Original: Designed in the late 1970s as a lightweight fighter for the French Air Force, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft with over 600 built and is in service in nine countries as of 2009.
Simplified: Originally designed in the late seventies as a lightweight fighter for the Armée de l'Air, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft now in service in 9 countries with more than 600 airplanes built.