UAE and France resume Rafale F5 fighter jet modernization project

France and the United Arab Emirates have resumed negotiations for the joint development of a modernized Rafale fighter jet, known as the Rafale F5 standard. This follows a previous breakdown in talks earlier this year, which were reportedly stalled due to disagreements over access to sensitive technologies and cost-sharing arrangements.

During a recent visit to the UAE, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan to deepen strategic defense ties. The two leaders agreed on a common strategy for the fifth-generation Rafale. The UAE is currently the largest external customer for Dassault Aviation’s Rafale aircraft.

The project has gained renewed momentum amid geopolitical shifts in the Middle East and increased defense investment initiatives. Recent industrial cooperation includes the establishment of EDGE Europe in Paris and a memorandum of understanding between the UAE’s EDGE Group and Safran Electronics & Defense to co-develop next-generation precision weapons. The French government has allocated approximately three billion euros toward this project in its 2027 budget.