Dassault advances Rafale F5 fighter jet program, targets 2034 readiness

Dassault Aviation is moving ahead with a new version of its Rafale fighter jet. Company chief Éric Trappier called it a "Super-Rafale" in comments to French broadcaster BFM. The upgraded Rafale F5 is being developed at the request of French armed forces. It could enter service as early as 2034, with export versions following in 2035.

The F5 standard will include more advanced sensors, a new radar, upgraded electronic warfare systems, new weapons and stronger connectivity with other military systems, according to the report. The jet has been in service since 2004.

The new variant is also meant to play a central role in France's nuclear deterrence strategy. It is expected to carry the country's future hypersonic missile, the ASN4G, once that weapon is developed.

One notable part of the F5 program is its planned pairing with an unmanned escort drone, sometimes called a loyal wingman. This drone would fly ahead of the manned Rafale, tasked with detecting and engaging enemy air defenses before the fighter jet arrives. Trappier said no foreign partnerships are currently planned for this drone component.

The push toward the Rafale F5 follows the collapse in June of the joint Franco-German-Spanish FCAS fighter jet project, a multinational effort to build a next-generation European combat aircraft. With that program stalled, France appears to be placing greater emphasis on its own existing platform rather than pursuing a shared European alternative.