TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is interested in buying France’s Rafale fighter jet as its fleet of Mirage 2000s approaches the end of its service life, according to Dassault Aviation Chair and CEO, Eric Trappier.
His comments were made during a recent hearing at the French National Assembly’s Economic Affairs Committee, per aviation media outlet AeroTime on Friday. Trappier emphasized that any sale would be a political decision made by the French government, not the manufacturer.
Taiwan bought Mirage 2000-5 fighters from France in the 1990s. Accidents have reportedly reduced the original fleet from 60 to 54 aircraft.
Trappier said at the hearing there were challenges maintaining the aging Mirage fleet, with spare parts taking up to two years to arrive.
“The Mirage 2000 is at the end of its life. It still flies a little in France, but it will stop,” Trappier reportedly said. “The dynamic of spare parts and repairs is decreasing, but we continue to support Taiwan very well. It is a bit harder than before, but we are doing it.”
His comments follow on from French President Emmanuel Macron saying that the Mirage 2000 aircraft would be phased out in favor of an all-Rafale fighter fleet.
“Everybody has said that the future would be the Rafale,” Trappier commented. “That is true for all our export clients who are moving from the Mirage 2000 to the Rafale. And you know very well what the Taiwanese want. What they want is Rafale.”
If France did sell Rafale jets to Taiwan, China would likely complain. An Associated Press report in July showed that China launched a campaign to discredit the Rafale after clashes between India and Pakistan in May.
Chinese efforts included diplomatic pressure and disinformation. Fake social media images and videos compared the Rafale unfavorably to China’s J-10 and PL-15 missiles. Chinese defense attaches have also reportedly briefed potential customers against the Rafale.
