During the course of this week, French company Dassault Aviation announced that it has completed production of the 300th Rafale fighter jet, marking a milestone in the progress toward fulfilling a total of 533 aircraft on firm order from countries such as France, India, Indonesia, and Serbia. According to the company, this achievement reflects not only the operational strengths of the design itself but also its ability to develop an industrial network involving more than 400 local companies, consolidating a strong domestic aerospace industry.
Quoting some of the company’s official statements regarding the milestone: “Production of the 300th Rafale was completed a few days ago. This milestone reflects the operational, industrial, and commercial success of this combat aircraft, unique in its category in terms of versatility and proven operational effectiveness (…) It is a pillar of France’s industrial and military sovereignty, thanks to the crucial technologies it has developed and its export successes.”
According to Dassault’s official communication, the future looks promising, with 233 aircraft still to be built for both France and other international customers. The company added that work is underway on the production line to increase the manufacturing pace. Specifically, Dassault aims to raise production to four aircraft per month, which would facilitate deliveries to customers such as Serbia — a country that, in June, approved loans worth €1.9 billion to move forward with the purchase of 12 Rafales.
At the same time, partnerships are being established with international industrial players, particularly in India, to pave the way for local licensed production of these aircraft in order to meet the growing demand that is nearing confirmation. New Delhi is currently evaluating the Indian Air Force’s proposal to acquire up to 114 Rafale fighters to replace its aging MiG-21s, which were officially retired at the end of September after more than six decades in service.
It is also worth recalling that Dassault is moving forward with the development of a new variant of the Rafale, known as the F5, intended to equip the French Air and Space Force in the future. Among the latest updates reported, it is noteworthy that the design will feature new M88 T-REX engines, whose main advantage will be an increase in thrust of up to 9 metric tons with afterburner — an improvement of about 20% compared to current models — allowing the Rafale to extend its range and payload capacity.
Finally, accompanying the development of the Rafale F5, Dassault is also working on a new stealth combat drone designed to operate alongside the fighter in future missions. The announcement was made last year during a ceremony at Saint-Dizier Air Base marking the 60th anniversary of the French Strategic Air Forces (FAS), where it was also stated that the F5 is expected to enter service at the beginning of the next decade.
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