With exports in mind, a Dassault-led team is set to introduce a package of system and software modifications to the Rafale fighter that would allow it to meet a broader range of requirements, from state-of-the-art surveillance to traditional strike or air defense. Beaten twice in a row by the U.S.'s venerable F-15 in competitions in South Korea and Singapore, the Rafale now appears to have lost to the Eurofighter Typhoon in Saudi Arabia, although Dassault Aviation officials insist the final decision has not been made (AW&ST Jan. 2, p. 32). With several other contests expected to emerge—in particular, one in Greece—French industry and government officials acknowledge that some changes may be in order.
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