France Has Opted to Invest €11.7 billion in Dassault Rafael Because the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) Would Not Be Operational Until 2040-45

When Western European powers were working on the Eurofighter Typhoon, France was working on its own aircraft, and their involvement in building aircraft since the end of WWII and the beginning of the Cold War gave them the capability to build the 4.5 generation Dassault Rafale....