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Thales welcomes order for 59 Rafale combat aircraft

07 December 2004

The Rafale programme represents contracts worth 1 billion euros for Thales in 2004

As a major partner of the Rafale programme, Thales welcomes the order for 59 Rafale F3 standard combat aircraft awarded by the French defence ministry. This new contract confirms the programme as a key component of France's defence capability for the coming decades.

This latest order takes the total number of Rafale combat aircraft ordered by France to 120 and follows the first two batches already ordered: 13 aircraft in 1994 and 48 in 1999. Thales has been involved in all three orders and has already equipped the French Navy's Rafale F1 standard aircraft, which entered operational service last June, and the Rafale F2 standard aircraft for the French Air Force and Navy.

Thales is supplying the electronic equipment that constitutes the Rafale's navigation and attack system, including the RBE2 electronic scanning radar, the Spectra electronic warfare system, IFF identification equipment, mission and data-storage computer, displays, communication equipment, backup instruments and electric power generation systems.

Denis Ranque, Chairman and CEO of the Thales Group, commented: "This programme is of great importance for Thales and we are proud to contribute to the operational excellence of the Rafale by supplying our electronic systems."

For Thales, this contract adds to the three contracts already won since early 2004:

* Development of the Rafale F3 standard, which gives the aircraft the capabilities that make it the first multi-mission combat aircraft of its generation. This new contract gives the Rafale complementary operational capabilities, including deployment and fire control of ASMP-A medium-range air-to-ground missiles and AM39 anti-ship missiles, as well as accommodating the RECO NG optronics pod and high-resolution air-to-ground mapping with the RBE2 radar.
* Development of a second demonstrator for the RBE2 combat radar with active antenna. The Rafale is the only European multi-role combat aircraft with this capability.
* Through-life support of all equipment supplied by the Thales Group for a duration of seven years. This equipment will be used on the first 120 Rafale combat aircraft.

The four contracts awarded to Thales since early 2004 total 1 billion euros.

Press contacts:
Verena Adt - Tel : + 33 (0) 1 57 77 86 26
Brigitte Porée - Tel : + 33 (0) 1 57 77 88 10