According to information released by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces on 30 July 2025, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has successfully completed a major test campaign for the Rafale fighter jet in its upcoming F4.3 configuration. Conducted at the DGA Flight Test Centre in Istres, this comprehensive evaluation represents a critical step toward the formal qualification of Dassault Aviation’s next-generation multirole combat aircraft.
This campaign, known as the “RAU (Revue d’Aptitude à l’Utilisation – Fitness for Use Review),” aimed to assess the maturity level of the Rafale F4.3 in scenarios simulating real-world operational environments. The tests covered air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea missions, with a particular focus on system performance, sensor fusion, weapons integration, and enhanced connectivity. This phase was crucial for validating the aircraft’s technological advancements before its final definition and full qualification.
Rafale: The Backbone of French Air Power
The Dassault Rafale is a twin-engine, delta-wing, multirole fighter aircraft designed for both the French Air and Space Force and the French Navy, with land-based and carrier-capable variants. Entering service in 2000, the Rafale has demonstrated a high survival rate in recent operations due to its optimized aerodynamic design and advanced, low-observable sensors. It is expected to remain France’s main combat aircraft until at least 2040.
Production of the Rafale began in December 1992, was paused in 1995 due to political and economic uncertainties, and resumed in 1997. The initial procurement included 48 aircraft (28 firm orders and 20 options).
What’s New in the F4.3 Configuration?
The F4.1 standard, qualified in 2023, introduced several enhancements such as an upgraded IRST (infrared search and track) system, the Thales SCORPION helmet-mounted display, new collaborative target detection modes, and larger lateral cockpit displays for improved pilot awareness.
The F4.3 standard builds further upon these features with:
Integration of MICA NG, the next-generation air-to-air missile
Upgraded SPECTRA electronic warfare and self-protection system
CONTACT software-defined radio for enhanced tactical communications
TALIOS targeting pod with AI-assisted automatic target recognition and designation mode
RAU Campaign: Testing in Operational Reality
The RAU trials allowed the DGA and its partners to assess the real-time operational performance of the Rafale F4.3’s sensor suite and communications systems in multi-domain combat scenarios. The results will serve as a foundation for the remaining development phases and support the path to full certification of the F4.3 standard.
Strategic Implications
This development marks a major leap in France’s air combat capabilities. The Rafale F4.3 is designed to ensure superiority in future multi-domain warfare environments and to sustain France’s air dominance in a digitally connected, multirole battle space.
With its high-tech systems, modular architecture, and network-centric combat features, the Dassault Rafale F4.3 is expected to play a significant role in both national defense and the export market over the coming decades.
