Taiwan has expressed interest in acquiring Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation to replace its aging Mirage 2000 fleet, according to company Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier.
Although Taipei has extended the service life of its Mirage 2000s, Trappier noted that Taiwan and other operators may face growing sustainment challenges as production support for the aircraft declines with Dassault’s shift toward the newer Rafale.
During a hearing at the French National Assembly’s Economic Affairs Committee, he further emphasized that the ultimate decision to sell the military aircraft lies with the French government and not Dassault, AeroTime reported.
Taiwanese Fighter Fleet
The East Asian country purchased the Mirage 2000s in the 1990s, resulting in a total fleet of 60 that was subsequently reduced to 54 due to a series of accidents.
Although retirement had been considered in the early 2020s, Taipei opted to extend the Mirage 2000’s service life and secured spare parts while awaiting delivery of the F-16Vs it ordered from the US in 2019 to avoid a capability gap.
Deliveries of the Fighting Falcons were originally scheduled to begin by 2023 but have been delayed due to software, supply chain, and production schedule issues.
In March 2025, Lockheed Martin reportedly rolled out the first of Taiwan’s 66 ordered F-16Vs.
Meanwhile, the self-governed island’s apparent interest in procuring the Rafales is viewed as an effort to diversify its source of combat aircraft, gain leverage through new European ties, and reinforce its fighter fleet against increasingly advanced Chinese fighters, such as the J-10C and the J-20.
Dassault Rafale
Similar to the F-16, the Rafale is a multi-role fighter capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, featuring an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and advanced avionics, and supporting beyond-visual-range missiles and precision-guided munitions.
During the India-Pakistan conflict in May, the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighter jets were allegedly downed by Chinese-made fighter aircraft in service with the Pakistan Air Force, potentially marking their first known combat loss.
However, a French Intelligence report said that Beijing attempted to inflict reputational damage on the Dassault-built platform to dissuade potential customers from buying more Rafales and encourage them to buy Chinese platforms instead.
