France decided to withdraw from Belgian competition for the replacement of the country's F-16s, which has closed on 7 September. France was to offer Dassault Rafale for the Belgian tender. However, Paris had offered a more comprehensive deal instead, offering a military partnership including training, and industrial and technical cooperation between companies from both countries. 

The French Defence Ministry said “this would help strengthen European defence and its “strategic autonomy” at a time when it had never been more necessary”. 

Reportedly, the Eurofighter consortium and Lockheed Martin submitted their bids and a final decision is to be made next year.