France is aiming to have the upgraded version of the omnirole fighter jet in the air by the mid-2030s.

Just months after the Franco-German-Spanish Future Air Combat System (FACS) program abruptly ended, France is putting renewed focus on the capabilities of its 4.5+ generation fighter. The French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has awarded multiple contracts for the development of Dassault’s Rafale 5, an upgraded version of the omnirole fighter.

“Under the project management of the DGA, the Rafale is being modernized through successive standards in order to maintain its technological and operational excellence, adapting it to the evolving needs of the armed forces and to new threats, while maintaining its attractiveness for export,” the DGA said in a news release.

The DGA issued contracts to Dassault, MBDA, Safran, and Thales; it did not disclose the amounts of the contracts.

How the Rafale F5 Will Be Different from Previous Rafales

“When the F5 standard is released, the aircraft will be very different,” General Stéphane Mille, Chief of Staff of the French Air Force said in 2025.

The Rafale F5 won’t have the stealth capabilities of a fifth-generation fighter, but it will still have advanced features that allow it to operate even if air superiority is not achieved.

Key among the upgrades is a more robust networked combat system, the Inter-Vehicle Data Link (IVDL), a communication system that will allow the manned fighter to operate in heavily contested airspace alongside unmanned stealth combat aerial vehicles (UCAV). The improved Rafale is also set to be outfitted with the Thales RBE2-XG active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and a fully digital SPECTRA F5 electronic warfare suite, which will increase the detection range of the fighter and improve the identification of targets, including those with low radar cross-sections (RCS).

“Its computing capabilities will also be enhanced to increase the integration of artificial intelligence,” the DGA noted.

The F5 will be equipped with an “uprated” Safran M88 Thrust Range Extension (T-REX) engine that can provide roughly 20 percent more thrust than the existing M88-2 powerplant.

“From a technical standpoint, the M88 T-REX will retain the modular architecture, structure, and operational advantages of the M88-2, such as its low fuel consumption, while incorporating modifications to some of its modules,” the DGA further noted.

The Rafale F5 will also be able to integrate with the now-in-development hypersonic ASN4G nuclear missile, showcasing France’s commitment to advancing its airborne nuclear deterrence and collaborative combat capabilities, and it will feature advanced suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) capabilities.

The current timeline calls for qualifications of the F5 to be completed by 2033, with the aircraft reaching initial operational capability in the mid-2030s.

About the Dassault Rafale

The Dassault Rafale, which literally translates to “gust of wind,” or “burst of fire” in a military sense, was conceived for use by the French Air Force and Navy as an omnirole fighter, intended to replace seven different types of French combat aircraft in operation at the time of its development. 

The warplane traces its origins back to the Avion de Combat Experimental (ACX) program in the early 1980s. France withdrew from the multinational European Fighter Aircraft (EFA) project in 1985, which went on to develop the Eurofighter Typhoon.

• Year Introduced: 2001 (entered French Navy service; 2006 for French Air Force)
• Number Built: ~240+ delivered as of 2024 (production ongoing for export customers)
• Length: 50 ft 2 in (15.3 m)
• Wingspan: 35 ft 9 in (10.9 m)
• Maximum Take-off Weight: ~54,000 lb (24,500 kg)
• Engines: Two Safran (formerly Snecma) M88-2 turbofans (17,000 lbf each with afterburner)
• Top Speed: Mach 1.8 (approx. 1,190 mph / 1,915 km/h) at altitude
• Range: ~1,000 nmi (1,850 km) combat radius; ~2,000 nmi (3,700 km) ferry range with drop tanks
• Service Ceiling: ~50,000 ft (15,240 m)
• Loadout: 14 hardpoints (13 on Rafale M naval variant); 9,500 kg (20,900 lb) total payload capacity
• Aircrew: 1 (Rafale C and M); 2 (Rafale B twin-seat variant) 

Last year, the French aviation giant delivered its 300th Rafale fighter and increased production of the aircraft to meet growing demand. Currently, the program supports more than 7,000 direct and indirect jobs in France. 

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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