DIMDEX: Qatar concludes Rafale deal

Qatar has finally completed the deal for 24 Dassault Rafale fighter jets at the opening day of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX).
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The deal - which includes MBDA missiles as well as training for 36 pilots and more than a hundred mechanics - is worth $7.5 billion.

Qatar had already made an initial payment for the aircraft in December but at the show today French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Khalid Al-Attiah, signed the final agreement. The sale to Qatar boosts sales for prime contractor Dassault, radar and systems specialist Thales, and engine-builder Safran. MBDA will supply the missiles.

 French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (Left) tours the show in Doha today, ahead of the official signing.