French lawmakers have claimed Belguim is interested in the Dassault Rafale fighter. What may surprise some, as Belguim does not operate an aircraft carrier, is they are reported interested in the Naval variant of the Rafale.
The Naval Rafale would allow Belguim to operate with French forces providing further power project across the globe from the Charles De Gaulle, France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
Such a commitment shows the continued federation of European Forces. The Belguim are buying cooperation into French strategic carrier assets, showing faith that together they could face threats against both of their interests.
The long-term implications of such a deal would mean decades of mixed foreign policy implications. Especially for any long-term continued deployment and training of Belguim Naval Avatars.
Carrier-borne version for the French Naval Aviation, which entered service in 2001. For carrier operations, the M model has a strengthened airframe, longer nose gear leg to provide a more nose-up attitude, larger tailhook between the engines, and a built-in boarding ladder. Consequently, the Rafale M weighs about 500 kg (1,100 lb) more than the Rafale C. It is the only non-US fighter type cleared to operate from the decks of US carriers, using catapults and their arresting gear, as demonstrated in 2008 when six Rafales from Flottille 12F integrated into the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Air Wing interoperability exercise.