Dassault Aviation unveils first Rafale F4 for United Arab Emirates
Dassault unveiled the first of 80 Rafale F4 fighters for the UAE, with first deliveries scheduled for 2026/27.
On January 29, 2025, Dassault Aviation officially presented the first Rafale F4 destined for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking a milestone in the modernization of the country's Air Force and Air Defense. The aircraft, produced according to the contract schedule, will remain at the Dassault Aviation Flight Test Center for testing before the first deliveries, scheduled for late 2026.
The ceremony was presided over by Éric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, and attended by French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu and UAE Secretary of State for Defense Affairs Mohamed Bin Moubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei.
First Rafale F4 for the UAE
The contract, signed in December 2021 for approximately €17 billion, is the largest export deal for French aircraft to date. With the acquisition of 80 Rafale fighters, the UAE not only strengthens its airpower but also becomes the largest operator of the model outside France.
Additionally, the UAE will be the first export customer to receive the F4 variant, the most advanced Rafale currently in production. This version includes enhancements such as the integration of the Contact radio, the next-generation MICA NG missile, and the Autonomous Digital Scrambler (BAN) within the SPECTRA self-protection system. It will also feature enhanced networked combat capabilities and is designed to be upgraded to the F5 standard in the 2030s.
The commercial success of the Rafale in recent years is due not only to an aggressive export strategy by the French government but also to the continuous evolution of the aircraft. The future F5 version will introduce a new radar, improved electronic warfare and optronic sensors, artificial intelligence integration, and more powerful mission computers. It will also feature a fiber-optic data network, enhancing connectivity with next-generation systems.
Additionally, there are plans to equip the Rafale F5 with a more powerful version of the Safran M88 engine (T-REX project). There is even speculation about a potential F6 version, which would position the Rafale as a bridge between 4.5-generation and 6th-generation fighters—an attractive solution for nations that, due to economic or political constraints, cannot access fifth-generation aircraft available on the market.
AUTOR
Apasionado por la aviación, la historia, la política y la defensa. Editor-in-Chief en Aviacionline Defensa, combinando estos conocimiento para ofrecer un contenido valioso sobre temas estratégicos y de seguridad.
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