A lot, but still not enough: Rafale fighter jet manufacturer reveals how many aircraft it produces per year
French manufacturer Dassault Aviation has published its annual report for 2024, according to which 21 Rafale fighter jets were produced, which is one more aircraft than planned
Here's What We Know
Of the manufactured number, 14 were delivered to the French Air Force, and 7 were exported. For comparison, in 2023, only 13 Rafales were produced
The company's order book increased by 9 units, reaching 220 aircraft: 164 for export and 56 for France. The biggest contributor to this growth was Serbia, which ordered 12 fighters at a price of €225 million per unit.
The French Rafale fighter jet. Image: Defence Industry Europe
For example, there is data on Rafale production and order dynamics in recent years: 2024: produced - 21, backlog - 220; 2023: produced - 13, backlog - 211; 2022: produced - 14, backlog - 164; 2021: produced - 25, backlog - 86; 2020: produced - 13, backlog - 62; 2019: produced - 26, backlog - 75
While Rafale production remains volatile, strong order growth for the aircraft is evident. Dassault Aviation's current production capacity only allows it to fulfil orders within a ten-year backlog, which may pose challenges to fulfil contracts within a shorter timeframe.
Source: Defence Industry Europe