{"id":14316,"date":"2018-11-07T21:57:34","date_gmt":"2018-11-07T21:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/11\/07\/dassault-withdraws-from-canadas-fighter-jet-competition\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:27:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:27:15","slug":"dassault-withdraws-from-canadas-fighter-jet-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/industry\/2018\/11\/07\/dassault-withdraws-from-canadas-fighter-jet-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"Dassault withdraws from Canada\u2019s fighter jet competition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This story has been updated with confirmation by Canada of Dassault\u2019s withdrawal.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VICTORIA, British Columbia \u2014 Dassault Aviation has withdrawn from Canada\u2019s competition to buy 88 new fighter jets over concerns that interoperability and intelligence sharing requirements were too extensive, according to industry sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dassault had been approved by the Canadian government for the competition and intended to offer the Royal Canadian Air Force the Rafale fighter jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A draft bid package for 88 fighter aircraft has been issued to companies for their feedback by the end of this year, said Pat Finn, assistant deputy minister for materiel at Canada\u2019s Department of National Defence. From there, the final bidding instructions for the CAN$16 billion (U.S. $12.2 billion) procurement will be issued and bids required by May 2019, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dassault, however, reviewed the draft request for proposals and determined the Canadian requirements for intelligence data sharing and interoperability, particularly with U.S. forces, would be difficult to meet, sources noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the main roles of the fighter jets would be in the defense of North America. The Royal Canadian Air Force closely operates with the U.S. military in that role through the North American Aerospace Defense Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither the French Embassy in Ottawa nor Dassault responded to a request for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public Services and Procurement Canada, which is overseeing the project, confirmed that Dassault is no longer in the competition. \u201cOn Nov. 8, the French government officially notified Canada of its withdrawal from the competitive process to replace Canada\u2019s fighter jet fleet,\u201d Public Services and Procurement Canada spokesperson Rania Haddad said. \u201cWe will continue to work closely with the remaining eligible suppliers to ensure they are well-positioned to participate in the ongoing competition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t