Rafale F4/F5
Type: Multirole Fighter
Domain: air
Country of Origin: France
Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation / Thales Group / Safran
First Deployed: 2001
Overview
French twin-engine, canard-delta wing omnirole combat aircraft by Dassault Aviation. The F4 standard (2024+) introduces the RBE2-XG AESA radar, new helmet-mounted display, Meteor BVR missile integration, SATCOM, and connectivity with drones/remote carriers. The F5 standard (development) focuses on next-gen nuclear deterrence (ASMPA replacement) and AI-assisted sensor fusion. Carrier-qualified (Rafale M) for Charles de Gaulle. Over 250 delivered to France with major exports to Egypt, India, Greece, Qatar, UAE, Indonesia, and Croatia. Combat-proven in Libya, Mali, Iraq, and Syria.
Technical Specifications
| crew | 1 (C) / 2 (B) |
|---|---|
| radar | Thales RBE2-XG AESA |
| length | 15.27 m |
| ceiling | 15,240 m |
| engines | 2x Snecma M88-2 turbofan (16,860 lbf each with afterburner) |
| armament | 1x 30mm GIAT 30/791 cannon; 14 hardpoints; Meteor, MICA NG, SCALP-EG, AASM, Exocet, ASMPA nuclear |
| ew_suite | SPECTRA (best-in-class self-protection) |
| wingspan | 10.8 m |
| max_speed | Mach 1.8 (~1,912 km/h) |
| unit_cost | €100–120 million |
| max_takeoff | 24,500 kg |
| weight_empty | 10,300 kg |
| combat_radius | 1,850 km (3 drop tanks) |
Operators
- Croatia
- Egypt
- France
- Greece
- India
- Indonesia
- Qatar
- Serbia
- United Arab Emirates
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