Our military aircraft play a crucial role in meeting current and future strategic challenges.
The Rafale is one of the world’s most seasoned fighter jets. It has demonstrated its outstanding versatility in some of the most challenging operational environments. It can handle a variety of missions that previously required seven different types of aircraft. The Rafale is one of the key components of the French system of nuclear deterrence.
The Rafale has been designed to be able to incorporate new features throughout its service life based on operational feedback. The F4 standard, currently under development for delivery in 2027, features enhanced networked combat capabilities. The F5 standard, whose development was launched in 2024, will be focused on collaborative combat and the advanced weapon systems of the future: it will feature, among other things, a fourth-generation nuclear missile system and a UCAS based on the nEUROn demonstrator.
Work on the Falcon Archange strategic intelligence aircraft is progressing, with 3 aircraft already on order by the French government. The French Navy placed an order for 7 Falcon Albatros jets in 2020. These maritime surveillance and intervention aircraft (AVSIMAR), based on the Falcon 2000LXS, are currently in the development phase and 12 aircraft are expected to be produced in due course. The Falcon Albatros completed its maiden flight in January 2025.