"France's $5.5 Billion Deal: 42 Rafale Jets Ordered"

France has purchased 42 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation for over $5.5 billion, with the new aircraft to be fitted to the F4 production standard and featuring modernized operational capabilities. The purchase comes amid concerns about the Future Combat Air System, a successor to the Rafale, which isn't expected to enter service before 2045 or 2050. The deal, the first major expenditure under France’s 2024-2030 military budget law, will support over 7,000 jobs across more than 400 companies.