Flying a Rafale-type military aircraft has a certain cost. This would include the costs incurred to ensure the maintenance of the device, fuel consumption and staff remuneration. Performance indicators which remain opaque, according to a desire for confidentiality by the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
Traveling aboard a Rafale, an expensive privilege that many dream of, but that few can grant themselves. As revealed by Opex 360, an online media devoted to French and international military and geopolitical news, spending an hour aboard the French fighter would cost 20,000 euros. A substantial sum which would mainly cover the sums paid to guarantee its maintenance.
But that’s not all. The ticket price would also include the remuneration of pilots and mechanics as well as fuel consumption.
The use of the conditional is not trivial. Evoking “reinforced confidentiality requirements”, the Ministry of the Armed Forces completely compartmentalized its performance indicators a few years ago, making access to this data difficult.
A variable cost over the years
Heard by the Senate during the week of November 6, 2023 as part of the finance bill for 2024, Stéphane Mille, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force [CEMAAE] also estimated the flight hour for a Rafale at 20,000 euros. A price which has evolved over the years.
In 2004, according to the Court of Auditors, it was necessary to pay “35,000 euros per flight hour” to support the Rafale. A figure that the Ministry of the Armed Forces intended to lower to reach “10,000 euros per flight hour” in 2012. An estimate called into question by the magistrates of rue Cambon.
Ten years later, in 2014, the Court of Auditors explained, in a report devoted to the Maintenance in Operational Condition (MCO) of military equipment, that the cost of maintaining the Rafale amounted to 14,596 euros per flight hour.