Iraq to acquire 14 French Rafale F4s after years flying U.S. F-16 fighter jets
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Iraq is negotiating with France for the purchase of 14 newly built Rafale F4 fighter jets, with a potential contract signature expected in 2026. The acquisition would introduce advanced avionics, sensors, and weapons not currently available on Iraq’s F-16IQ fleet and would represent a shift in Iraq’s fighter modernization strategy.
As reported by Avions Légendaires on December 16, 2025, Iraq and France are expected to sign a contract in 2026 covering the acquisition of 14 Rafale F4 fighter jets for the Iraqi Air Force, potentially marking a significant step in Baghdad’s long-running effort to rebuild its combat aviation after years of constraints affecting its F-16IQ fighter fleet. While some indications point to a possible signature in the first half of 2026, others remain less precise, suggesting that the final timeline will depend on political, industrial, and financial coordination, as negotiations have been ongoing since 2022.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Compared with the F-16IQ, the Rafale F4 would give Iraq a fighter that sees farther, shares information better, and uses more modern missiles and precision weapons for both air defense and strike missions. (Picture source: French MoD)
The package under negotiation would involve a total of 14 Rafale F4s, composed of ten single-seat Rafale C and four dual-seat Rafale B variants, all expected to be newly produced rather than drawn from existing inventories. Apparently, Iraqi planners have framed this choice as part of a broader effort to simplify the fighter inventory and concentrate resources on a limited number of jets with higher operational relevance. The Rafale F4 would introduce more recent avionics, sensor fusion, and communications systems compared with the Iraqi F-16IQ’s older and more limited suite, strengthening the ability to process, share, and act on tactical information across multiple domains.
Beyond fleet simplification, the Rafales are expected to provide Iraq with a new level of engagement options beyond those available on the F-16IQ, to better protect national airspace from incursions of countries such as Iran and Israel. In parallel, the F4 would expand Iraq’s ability to employ a wider range of modern weapons, including beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles and precision-guided strike munitions, which are not supported by the current F-16IQ inventory. Therefore, the broader package associated with the Rafale F4 also includes advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground armament, with particular emphasis placed by Avions Légendaires on MICA NG and Meteor missiles for beyond-visual-range and within-visual-range combat, as well as AASM 250 and AASM 1000 precision-guided bombs for strike missions.
Iraqi pilots are already familiar with Rafale operations through years of flying alongside French aircraft during Operation Chammal, where joint patrols and training activities have been routine. These interactions have allowed Iraqi aircrew to directly observe differences between the Rafale and their ageing U.S.-made F-16IQ fighter jets in areas such as sensors, weapons employment, and mission flexibility. Senior Iraqi officers have also visited France to observe pilot training and operational conversion processes associated with the Rafale.
The Rafale itself is a twin-engine multirole combat aircraft designed from the outset by France to perform air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, and nuclear deterrence missions within a single airframe. For now, the F4 standard represents the latest major step in the aircraft’s evolution, focusing on improved connectivity, data handling, and survivability in electronically contested environments. It builds on earlier configurations (such as the F3R) by expanding sensor fusion and mission management functions, while preparing the Rafale for future weapons and systems integration. Flight testing of the F4 configuration began in 2021, initial deliveries started in 2023, and all newly produced Rafales are now built to this standard, while earlier aircraft are scheduled for retrofit to align the French Air Force capabilities.
For instance, the Rafale F4 integrates the RBE2 active electronically scanned array radar with the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, combining detection, identification, self-protection, and countermeasures within a unified architecture. The radar benefits from an increased processing capacity, supporting both air-to-air engagements and ground-target detection at extended ranges. Communications are handled through Link 16 alongside an additional intra-flight data link intended to maintain coordination within formations even under electronic attack. A helmet-mounted display and revised cockpit interfaces support faster target acquisition and a more efficient decision-making process in complex tactical situations.
The Rafale F4 is powered by two Safran M88-2 turbofan engines, allowing the jet to sustain supersonic flight and reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.8, with an operational ceiling of around 15,240 meters. The aircraft can carry up to 9.5 tonnes of external stores across fourteen hardpoints, allowing a wide range of loadouts combining air-to-air missiles, guided bombs, reconnaissance pods, and external fuel tanks depending on mission requirements. The Rafale’s operational range is commonly cited at approximately 1,850 kilometers at high altitude, and it is designed for both land-based and carrier operations. Since entering service in the early 2000s, the Rafale has been employed in combat over Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq, and Syria, and has been exported to multiple air forces across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
The contrast with Iraq’s current fighter inventory is sharp. The Iraqi Air Force relies primarily on 34 U.S.-made F-16IQs, a simplified derivative of the F-16C/D Block 50/52 tailored specifically for Iraq with significant limitations in sensors and weapons; this variant does not have access to modern air-to-air missiles such as AIM-120s or AIM-9Xs and instead relies on older AIM-7s and AIM-9L/Ms, while avionics and electronic warfare systems remain well below standard F-16 configurations. As a result, the fleet is largely oriented toward ground attack missions rather than high-end air combat. Iraq has previously explored other alternatives, including Pakistan’s JF-17 Block III alongside Mushshak trainers in a reported $1.8 billion package that was later abandoned, while defense ties with France have deepened through parallel acquisitions such as the H225M Caracal helicopter and discussions on air defense cooperation.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
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Iraq is negotiating with France for the purchase of 14 newly built Rafale F4 fighter jets, with a potential contract signature expected in 2026. The acquisition would introduce advanced avionics, sensors, and weapons not currently available on Iraq’s F-16IQ fleet and would represent a shift in Iraq’s fighter modernization strategy.
As reported by Avions Légendaires on December 16, 2025, Iraq and France are expected to sign a contract in 2026 covering the acquisition of 14 Rafale F4 fighter jets for the Iraqi Air Force, potentially marking a significant step in Baghdad’s long-running effort to rebuild its combat aviation after years of constraints affecting its F-16IQ fighter fleet. While some indications point to a possible signature in the first half of 2026, others remain less precise, suggesting that the final timeline will depend on political, industrial, and financial coordination, as negotiations have been ongoing since 2022.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Compared with the F-16IQ, the Rafale F4 would give Iraq a fighter that sees farther, shares information better, and uses more modern missiles and precision weapons for both air defense and strike missions. (Picture source: French MoD)
The package under negotiation would involve a total of 14 Rafale F4s, composed of ten single-seat Rafale C and four dual-seat Rafale B variants, all expected to be newly produced rather than drawn from existing inventories. Apparently, Iraqi planners have framed this choice as part of a broader effort to simplify the fighter inventory and concentrate resources on a limited number of jets with higher operational relevance. The Rafale F4 would introduce more recent avionics, sensor fusion, and communications systems compared with the Iraqi F-16IQ’s older and more limited suite, strengthening the ability to process, share, and act on tactical information across multiple domains.
Beyond fleet simplification, the Rafales are expected to provide Iraq with a new level of engagement options beyond those available on the F-16IQ, to better protect national airspace from incursions of countries such as Iran and Israel. In parallel, the F4 would expand Iraq’s ability to employ a wider range of modern weapons, including beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles and precision-guided strike munitions, which are not supported by the current F-16IQ inventory. Therefore, the broader package associated with the Rafale F4 also includes advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground armament, with particular emphasis placed by Avions Légendaires on MICA NG and Meteor missiles for beyond-visual-range and within-visual-range combat, as well as AASM 250 and AASM 1000 precision-guided bombs for strike missions.
Iraqi pilots are already familiar with Rafale operations through years of flying alongside French aircraft during Operation Chammal, where joint patrols and training activities have been routine. These interactions have allowed Iraqi aircrew to directly observe differences between the Rafale and their ageing U.S.-made F-16IQ fighter jets in areas such as sensors, weapons employment, and mission flexibility. Senior Iraqi officers have also visited France to observe pilot training and operational conversion processes associated with the Rafale.
The Rafale itself is a twin-engine multirole combat aircraft designed from the outset by France to perform air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, and nuclear deterrence missions within a single airframe. For now, the F4 standard represents the latest major step in the aircraft’s evolution, focusing on improved connectivity, data handling, and survivability in electronically contested environments. It builds on earlier configurations (such as the F3R) by expanding sensor fusion and mission management functions, while preparing the Rafale for future weapons and systems integration. Flight testing of the F4 configuration began in 2021, initial deliveries started in 2023, and all newly produced Rafales are now built to this standard, while earlier aircraft are scheduled for retrofit to align the French Air Force capabilities.
For instance, the Rafale F4 integrates the RBE2 active electronically scanned array radar with the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, combining detection, identification, self-protection, and countermeasures within a unified architecture. The radar benefits from an increased processing capacity, supporting both air-to-air engagements and ground-target detection at extended ranges. Communications are handled through Link 16 alongside an additional intra-flight data link intended to maintain coordination within formations even under electronic attack. A helmet-mounted display and revised cockpit interfaces support faster target acquisition and a more efficient decision-making process in complex tactical situations.
The Rafale F4 is powered by two Safran M88-2 turbofan engines, allowing the jet to sustain supersonic flight and reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.8, with an operational ceiling of around 15,240 meters. The aircraft can carry up to 9.5 tonnes of external stores across fourteen hardpoints, allowing a wide range of loadouts combining air-to-air missiles, guided bombs, reconnaissance pods, and external fuel tanks depending on mission requirements. The Rafale’s operational range is commonly cited at approximately 1,850 kilometers at high altitude, and it is designed for both land-based and carrier operations. Since entering service in the early 2000s, the Rafale has been employed in combat over Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq, and Syria, and has been exported to multiple air forces across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
The contrast with Iraq’s current fighter inventory is sharp. The Iraqi Air Force relies primarily on 34 U.S.-made F-16IQs, a simplified derivative of the F-16C/D Block 50/52 tailored specifically for Iraq with significant limitations in sensors and weapons; this variant does not have access to modern air-to-air missiles such as AIM-120s or AIM-9Xs and instead relies on older AIM-7s and AIM-9L/Ms, while avionics and electronic warfare systems remain well below standard F-16 configurations. As a result, the fleet is largely oriented toward ground attack missions rather than high-end air combat. Iraq has previously explored other alternatives, including Pakistan’s JF-17 Block III alongside Mushshak trainers in a reported $1.8 billion package that was later abandoned, while defense ties with France have deepened through parallel acquisitions such as the H225M Caracal helicopter and discussions on air defense cooperation.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
