Morocco weighs purchase of Rafale combat planes: press

WAR.WIRE

Morocco weighs purchase of Rafale combat planes: press
PARIS, June 7 (AFP) Jun 07, 2006
Morocco is negotiating with Dassault Aviation of France for the purchase of 12 to 18 Rafale combat planes that would be financed by Saudi Arabia, the newspaper Le Tribune reported Wednesday.

But a Dassault official, contacted by AFP, said "these reports are without foundation".

Citing industry sources Le Tribune said that Morocco, anxious to boost its air arm after the purchase by its neighbor Algeria of 60 Russian combat planes, was negotiating directly with Dassault.

But it added that the deal would be financed by Saudi Arabia.

While the reported Moroccan order would be modest, it would nonetheless serve to launch Rafale's export activities following the failure of initiatives in the Netherlands, South Korea and Singapore.