Dassault Rafale

The Dassault Rafale is one of the world's most costly fighter jets in 2021, having been designed in one of the world's most expensive countries, France. This twin-engine jet has a canard delta wing configuration. Many observers believe Rafale is the successor to Dassault Aviation's Mirage 2000 fighter from the 1980s.

Rafale costs differ according to the nation. They are purchased at a far reduced cost by the French Air Force. The Indian Air Force just finalized a difficult agreement to acquire these jets. Nonetheless, the Dassault Rafale aircraft are among the most expensive in the world. Many of Rafale's avionics and features, including as direct voice input, the RBE2 AA active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and the optronic Secteur frontal infrared search and track (IRST) sensor, were designed and manufactured in France. The Rafale was supposed to enter service in 1996, but it was delayed significantly owing to post-Cold War funding cuts and changes in priorities. The Rafale C single-seat land-based version, the Rafale B twin-seat land-based version, and the Rafale M single-seat carrier-based version are the three primary versions.

The Rafale was introduced in 2001 and is built for both the French Air Force and carrier-based missions in the French Navy. The Rafale has been promoted for export to various nations, including the Egyptian Air Force, the Indian Air Force, the Qatar Air Force, the Hellenic Air Force, the Croatian Air Force, the Indonesian Air Force, and the United Arab Emirates Air Force. The Rafale has been employed in the battle over Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq, and Syria.

Role: Multirole fighter
National origin: France
Manufacturer: Dassault Aviation
First flight: Rafale A demo: 4 July 1986Rafale C: 19 May 1991
Introduction: 18 May 2001
Status: In-service
Primary users: French Air and Space ForceFrench NavyIndian Air ForceQatar Emiri Air Force
Produced: 1986–present
Number built: nearly 240 as of 2022