Six are being sent to Afghanistan. Three French Air Force Rafale F2s were sent to a base in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Three navy Rafale F2s arrived on the carrier Charles de Gaulle operating off the Pakistani coast.
France would like to demonstrate the plane's prowess in a war situation because its export sales are zero. Without exports, France will continue to fund development of the plane alone, something Paris prefers not to do. These Rafales have are fitted with a laser designator, a function that will be provided by Mirage 2000Ds, which are also based in Tajikistan.
