the 2000 is still quite a capable airframe, and much more affordable than the Rafale even though it might not be as cheap as the F-16.

Phantom II,

I think that the total number of M2k’s flying around the world is much less than 600.. I estimate the number in operation outside France to be somewhere between 230-250 and falling , the UAE are trying to get rid of their Mirage’s and I read somewhere that also TAIWAN was not very happy with their M2K’s acquired in 90’s and has been asking the US urgently for new VIPER’s ever since .The Mirage 2000 came late in 1984 at a time when the VIPER was already flying in high altitudes .
The assembly line was closed not because DASSAULT wanted to promote the more capable RAFALE ,it was closed because after the year 2002 nobody was seriously interested in MIRAGE 2000 anymore. The more versatile arche rival Block52+ was cheaper to acquire and operate. Since the fighter is no longer in production,the upgrade costs of existing fleets are extremely high ..

Flying a SABRE against MIG-15’s in KOREA

A masterpiece ! 🙂

-The F18 would be the best but we can’t buy it because of North american restrictions .
-The French plane is an old fashioned buying : not yet sold to any country and the worth of all when it comes to technology transfer .. (lol)

So thats why we, businessmen, support the purchase of Gripen NG :
The one which is already sold to so many countries and which is free of US restrictions …;)

Stop wasting your time with Brazil ;), the game is over there for the Gripen, you’ll only get frustration.
Switzerland or India looks better

BRAZIL IS A SURE THING…SWITZERLAND HAS NO MONEY FOR 33 FIGHTERS AND INDIA IS THE MOST DIFFICULT ONE. .IN INDIA , I WOULD BET MY MONEY ON SUPERHORNET .. IF I LOSE, IT WOULD BE TO THE MIG-35.

Seems like an awful lot of trouble to sell 36 aircraft.

Yeah thats true. .But you must consider this is the first export order after nearly 12 years of relentless marketing and sales efforts.. Dassault has never waited so long after an introduction of a new fighter. .MirageIII, F-1 and M 2000 all were great success and sold few years after their maiden flights.

i would genuinely be please for Rafale if it makes a sale, its been such a long time!

but the details of how the deal has been secured are certainly not something to worry about, it would be fantastic business for france (and a great buy for Brazil) if they end up with such a fantastic mix of advanced fighters!

This couldn’t have worked even 2 years ago. Its fate:D

I think it is a fantastic political move for France but certainly not a fantastic business for Dassault after the latest price reduction of almost 2 Billon dollars for 36 fighters.

[QUOTE=Nils;1536247]there is still a chance the Rafale might book an export customer in the long run.
Belgium is concidering to replace its fleet of F-16AM/BM’s in the 2020-25 timeframe and the Rafale is concidered a favorite.

Fat chance of that.. Flemish governments are anti-french !