France withdraws Rafale from Belgian competition, offering it as part of military partnership

Belgium’s tender to replace its F-16s ended on Sept. 7 and France did not submit its offer to sell the Rafale. Instead, the French government offered the jet to Belgium as part of a military partnership that goes beyond the supply of weapons.

By Tim Felce (Airwolfhound) (Rafale – RIAT 2013) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The deal offers enhance military cooperation between the two NATO countries, more training, and industrial and technical cooperation between companies on both sides.