New Rafale fighter jet F4.3 Tested in Multi Domain Scenarios to Validate System Enhancements
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According to information published by the French Ministry for the Armed Forces on 30 July 2025, the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has concluded a major campaign to review the operational capabilities of the Rafale fighter in its future F4.3 standard configuration. The campaign was conducted at the DGA Flight Test Centre in Istres, marking a pivotal step towards the formal qualification of this new standard in Dassault Aviation’s flagship combat aircraft.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Rafale F4.3 is the latest configuration of the French aircraft (Picture source: French MoD)
The primary objective of the review campaign, known as RAU (Revue d’Aptitude à l’Utilisation – Fitness for Use Review), was to evaluate the current level of maturity of the Rafale F4.3 standard in conditions simulating real-world operational missions. These evaluations covered a wide range of mission scenarios, including air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea domains, with a particular focus on system performance, sensor fusion, weapons integration, and enhanced connectivity. This phase was essential to validate technological enhancements prior to the final definition and full qualification of the F4.3 configuration.
The Dassault Rafale is a French-made twin-engine, delta-wing, multirole jet fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Introduced in 2000, the Rafale is produced both for land-based use with the French Air and Space Force and for carrier-based operations with the French Navy. The Rafale has demonstrated a remarkable level of survivability during recent operations conducted by the French Air and Space Force and French Navy, thanks to an optimised airframe and a wide range of advanced and low-observable sensors. It is expected to remain in service as France’s principal combat aircraft until at least 2040.
Production of the first aircraft formally began in December 1992 but was suspended in November 1995 due to political and economic uncertainty. It resumed in January 1997 after the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Dassault agreed on a production run of 48 aircraft (28 firm and 20 options) with deliveries scheduled between 2002 and 2007.
The Rafale is powered by two Snecma M88-4E engines capable of supercruise. It offers a high thrust-to-weight ratio and strong performance at all altitudes. It is equipped with a Thales RBE2-AA AESA radar, the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, and the OSF infrared search and track system for enhanced situational awareness. Designed with 70% composite materials to reduce both radar and infrared signatures, the Rafale carries a 30mm GIAT 30 cannon and up to 9.5 tonnes of ordnance across 14 hardpoints, including MICA and Meteor air-to-air missiles, SCALP-EG cruise missiles, Exocet anti-ship missiles, and ASMP-A nuclear missiles.
In March 2023, the F4.1 standard was qualified by the DGA. It encompasses a series of new capabilities and onboard systems, including an upgraded IRST sensor providing passive day/night detection and enhancing the tracking of low-observable aircraft across the infrared spectrum; new collaborative modes to improve detection, tracking, and engagement coordination; the Thales SCORPION helmet-mounted sight for rapid target acquisition; and larger, high-resolution lateral cockpit displays to support pilot awareness and efficiency.
The new 4.3 standard will allow the Rafale to carry the new-generation MICA NG air-to-air missile. The aircraft will also be equipped with an upgraded SPECTRA self-protection system, CONTACT software-defined radio and a TALIOS nacelle, which, equipped with artificial intelligence algorithms, will have an ‘automatic target designation/recognition’ mode.
The latest RAU campaign enabled the DGA and its partners to assess the real-time operational potential of the Rafale F4.3’s onboard systems, tactical communications, and sensor suite. The outcomes will serve as a baseline for the remaining phases of development and support the path towards the full qualification of the Rafale F4.3 standard. This development represents a significant step forward in France’s air combat capabilities and helps ensure the Rafale’s continued role as a core asset within national air power.
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According to information published by the French Ministry for the Armed Forces on 30 July 2025, the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has concluded a major campaign to review the operational capabilities of the Rafale fighter in its future F4.3 standard configuration. The campaign was conducted at the DGA Flight Test Centre in Istres, marking a pivotal step towards the formal qualification of this new standard in Dassault Aviation’s flagship combat aircraft.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Rafale F4.3 is the latest configuration of the French aircraft (Picture source: French MoD)
The primary objective of the review campaign, known as RAU (Revue d’Aptitude à l’Utilisation – Fitness for Use Review), was to evaluate the current level of maturity of the Rafale F4.3 standard in conditions simulating real-world operational missions. These evaluations covered a wide range of mission scenarios, including air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea domains, with a particular focus on system performance, sensor fusion, weapons integration, and enhanced connectivity. This phase was essential to validate technological enhancements prior to the final definition and full qualification of the F4.3 configuration.
The Dassault Rafale is a French-made twin-engine, delta-wing, multirole jet fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Introduced in 2000, the Rafale is produced both for land-based use with the French Air and Space Force and for carrier-based operations with the French Navy. The Rafale has demonstrated a remarkable level of survivability during recent operations conducted by the French Air and Space Force and French Navy, thanks to an optimised airframe and a wide range of advanced and low-observable sensors. It is expected to remain in service as France’s principal combat aircraft until at least 2040.
Production of the first aircraft formally began in December 1992 but was suspended in November 1995 due to political and economic uncertainty. It resumed in January 1997 after the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Dassault agreed on a production run of 48 aircraft (28 firm and 20 options) with deliveries scheduled between 2002 and 2007.
The Rafale is powered by two Snecma M88-4E engines capable of supercruise. It offers a high thrust-to-weight ratio and strong performance at all altitudes. It is equipped with a Thales RBE2-AA AESA radar, the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, and the OSF infrared search and track system for enhanced situational awareness. Designed with 70% composite materials to reduce both radar and infrared signatures, the Rafale carries a 30mm GIAT 30 cannon and up to 9.5 tonnes of ordnance across 14 hardpoints, including MICA and Meteor air-to-air missiles, SCALP-EG cruise missiles, Exocet anti-ship missiles, and ASMP-A nuclear missiles.
In March 2023, the F4.1 standard was qualified by the DGA. It encompasses a series of new capabilities and onboard systems, including an upgraded IRST sensor providing passive day/night detection and enhancing the tracking of low-observable aircraft across the infrared spectrum; new collaborative modes to improve detection, tracking, and engagement coordination; the Thales SCORPION helmet-mounted sight for rapid target acquisition; and larger, high-resolution lateral cockpit displays to support pilot awareness and efficiency.
The new 4.3 standard will allow the Rafale to carry the new-generation MICA NG air-to-air missile. The aircraft will also be equipped with an upgraded SPECTRA self-protection system, CONTACT software-defined radio and a TALIOS nacelle, which, equipped with artificial intelligence algorithms, will have an ‘automatic target designation/recognition’ mode.
The latest RAU campaign enabled the DGA and its partners to assess the real-time operational potential of the Rafale F4.3’s onboard systems, tactical communications, and sensor suite. The outcomes will serve as a baseline for the remaining phases of development and support the path towards the full qualification of the Rafale F4.3 standard. This development represents a significant step forward in France’s air combat capabilities and helps ensure the Rafale’s continued role as a core asset within national air power.
