Peek Inside the Ultra-Luxurious Military Vehicles

12. France's Rafale Jet

Manufacturers: Thales, Safran, and Dassault Aviation Principal Users: Egyptian Air Force, Qatari Air Force, French Air Force, and French Navy Cost: $249 million* (FY2016) or $62.7 billion* (FY2013) for the program The name Dassault Rafale translates to either "Burst of Fire" or "Gust of Wind," depending on your preferred interpretation. Dassault Aviation is the designer of this twin-engine, canard delta-wing fighter jet with many missions. Aerial recon, interdiction, air supremacy, ground support, nuclear deterrence, in-depth strikes, and anti-ship strike missions are just a few of the tasks the Rafale is capable of handling.

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The French Rafale Jet. ©Tim Felce, Wikimedia.org The mid-1980s saw the development of the Rafale. The fleets of aircraft that the French Air Force and Navy thought were aging out and needed to be replaced. The Rafale is special because its defense industries were confined to one nation, which is unusual for Europe, which often makes agreements with its neighbors.