PARIS — France has awarded initial contracts to Dassault Aviation, MBDA, Safran Aircraft Engines and Thales ahead of the planned launch of the Rafale F5 development phase in late 2026.
The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) notified the contracts during the summer. The initial work is focused on reducing technical risks before the main development phase begins. The F5 is planned as a major modernization of the Rafale, with qualification expected around 2033, followed by entry into service with the French Air and Space Force and later the French Navy.
The upgrade will support France’s future airborne nuclear deterrent through integration of the ASN4G fourth-generation hypersonic nuclear cruise missile. It is also intended to improve the Rafale’s ability to conduct first-entry missions in contested environments. A more open aircraft architecture will give France greater flexibility to introduce new capabilities and adapt the aircraft as requirements change.
New Radar, Navigation and Electronic Warfare
Dassault Aviation will oversee a new very-low-drift inertial navigation unit using hemispherical resonator gyroscope (HRG) technology. The system is designed to maintain accurate navigation when satellite navigation signals are unavailable or disrupted.
Thales will develop the RBE2-XG AESA radar, an evolution of the Rafale’s existing RBE2 radar. It is designed to provide higher power, longer detection range and improved tracking of targets with extremely low radar cross-sections. Increased computing capacity will support greater use of artificial intelligence for collaborative sensing, while the radar will retain the current RBE2’s mechanical footprint and include stronger cyber protection.
Thales and MBDA France will also modernize the Rafale’s SPECTRA self-protection system. The upgraded digital architecture will improve threat detection, signal classification and electronic jamming across a broader electromagnetic spectrum.
Thales will develop the Inter-Vehicle Data Link (IVDL), based on several years of DGA-funded research. The system is designed to provide high-bandwidth, resilient and difficult-to-detect communications between Rafale aircraft and accompanying uncrewed platforms while resisting jamming.
Safran Develops M88 T-REX
Safran Aircraft Engines has received a contract for the preliminary design of the M88 T-REX engine. The upgrade is intended to increase maximum thrust by about 20 percent, from 7.5 tonnes to 9 tonnes.
The T-REX will retain the M88-2’s basic dimensions, structure and modular architecture, as well as its low fuel consumption. The modular design will allow selected components to be replaced without removing the complete engine, helping reduce maintenance downtime.
The Rafale F5 programme continues France’s approach of upgrading the fighter through successive standards rather than replacing the aircraft with a completely new design. More than 400 French companies are involved in the Rafale programme, supporting more than 7,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Eight foreign customers have ordered 299 new-build Rafales and 24 second-hand aircraft. The F5 upgrade is intended to keep the Rafale aligned with French operational requirements for 2035 and beyond.
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