Story ID: 314
‘Euro-canard’ Fighters Achieve Export Momentum
By: David Donald
Caption: Europe’s three principal fighters—Rafale, Typhoon and Gripen—have all seen their order books expand significantly in recent years.
Word Count: 1764
While much attention is drawn to the next generation of fighters, as represented by the Franco/German/Spanish New Generation Fighter (part of Future Combat Air System/FCAS) and the Anglo/Italian/Japanese Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), the three main European fighter types in production have all made significant gains in recent times with new orders from both domestic and international customers. The trend could prove more significant in the context of recent political momentum in the direction of greater European self-reliance in defense capability.
Colloquially referred to as the “Euro-canards” owing to a shared canard foreplane configuration, France's Dassault Rafale, the multinational Eurofighter Typhoon, and Sweden's Saab Gripen were all developed in the 1980s and 1990s to meet domestic requirements. Both the Typhoon and Gripen achieved some initial success in exports, but it was to be some years before all three types began racking up further sales.
The more recent uptick in demand has been achieved in the face of strong U.S. competition from the Lockheed Martin F-16 in its later, modernized variants, and from the F-35, which secured several important sales in Europe that might otherwise have gone to one of the European competitors. At the same time, they have benefited from the inability of several air arms to acquire the F-35, either through financial restraints or political/security issues. In their home nations, too, there have been follow-on purchases driven by more advanced versions of the aircraft. FCAS and GCAP are at least a decade away from service, and the Euro-canards are expected to undertake European defense commitments until the new fighters are ready, and to fly alongside them for many years thereafter. 
New developments—including technology cascaded from the FCAS/GCAP programs—are planned for the three current fighters for the foreseeable future. Dassault is currently working on an F5 standard for the Rafale, while Eurofighter has outlined a technology development roadmap for the Typhoon. Saab is employing an incremental development approach for the Gripen E/F, made possible by the type’s segregated avionics that permit the rapid fielding of new technology.
Dassault's Rafale Breaks Through
Although the slowest of the European trio to receive export orders, the Dassault Rafale has become the most successful so far in terms of numbers of both aircraft and customers. The first overseas sale came in early 2015 when Egypt ordered 24, including six diverted from French deliveries, followed by another 30 in 2021. Qatar also ordered the type in 2015 with an initial batch of 24 and an option for 12, which was exercised in 2017. 
Following a protracted period of negotiation that included proposals to build the Rafale in-country, India signed for 36, with 18 options, in September 2016. The French warplanes were deployed in operations against Pakistan last month.
No further sales were achieved during the remained of the 2010s, but then Greece emerged as the next customer, buying six new and 12 ex-French air force aircraft in 2020. Six more were ordered in 2021, and the last of the 24 was delivered in January this year. 
Croatia also opted to buy 12 ex-French aircraft in September 2020 to replace its elderly MiG-21 fighters. The first was delivered in October and the last this April.
Currently, these are the only foreign air arms to operate the Rafale, but Dassault has continued to receive orders. After a drawn-out procurement process, Indonesia signed to buy 42 Rafale Standard F4s in February 2022. Last August, contract negotiations were completed with Serbia covering the acquisition of 12 Rafales.
From 2009, the United Arab Emirates had shown strong interest in the Rafale, especially given its history of operating Mirage III/5 and 2000 fighters. However, it was not until December 2021 that a purchase of 80 to the latest F4 standard was announced, shortly after the U.S. had cancelled the sale of F-35s to the UAE on security grounds. 
The first Rafale for the UAE was formally unveiled in late January. The aircraft is to remain in France at Istres on tests, with the first handover to the UAE Air Force due for the end of next year.
Most recently, the Indian Navy became a customer with an order signed on April 25. It covers 22 Rafale M carrier-borne aircraft to serve aboard INS Vikrant, and for four Rafale DH two-seaters that will remain ashore as trainers. The deal also includes Meteor air-to-air, Exocet anti-ship, and SCALP air-to-ground missiles.
In answer to this resurgence in overseas demand for the type, along with additional top-up domestic orders, Dassault has ramped up the production line. By the end of 2024 Dassault had contracted orders for 507 aircraft, of which 234 were from France and 273 from export customers. Recent orders have pushed the export number to well over 300.
Eurofighter Typhoon Craves Export Momentum
The Typhoon was always assured of a healthy initial order book as the result of being a major quadrinational industrial program, with assembly and production being undertaken in all four nations. Domestic orders resulted in the UK taking 160, Italy 96, Spain 73, and Germany 143. The four partner nations received the last of these fighters in 2019 and 2020.
While the Typhoon created—and continues to receive—significant interest internationally, resulting export sales have been sporadic. Austria was the first customer, signing up for an eventual 15 aircraft in July 2003 in the face of competition from the F-16 and Gripen. Having announced in 2020 that they would be replaced by a fighter that was cheaper to operate, Austria then decided that the aircraft would to be upgraded, and consideration is being given to adding a few more.
Eurofighter’s biggest export coup was announced in August 2006, when an agreement by Saudi Arabia to buy 72 was revealed. The deal initially included 48 of them being assembled in Saudi Arabia, but those plans did not materialize. The first aircraft was handed over in 2009. 
Subsequent negotiations regarding the acquisition of another 48 Typhoons have been ongoing for some years. The potential sale was blocked by a German embargo on Saudi Arabia, but this was lifted in January 2024. No further announcements regarding the potential deal have emerged.
The Eurofighter consortium’s next export sale came in December 2012, when BAE Systems announced an order for 12 from Oman. The first was delivered in 2017. Arabia also generated the next sale, with Kuwait signing a contract with the Italian government for 28 aircraft in April 2016. Kuwait also became the first customer with the Captor E e-scan radar.
Qatar joined the roster of export customers in 2017, creating something of a surprise by announcing it would be buying 24 Typhoons to serve alongside its Rafales, and the F-15QA Eagles it was buying from Boeing. The BAE Systems-led deal also included Hawk trainers. Last December Qatar confirmed that it would be taking up its options for 12 more Typhoons.
While that remains the state of play regarding export sales, three of the home nations have recently added more Typhoons to the order book. In 2020 Germany placed an order for 38 new aircraft under the Quadriga project. These Tranche 4 aircraft have been bought specifically to replace the Luftwaffe’s ageing (and costly to update) Tranche 1 machines. Germany is also eyeing a further 20 as a partial replacement for the Tornado IDS fleet.
Further Tranche 1 replacement orders have come from Spain for 20 Tranche 4s in November 2023, and for 25 Tranche 4+ aircraft ordered a year later. Italy is also buying 24 Tranche 4s to replenish its fleet following the retirement of the Tranche 1 jets. On its part, the UK has opted to retire its Tranche 1s without replacement, but is in the process of upgrading part of the fleet with the electronic attack-capable ECRS Mk2 e-scan radar.
The recent round of orders brings the Typhoon total to 762 aircraft, of which 163 have been for export. 
Saab Logs Gripen Sales in Latin America
Designed specifically for the unique demands of its home market, Sweden’s initial JAS 39A/B Gripen emerged as a smaller and lighter fighter than the Rafale or Typhoon, but one with state-of-the-art features. With the NATO-compatible and inflight-refueling-capable Gripen C/D, the type became a worthy competitor in the global marketplace, its manufacturer highlighting lower acquisition and operational costs.
The Czech Republic was the first export nation to receive the Gripen C/D. A 2002 outright acquisition was delayed by budgetary reasons, but in June 2004 the government announced that it would lease 12 single-seat and two two-seat Gripens for 10 years, the first being delivered in 2005. A follow-up agreement extends the deal until 2029. Hungary also opted for the lease route, signing for 14 JAS 39C/Ds in February 2003, adding four more last year. 
South Africa was the first overseas customer to purchase Gripens outright, announcing an order for 28 in 1999. Deliveries began in 2008. Thailand completed the initial round of export sales by buying 16 Gripen C/Ds in two batches ordered in 2008 and 2010.
In response to domestic and international requirements, Saab developed the Gripen E with a more powerful General Electric F414 engine, two additional hardpoints, and increased range and load-carrying performance. The aircraft features the ES-05 e-scan radar and has the ability to carry large stand-off weapons. 
While Sweden bought an initial 60, with plans for 10 more, the type attracted Switzerland. An intention to order 22 was announced in 2011, but was subsequently overturned by public referendum. The decision was made on the basis that Switzerland was deemed not to require a new fighter at that time. A later bid to replace the F-5 with the Gripen E/F was beaten by the F-35.
In the meantime, Brazil had chosen the Gripen E (and the Gripen F two-seater) in 2013 to become the air force’s primary fighter. The deal for 28 single-seaters and eight Gripen Fs involved co-development and co-production with Embraer leading the Brazilian industrial team. Brazil is expected to increase its Gripen numbers, with another 14 in discussion and possible additional purchases.
Latin America has also recently produced two further selections of the Gripen, with Colombia announcing in April that up to 24 Gripen E/Fs would be bought to replace ageing Israel Aerospace Industries Kfir fighters. A letter of intent was signed to that effect. In the same month the Swedish government sought parliamentary approval for the sale of 12 Gripen E/Fs, plus four GlobalEye AEW aircraft, to Peru. 
Saab is also in advanced negotiations with Thailand for the sale of 12 Gripen E/Fs, which was announced as the preferred option to replace elderly F-16A/Bs last August.