Colombia is negotiating the purchase of 16 Rafale fighter jets from France
Colombia is negotiating the purchase of French Dassault’s Rafale fighter jets to replace its Air Force’s Israeli Kfir fighters, the Colombian presidency said on Wednesday.
The government “pre-selected the French government’s offer for the sale of 16 Rafales” after studying it and two competitors for the purchase of either the Swedish Gripen or the US F-16, the presidency explained in its statement.
“They have not signed contracts, this is a preliminary negotiation” after the offer for the sale which has a cost of 15 billion euros, or about three billion euros, the text continues.
The Rafale represents “the best option for the country in terms of price, efficiency and functionality,” the Colombian presidency said in a statement. “An hour of Rafale flight costs almost 30% less than an hour of Kfir flight,” it explains.
Before taking office in August, new president Gustavo Petros, the first leftist in Colombia’s history, said he was opposed to buying new fighters.
The presidency pointed out yesterday that the purchase of the aircraft will not be financed by the tax reform. Mr. Petro’s flagship plan, approved in late November by Colombia’s Congress, calls for higher taxes on the wealthiest and the oil sector.
The payment for the acquisition of new aircraft of the Colombian Air Force will begin “after five years, in order not to sacrifice social costs”, the presidency underlined.
Source: RES-MPE