In the continued absence of a Rafale order, 42 of the United Arab Emirates’ fleet of Mirage 2000-9s are now due to be upgraded.
Babak Taghvaee
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS WITHIN the UAE in recent years have led to a decision to put on hold procurement of Lockheed Martin F-35A and Dassault Rafale F3R fighters to replace the UAE Air Force and Air Defence (UAEAF&AD)’s current fleet of 75 F-16E/F Desert Falcons and 59 Mirage 2000-9s. As a cheaper solution, the defense ministry has decided to modernize its existing fighter fleet and to look at new ISR and light attack platforms as a complementary solution.
