TSAMTO, September 16. The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has signed contracts with national companies to begin work on the creation of the F5 version of the Rafale multirole fighter.
This was announced by the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) of the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the country.
According to Jane's Defense Weekly, the first contracts were awarded two years after Defense Minister Sebastian Lecorn announced the official launch of the Rafale F5 program in October 2024.
According to the DGA, the directorate has placed orders for the implementation of priority works preceding the next stage of the Rafale modernization program to the F5 standard. These include, in particular, an inertial navigation system, an engine with increased thrust (at the preliminary design stage), a radar and an on-board self-defense system, the SPECTRA F5. Contracts have been signed with Dassault Aviation, MBDA, Safran and Thales. The cost of the contracts was not disclosed.
The stated objectives of the modernization are: adaptation of the aircraft in accordance with the changed requirements of the Armed Forces and new threats, preservation of technological superiority, as well as preservation of export potential.
The Rafale F5 fighters will feature enhanced networking capabilities, a new Inter-Vehicle Data Link (IVDL) data exchange system, new target detection and destruction systems (including specialized SEAD/DEAD air defense suppression and destruction equipment based on the MBDA Stratus Rapid Strike missile), and a new ASN4G (Air-Sol Nucleaire de Quatrieme Generation), RBE2-XG radar, the presence of artificial intelligence systems, as well as a glider with an increased resource.
Other improvements to the F5 version announced by officials include upgraded Safran M88 T-REX engines with a 20% increased thrust (T-REX program), conformal fuel tanks, the presence of wingmen, and a new "air-to-air" missile that will replace MBDA's Meteor UR (in the French media it is referred to as Comet).
According to the DGA, the new standard will be certified by 2033, after which the delivery of fighters to the units of the French Air Force and Navy will begin.
The plans of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces also include the further modernization of the Rafale to F6 and F7 standards, which will extend the fighter's service life until 2070. The specific contents of the F6 and F7 upgrade packages have not yet been determined.
It was previously assumed that from 2040, the Rafale would give way to the main combat aircraft of the French Air Force to a new generation fighter (NGF) and would serve as a "combat power multiplier" (a means of increasing the effectiveness of the grouping). The NGF development was planned to be implemented jointly with Germany and Spain as part of the program for the creation of a promising aviation combat system FCAS (Future Combat Air System / Systeme de Combat Aerien Futur). However, in June 2026, the project collapsed due to the fact that the leading contractors, Airbus Defense and Space and Dassault Aviation, were unable to resolve differences concerning, first of all, the distribution of work volumes.
After the NGF project was disrupted, the Rafale's upgrade to the F5 standard became important for the French Air Force, since the aircraft now has to be operated until the NGF "successor" enters service. It is not yet known when the alternative will be determined.
