France has announced that it has signed the first contracts with Dassault Aviation, MBDA, Safran, and Thales as part of the development phase of the Rafale F5 fighter jet…
Under the effort, new navigation, radar, communication, electronic warfare, and propulsion technologies are planned to be developed for the fighter jet.
The F5 program represents a comprehensive mid-life modernization of the Rafale fleet.
Following the completion of the new standard’s qualification around 2033, it is expected to enter service with the French Air Force, followed later by the French Navy.
As part of the modernization, the renewal of nuclear deterrence capability will be supported through the integration of the future ASN4G missile.
Dassault Aviation will lead work on a very-low-drift inertial navigation unit using hemispherical resonator gyroscope technology.
Thales will develop the RBE2-XG AESA radar together with the IVDL high-bandwidth datalink system; the radar’s detection range, power, and capability against low-radar-cross-section targets will be enhanced.
Thales and MBDA France will migrate the Rafale’s SPECTRA electronic warfare and self-protection system to a fully digital architecture, improving threat detection and jamming capability across a wider electromagnetic spectrum.
Safran Aircraft Engines, meanwhile, will develop the M88 T-REX engine, with the goal of increasing maximum thrust from 7.5 to 9 tons and reducing maintenance intervals…