French Air Force Receives 26th Rafale Fighter Jet

The French Air Force added the 2025th of the 39 fighter jets planned to be delivered in 26 to its inventory in January. The French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) stated in its official post dated January 16, 2025, Rafale F4.1 standard announced that deliveries of the fighter jets are continuing. It was also stated that the 40th aircraft will be delivered in early 2026 to be used as a test platform for development trials.

Rafale F4.1 Standard: Operational Excellence

Developed for the French Air Force F4.1 standard Rafale fighter jets stand out with their technological and operational capabilities. The F2023 standard, qualified by the DGA in March 4.1, offers advanced air combat capabilities. This new standard includes major innovations, especially in the field of joint air combat:

  • Integration of Scorpion helmet sight, provides pilots with superior aiming and target tracking.
  • Meteor air-to-air missile Improved fire control, passive threat detection algorithms and the ability to direct the Meteor missile by another aircraft increase operational flexibility.
  • Advanced data sharing Its capability provides more effective communication between Rafale aircraft.

Additionally, new features include Integration of AASM 1000 kg GPS/laser guided munitions, strengthened protection against cyber threats and Talios targeting pod with RBE2 radar There are functions developed for .

Deliveries Accelerate in 2025

French aviation giant Dassault Aviation plans to deliver a total of 2025 Rafale aircraft by 39. The majority of these deliveries will be F4.1 standard According to Dassault Aviation's annual production report, 2024 of the 21 aircraft delivered in 14 were produced for France, while 7 were exported to international customers.

Since the launch of the Rafale programme in 1993, the DGA has deployed a total of 234 Rafale fighter jets At the end of 2023, the new model corresponding to the fifth production period Order for 42 aircraft has been given, and these deliveries are planned to begin in 2027.

First Operational Flight of F4.1 Standards

February 16 2024 Having completed its first operational flight in history, the Rafale F4.1 standard has proven its success in the field. Used by both the French Air and Space Forces and the Navy, these aircraft are constantly being developed to meet modern combat requirements.

This advanced fighter jet significantly increases the operational capacity of the French army thanks to its new generation features. For example, Talios targeting pod ve front sector optronic sensor (OSF), offers precision targeting capabilities and better reconnaissance.

Future Goals

The Rafale F4.1 standard is critical to the French military’s ability to prevail against evolving threats. With deliveries planned for 2025 and beyond, the Rafale fleet is expected to expand further and modernize further.

This process is supported by the joint efforts of French defense industry giants such as Dassault Aviation, Thales, Safran and MBDA. With the implementation of new orders, Rafale aircraft will continue to reach a prominent position in the global market.