While the Kuwati deal is big for Boeing, it is overshadowed by the sudden, unexpected surge of orders for Rafale. Just as 2014 was a milestone year for Saab's Gripen, driven by orders from Brazil and Sweden, 2015 is shaping up to be a definitive one for Dassault.
In both cases, the deals have revived the near-to-medium term prospects of two European fighter jet makers that analysts believed to be close to death row. Now, those jets both have orders that extends them into the next decade.
"It looked like all fourth gen aircraft were going to die out by 2020," Callan said. "Now that seems to have turned on its head.