Production of Rafale combat planes to be boosted after France increases order

The production of the French Rafale warplane is to be ramped up after France's president Emmanuel Macron said the country would increase orders.

Dassault Aviation has more than doubled its production of the aircraft in the last five years and is looking to produce planes even faster.

It comes as European countries boost their defence spending over fears of US security disengagement and Russian aggression linked to the war in Ukraine.

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Dassault Aviation chief executive officer Eric Trappier said the company had increased output from one war plane a month in 2020 to more than two per month this year.

He added that the firm is working with suppliers to be able to produce combat planes even faster.

Mr Trappier told Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper: "We are planning to deliver three per month next year, and four from 2028-2029.

"We have heard the president's call and are studying the possibility of ramping up to five Rafale per month.

"There are no concrete orders yet, but we want to be ready," he said.

It follows the announcement by President Macron that France was going to "increase and accelerate Rafale orders".

Mr Trappier added that Dassault would also be "ready to provide its services" to countries reviewing their orders of US-made F-35 aircraft since Donald Trump took office in the US.

Germany has said it was still committed to buying F-35 jets despite reports that it was reconsidering due to worries about being over-reliant on US defence supplies.

Canada, however, is reviewing a major purchase of the aircraft amid serious tensions over trade tariffs and threats by Mr Trump to annex the country.

Portugal has said it is re-examining a possible purchase of F-35s but has not yet reached out to Dassault about purchasing Rafale jets instead.

Last year, the French air force had 108 Rafale jets, while the navy had 41.

The country's military was due to receive 56 more aircraft before President Macron's announcement.

French defence minister Sébastien Lecornu has said the armed forces needed up to 30 more combat aircraft.