Successes and failures. Fighter Dassault Rafale in the international market

Dassault Rafale of the French Air Force

Since the late nineties, France, represented by Dassault Aviation, has been promoting its latest generation 4+ fighter Rafale on the international market. In the early years, this machine has repeatedly participated in foreign tenders, but has never been able to win. The situation changed only at the beginning of the last decade, and since then new orders have been regularly reported.

Commercial failures

By the beginning of the XNUMXs, "Rafale" had passed the main part of the tests, and the industry was preparing for the serial production of such equipment for the French Air Force and Navy. In addition, the search for foreign customers began, and the aircraft took part in a foreign tender for the first time. It soon turned out to be unsuccessful.

The first foreign Rafale operator could be the South Korean Air Force. At that time, they planned to renew their fighter fleet, and "Dassault" became one of the participants in the corresponding competition. Based on a comparison of foreign technology, the Korean Air Force chose the American F-15K fighter, modernized to meet their requirements.

The next setback took place in 2005. Then Dassault nominated its fighter for the NGF competition of the Singapore Armed Forces. According to the results of the first stage of comparisons, Rafale and the American F-15SG, modified taking into account the customer's requirements, reached the final. Soon, a car from the USA was chosen as the winner - the improvements fully justified themselves.

Deck "Rafali" of the French Navy

In 2007, the French media reported the unsuccessful completion of negotiations on the sale of Rafales to Morocco. The parties did not agree on financial and organizational matters, and the Moroccan Air Force ordered American F-16C / D aircraft.

A few months later, Rafale entered the list of participants in the new Brazilian tender. At the end of 2008 it became known that the French car became one of the three finalists and has every chance of winning. In the future, various messages appeared about the possible favorites of the competition, but the French plane did not figure in this context. At the same time, due to various problems and delays, the winner was chosen only in 2013, it was the Swedish JAS 39 E / F.

In parallel with the Brazilian competition, French aircraft manufacturers participated in two other similar programs. So, in 2009, Rafale was offered to Oman. This tender lasted for several years and ended in 2012 with the victory of the Eurofighter Typhoon. In the same 2009, the French technology interested the Kuwaiti Air Force. In the near future, the signing of the contract was expected, but due to disputes in the Kuwaiti leadership, it was postponed indefinitely. In 2015, the situation was not resolved in favor of France. Kuwait acquired Typhoons.

Since 2013, Dassault has participated in a competition to replace CF-18 fighters in the Canadian Air Force fleet. The customer was offered the organization of joint production and other favorable conditions. However, in 2018, the French side withdrew Rafale from the competition. This decision was due to the excessively stringent requirements of the customer and the impossibility of meeting them.

Fighter supplied by the Indian Air Force

The last loss to Rafale at the moment also refers to 2017-18. The French aircraft participated in the Belgian tender and was considered one of his favorites. However, at the end of 2018, the Belgian Air Force decided to purchase American F-35A fighters - due to the higher tactical and technical characteristics and operational capabilities.

The era of success

In 2007, India launched the now legendary MMRCA Medium Multipurpose Fighter Competition. After several years of comparisons, trials, disputes, etc., in 2012, the French Dassault Rafale was chosen as the winner of this tender - and this was his first victory in the struggle for a foreign order. In the near future, a contract for 126 aircraft was expected to be signed, and the terms of such a deal were discussed.

However, the negotiation process soon reached an impasse. The parties could not find mutually beneficial terms, and for the next several years the fate of the order remained in question. In 2016 alone, there was a firm agreement on the supply of only 36 aircraft. The first Rafali went to India in 2019, and to date, the order has been completed by about a third.

Qatari aircraft

Against the backdrop of these events, more successful negotiations between France and Qatar have been going on since 2011. Soon it was announced about the possibility of selling 72 aircraft, but then the volume of the contract was reduced to 24 aircraft. The agreement was signed in May 2015, and in 2019 the customer received the first aircraft.

Despite lengthy and fruitful negotiations with other countries, Egypt actually became the first foreign customer of Rafale. In 2014, this country initiated negotiations, and at the beginning of 2015, a firm agreement emerged. Already in the summer of the same year, the first of 24 aircraft taken from the presence of the French Air Force was handed over to the customer. In 2016, Egypt decided to exercise the option for 12 aircraft, and in May 2021 ordered another 30 new-built aircraft in the latest modification.

Since the summer of last year, France has been negotiating with Greece on the purchase of 18 aircraft of the current modification. At the beginning of 2021, the Greek authorities approved such a purchase, and at the end of January a contract appeared. Under its terms, the French side will transfer 12 aircraft from its presence and build 6 new ones. The first of them was handed over in June, and soon it became known about the imminent appearance of an additional agreement for 6 Rafales. It was signed in September.

Possible orders

Right now, Dassault is participating in a number of foreign tenders, each of which could potentially add to its portfolio of orders. However, the presence of serious competition to a certain extent reduces the likelihood of a positive outcome.

"Rafali" Egyptian Air Force

"Rafale" claims the contracts of the Air Forces of Spain, Finland and Switzerland. The results of their competitions have not yet been determined, but the French aircraft still has a chance of winning. At the same time, he faces tough competition from foreign technology. Its main enemy is the American 5th generation F-35 fighter, which has a number of obvious advantages.

The situation around possible supplies to the UAE is encouraging. Previously, this country has tested Rafale and was satisfied. Negotiations are underway, and the signing of the contract remains a matter of time. At the beginning of last year, Indonesia showed interest in aircraft. This year, such intentions were confirmed, and in June France received an offer to purchase 36 fighters with weapons. By the end of the year, there will be a French-Croatian agreement for 12 used Rafales.

Problems and solutions

Considering foreign tenders, their progress and results, one can understand why the Dassault Rafale fighter for several years has never been able to win a competition, and then gained a certain popularity. Apparently, these processes were based on technical, economic, political and other issues.

Almost immediately after entering the market, Rafal faced tough competition and was forced to resist leading foreign developments. In the South Korean and Singaporean competitions, this ended with the victory of new modifications of the American F-15, and now the next generation F-35 is becoming the main competitor. It is quite difficult to compete with American manufacturers, both for technical reasons and because of their lobbying capabilities.

One of the first aircraft for Greece

At the same time, the French aircraft, with all its advantages, had several significant disadvantages. It was too expensive, the declared characteristics did not always correspond to the real ones, etc. In addition, customers were alarmed by the protracted development and testing process, as well as the limited pace of production and deliveries to the French Air Force and Navy.

However, France and Dassault Aviation eventually managed to cope with the main problems. Thus, several modernization projects have been developed in succession; the next modification will go into production in the very near future. Due to the consistent renovation, it was possible to get rid of almost all the shortcomings and establish a full-fledged operation of equipment in the troops. In addition, the planes managed to show themselves in real combat operations.

In recent years, the French side has been using a flexible approach to the formation of contract terms - and gaining some advantages. Now the customer can choose the composition of the equipment and armament of the purchased aircraft. In a number of competitions, it was proposed to organize the production of equipment at the customer's sites.

An interesting and useful practice was the sale of aircraft from the presence of the French armed forces. In this case, the customer saves on used equipment, and the French army frees up space in the aircraft fleet for the Rafale of a new production of modern modifications. According to some estimates, such processes are a kind of lending in which the role of the bank belongs to the French Ministry of Defense.

Correct measures

Thus, having suffered several setbacks on the international arms market, France, represented by the Dassault company and some government agencies, took a number of different measures. Thanks to this, the situation has gradually improved, and now, over the past 8-10 years, Rafale regularly wins foreign competitions and becomes the subject of new contracts. More contracts are expected in the very near future.

All this shows that the commercial potential of a modern aircraft depends not only on the tabular characteristics obtained in accordance with the requirements of the main customer. There are many other factors to consider when entering the international market. Leading exporters of combat aviation technicians have long understood this and are taking appropriate action. And now France has joined them - and is ready for a successful fight for orders.

Comments

[Jacket in stock]

Another thing about the plane is a little more detailed, performance characteristics, differences in modifications, etc. it would be generally good.

[OgnennyiKotik]

In Runet, it is not customary to write his performance characteristics, and it’s not about them. The main feature in advanced electronic warfare systems, avionics and AFAR; excellent maneuverability, cruising non-boosting supersonic sound and one of the lowest RCS among 4oks - for a snack.
Perhaps all this makes Rafal the best air superiority fighter of the fourth generation.

[Engineer]

OLS is cutting edge yet. This is often forgotten.
It's funny that sales got off the ground almost synchronously with the equipment of AFAR-2012, perhaps this gave an advantage over all Europeans.

[Rome]

Sales shifted because the prices of competitors rose and Rafal, against the background of other fighters, began to cost adequate money. But it seems to me that the time period in which it will be relevant will be quite short, all the same, the 5th generation, UAVs and "type 5th generation" aircraft will quickly displace it. But in the boo version, I think it will still be in demand if the price tag will not break.

[seeker of truth 777]

according to your logic, the Rafale is better than the SU-57.

[OgnennyiKotik]

Quote: Truth Seeker 777

according to your logic, the Rafale is better than the SU-57.

1. First, the Su-57 should be put into service, while there is information only about its transfer for testing.
2. Understand what exactly was accepted. The fact that there will be many differences from what was promised is already clear.
After that, you can compare. The fact that at this point in time the serial Rafale is better than the experienced Su-57 is obvious.

[not 1]

Rafal does not have any cruising supersonic. By the way, the Rafals have a very old engine.

Reducing the RCS even to 1-2 m ^ 2 (which is unlikely, but let it be) in the standard wavelength range of enemy radars - practically does not play any role.
The detection range changes very little with decreasing RCS. To get the benefit of reducing the RCS, it is necessary to make it 10-100 times less.

[observer76]

He has a cruising supersonic sound. Detection range yes varies from RCS, if the type of radar and its power, as well as the angle of the antenna normal remains the same. Why post misinformation?

[not 1]

Of course no. Just like gripena ng does not have it
Only the f 22 has cruising supersonic (perhaps the su 57, but no one knows for sure)

[mmaxx]

Rafal is a good plane. But the F-15 is definitely not a competitor.

[Yaroslav Zhigulin]

After a stationary refueling bar, which EPR can we talk about

[outsider]

Quote: Yaroslav Zhigulin

After a stationary refueling bar, which EPR can we talk about

- Not "what", but "what", - EPR of the feminine gender - effective scattering surface ...

[Grohuf]

To call a light multirole fighter an air superiority fighter is strong. Only physics cannot be fooled, there cannot be a 10-ton fighter to fight aircraft 60% heavier.

[knn54]

-aircraft managed to show themselves during real combat operations.
War in Afghanistan (2007-2014); the war in Libya (2011), where they patrolled the airspace, and also inflicted pinpoint strikes on the troops and military installations of Muammar Gaddafi; a military operation against the "Islamic State" (2015-2016), where they, as part of the coalition forces from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, attacked IS forces in Iraq.
Ie as an attack aircraft, bomber and scout
The chip is also in the presence of a frontal electro-optical system (OSF) from the Thales company (a ledge in front of the cabin slightly to the right of the center). It is fully integrated into the aircraft and can operate in both the visible and infrared regions. OSF is immune to interference and is capable of providing covert surveillance over long distances, in particular, air targets - at 100 km, sea targets - at 60 km. In addition, "Rafale" is equipped with the RBE2 system, which can track targets passively at a distance of 200 km.
Plus Meteor air-to-air missiles (up to 150 km) make the aircraft the best in its class.
-He was overly expensive
It is VERY difficult both to maintain and to operate, which is why the deck version is produced as a two-seater - it is easier for two pilots to cope with the controls.
The cost of an hour of flight is three times higher than that of the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen, and twice that of the American F-16.
Flight and maintenance training for the Rafale takes several years, while training for the JAS 39 Gripen and Typhoon takes about six months.

[seeker of truth 777]

Europeans cannot catch up with America, no further analysis is required.

[bandabas]

But not as a fighter. There were no opponents in these theaters.

[mmaxx]

Rafal is just small. They shoved everything they needed into it, so it became expensive both in construction and in operation. It's just a paradox. The number of parts, systems and equipment on airplanes of more or less similar purposes is practically the same. And there is much more space in the big one. And a small plane for factory and ground people is hell.

[Illanatol]

They shoved everything that was needed into it, so it became expensive both in construction and in operation.

The cost price depends on the circulation of the product. The problem of all European manufacturers, and ours too. Low-volume production almost always loses in terms of price / quality ratio.

[mmaxx]

And that too.
But this complexity is the trouble with European aircraft. Compressed everything. At one time, even in old textbooks, the "Tornado" was described as the most perfect aircraft of that time. In such a size and weight, the maximum of possibilities was baked. But in reality it turned out ... The war in Iraq revealed extreme insecurity and vulnerability. The tightness of systems and equipment = complexities of repair. And from any bullet half of the plane was out of order there, so that you have to fly home immediately and you will be tortured to repair it. Unlike American cars, where they did not save on size. And it continues.
Our guarantors have been in many places. One said that he saw many planes of all kinds in the East in different countries. The Arabs there said that the Mirage was a good plane in peacetime, but not to fight. What modification did not say, so, in general. F-16 praised, simple, comfortable car. For maintenance and repair - a song.

[nks]

Quote: knn54

Therefore, the deck version is produced as a two-seater - it is easier for two pilots to cope with control.

OMG! Just the deck version (M) is only single (they wanted a double too, but in the end the budget could not), the land version is both single (C) and spark (B), well, then you basically say nonsense - where is it from everything, can you find out?

[nks]

All this is not hard to find. An article about sales, about sales in accordance with the title, and not about performance characteristics, and it has enough of its own jambs (it was like Ryabov wrote more decently before), so it's good that there is nothing about performance characteristics.

[Xlor]

There are many other factors to consider when entering the international market.

The most important factor is an envelope with money for the representative of a potential buyer. We call it a rollback ...

[OgnennyiKotik]

Everyone gives this envelope. It does not give any advantage. Just an additional tax.

[mmaxx]

Where big money goes, that's the only way. And nothing else. This is a business.

[Xlor]

Quote: OgnennyiKotik

Everybody give this envelope

It's all about how much they give ...

[Black Colonel]

Happiness is not in money, but in their quantity.

[gregor6549]

In the late 80s, along with the development of military-purpose automated control systems, I also had the opportunity to develop air traffic control systems for the Civil Air Fleet. And then our company made an attempt to enter into a partnership with the well-known French company Thales, which was also looking for partners in the open spaces of the then still alive USSR, hoping to reduce the price of its ATC systems at the expense of "white Chinese", i.e. highly qualified specialists of the USSR who could be paid for much less work than its citizens. But the partnership never took place due to the incredible stubbornness of the French in solving even the smallest problems. In addition, they wanted to hang the solution of the main technical problems on our developers (in particular, on our programmers) and leave the project management for themselves, i.e. paperwork and talking shop and the supply of ready-made technical means (radar; displays, digital computers, etc.) ...
In addition, potential customers of the developed air traffic control systems were immediately set strict conditions that the repair and maintenance of the electronic modules of the system should be carried out at Thales enterprises in France.
When the Customer calculated how much the services of the French would cost him, he sent them to the far distant, and after him the French were sent there too.
As I later found out, the French still managed to impose their systems and services on some countries, including Australia, which had already spent millions of greenbacks only on sending modules to France and back. I would not be surprised if this factor, along with others, played a role in Australia's recent refusal to buy French submarines.
Cunning and greed ruins not only fraers.

[nks]

Quote: gregor6549

In the late 80s ... with the famous French company Thales

The most interesting thing in your story is that Thales did not exist in the late 80s. It could only have been about Thomson-CSF.

Quote: gregor6549

As I later found out, the French still managed to impose their systems and services on some countries.

Straight a gang of hypnotists - everything is imposed and imposed, already on 70% of the world market of ATC systems they have imposed.

Quote: gregor6549

I would not be surprised if this factor, along with others, played a role in Australia's recent refusal to buy French submarines.
Cunning and greed ruins not only fraers.

These are all derivatives of stupidity, ignorance and politicking as a result of which Australia received multibillion-dollar losses with its recent decision, but this has nothing to do with the topic of the article and your fascinating story.

[gregor6549]

You are right about the then name of Thales. Then there was the French company Thomson CFC, which after merging with the British company Racal Electronics became known as Thales Group. But I did not bore members of the forum with such trifles, believing that this did not change the essence and used the current name Thales, which has already become familiar to many. Moreover, the Thales Group is now a multinational and diversified group of companies that develop and produce many types of equipment for the military and civilian sectors.

[nks]

Quote: gregor6549

But I did not bore members of the forum with such trifles, believing that this did not change the essence

I don’t know about the "fatigue of members of the forum", but you did not hesitate to publish your off-topic fantasy here.
Once again, the company was called Thomson-CSF (not Thomson CFC). Thales was formed by the merger of Thomson-CSF, Dassault Electronique and part of Alcatel. Racal was then simply bought and sold pretty quickly - now it belongs to some Americans.

[gregor6549]

And this is all that you could see in my commentary? Not a lot, however. Those. the essence of the comment does not bother you (or maybe it did not reach) and you caught on to typos and other irregularities in the text. Congratulations, you are our vigilant connoisseur of the names of foreign companies and I hope that when (and if) you live to see my age, you will be able to write without a single typo using your mobile phone.
In general, these "vigilant experts" have already got it. Behind, if not zero, then a scanty amount of what has been done, and ambitions and desire to teach more than ... As the son of a Turkish-filed one O. Bender used to say: "You need to kill such experts." And he was right.

[nks]

Dear Gregory,
It is very sad that with all your years, no matter how many of them, you have not acquired a sense of proportion and the ability not to do too much.
God bless them with typos - why do you write something that is not the topic of discussion (the history of Thales) when you are uncomfortable
(I confess, I also don't like writing a lot on the phone and try not to do it) and what you don't know, and then slide into petty rudeness after I just had to correct you in your incorrect statement?
As for your initial comment, I did not want to offend you and it remains only to regret that you did not understand a simple thing - you reproach (it does not even matter who) with meticulousness, accuracy in a large project and a desire to provide high-quality service support and thus pass off as good carelessness and maybe,
which you confirm with your erroneous statements off topic. I will not go on too much so that you do not get offended, but agree that it’s nothing surprising that your "Firm" and Thales have slightly different results?

[mmaxx]

You will understand that when you work with a company, then you use this name to the end. In their environment, everyone understands everything. And nobody needs to track sales-mergers and name changes.

[nks]

I wrote about something completely different, but with Gregory, by the way, exactly the opposite - he then worked (if the email is really so) with Thomson-CSF, and writes about Thales.

[voyaka uh]

"because of the incredible stubbornness of the French in solving even the smallest problems" ///
----
It's right. The Israelis also hardly contact them for the same reason.
Therefore, joint projects with the Germans with the French hang for many years in disputes and showdowns, who is more important.
And I don't believe in their 6th (joint) generation of fighter.

[outsider]

In the early years, this machine has repeatedly participated in foreign tenders, but has never been able to win. The situation changed only at the beginning of the last decade, and since then new orders have been regularly reported.

- "Have tasted!" ...

[outsider]

Quote: Truth Seeker 777

according to your logic, the Rafale is better than the SU-57.

- And much ...

[outsider]

Quote: ole1

Rafal does not have any cruising supersonic.

- Yes - without PTB and with four airborne missiles.

By the way, the Rafals have a very old engine.

.
- Everything is relative in this world ...

Reducing the RCS even to 1-2 m ^ 2 (which is unlikely, but let it be) in the standard wavelength range of enemy radars - practically does not play any role.

- Without suspensions, frontal EPR = 0.1-0.3 m².

The detection range changes very little with decreasing RCS.

- As a 4-root of EPR.

To get the benefit from the reduction of the RCS, it is necessary to make it 10-100 times less.

- For this, there are stealths with EPR = 0.0005-0.0001 m². But what does the Su-57 have to do with it, with its RCS from the front hemisphere ~ 0.5 m²?

[nks]

Quote: Outsider

- Yes - without PTB and with four airborne missiles.

The manufacturer claims at least two configurations in which the super cruise was demonstrated by combat pilots:
with PTB (supersonic for 1250 liters) + 4 airborne missiles
6 URVV

[outsider]

- Better!

[Maxim G]

6 URVV is for single deck-based Rafal M.

[nks]

Yes, this is the data of the fleet.

[Maxim G]

It remains to be seen whether he is a worthy opponent of the F-35.

[nks]

Yes, it seems not at all an enemy yet (among the countries to which these two IFIs were sold, there are no obvious opponents). When it comes to competition, it is clear that the French have a hard time opposing the American lobby, but so far their exports are at the same level (if we take the sales of the F-35 to countries that are not part of the F-35 consortium). However, the next year really promises to be interesting in this regard :)

[Maxim G]

I'm talking about opponents in terms of characteristics.

[nks]

I understand that this is just a figure of speech, but it seems to me that the expression "worthy opponent" is still not entirely adequate, especially since it is
it was used by the author of this article, in which he made decently gross errors of fact. Again, I repeat that it’s probably for the best that he hasn’t written about performance characteristics yet.
As for the comparison of the performance characteristics of the rafale VS f-35, this topic is what is called a holivar and in this sense risky.
But a few points can be highlighted:
1. For rafale, a version of the UVVP was not developed and therefore in this segment, it is not a competitor of the F-35B version by definition.
2. One must understand the temporal context. Both MFIs are created according to the concept of constant updating in order to meet the current requirements and it should be understood that there is now,
what they promise and in what perspective, what can change at all, and what not so much. Anyway, at the moment, Rafale,
obviously a much more mature MFI.
3. The most conservative is the glider - it can change very moderately and therefore it is quite possible to say that according to the flight characteristics of the F-35
hardly ever will be able to catch up with rafale.
4. avionics. At the _this_ moment, the F-35 is more raw and in places even less functional / outdated, but the network capabilities are somewhat better than that of the Rafale. We will look at the following blocks (it is curious that both are 4)
5. A set of weapons. If on land / sea one can more or less talk about parity, then on the airborne missile system the F-35 is clearly inferior to the rafale.
6. Performance characteristics. Even the target cost of an f-35 flight hour promises to be more than 2 times higher (and now 3+ times) than the current one for Rafal, and the fact that Rafal can make up to 5 flights per day,
and an F-35 less than one can make a significant difference in real, fairly intensive combat use.
7. The national context should not be forgotten either - different countries may have different needs and requirements.

[Maxim G]

Thanks for the detailed answer, but stealth?

[nks]

Please, although my answer is rather short :). As for stealth, it should be understood that this is a complex characteristic, which can be briefly defined as the probability of not only detecting, but also identifying and targeting enemy weapons under various OBD scenarios. Stealth methods are also complex:
1. Passive. Shape, dimensions and materials.
2. Active. Electronic warfare, jet cooling systems (Dassault demonstrated that the IR signature of Raphal was smaller).
3. Operational. Good old low-altitude breakout remains very effective. At the same time, you must also fulfill your task - if you only have active sensors for detecting the enemy and targeting weapons (like the F-22), albeit with a low probability of interception, then this reduces your stealth. In addition, other operational requirements must be kept in mind. Rafale was created on the basis of very strict requirements for weight and dimensions (first of all, these are the requirements of the fleet again), while the light single-engine F-35 is almost 50% heavier than it (it is even heavier than the F-15!), Although its internal compartments not so large, and the placement of the URVV-MD in them is not even in the plans - so far they can only be on an external sling (it is not very clear why the LM did not use the solution of special compartments for the URVV-MD that was worked out on the F-35 in the F-22 ).

You can, of course, debate, but the Rafale has an official (and there are also unofficial ones - in the exercises) independent confirmation of its stealth, and the F-35 has not yet.


https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/5125763

"Russian air defense systems at the Khmeimim and Tartus bases timely detected and controlled all missile launches from both sea and air carriers of the United States and Great Britain," the general said.
Announced participation of French aviation is not recorded"
Moreover, there were not only C-400 and S-300, but also the fleet (the strike was from the SZM) and AWACS A-50, and the French really warned.

[Maxim G]

Thanks, very interesting.
Especially to me as a fan of everything French).
Interestingly, Dassault does not use foreign engines in his military aircraft, unlike the civilian Falcon.

[nks]

Falcon is a commercial product that does not imply any special requirements for sovereignty. Dassault here proceeds from his commercial interests. They even often use Honeywell avionics, although they have a blocking stake in Thales (the Thales avionics division itself is the former Dassault electronique), but not in Safran. Rafale is, first of all, the state. order and there, even if foreign developments are used (such as Martin-Baker chairs or a CPU based on the IBM Power core in MDPU modules), they are manufactured in France under license. The state customer also determines (in consultation with manufacturers) which technologies are critical and should be developed by themselves, which costs money. So, as you know, on the Rafale A demonstrator, the ge-f404 was first used until the m88 was ready, and in the early stages of the RBE2 AESA development, American APMs were used.

[Maxim G]

Quote: nks

The state customer also determines (in consultation with manufacturers) which technologies are critical and should be developed by themselves, which costs money.

This topic, by the way, is more interesting than the final product itself.
In the Mistrals and Leclerks there are Finnish Vyartsilya diesel engines, the FREMM GTE General Electric LM2500 frigates In the new VBCI and EBRC cars there are used engines, but in fact they are Volvo (Renault trucks are included in Volvo trucks), VBMR Griffon has clean old engine, it turns out that engines are not considered critical?

[nks]

In fact, they are not considered. In general, all this can change over time in different directions depending on trends, but diesel engines are unlikely to be top technologies, although the engine and transmission on French leclerc cars are actually completely developed and produced in France (in Emirati German ones). SACM engine https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soci%C3%A9t%C3%A9_alsacienne_de_constructions_m%C3%A9caniques + turbomeca compressor (safran), and SESM automatic transmission http://www.asdsource.com/source_detail/6669 /societe_dequipements_systemes_et_mecanismes_-_sesm.htm, which were bought and rebranded by Wärtsilä and RENK (now Renk france) respectively.