Dassault Aviation is developing a new Rafale F5 standard for the French armed forces, with chief executive Éric Trappier describing it as a “super Rafale” and targeting readiness between 2033 and 2035. The upgraded fighter is expected to stay in service as France modernises its air combat fleet, while export sales are planned to follow from 2035.
The programme is being advanced without a foreign co-development partner at this stage. France’s updated military planning framework appears to have adjusted delivery timing for around 20 Rafale aircraft so they can be built directly to the F5 standard, shifting some aircraft originally due in 2031 and 2032 to 2033 and 2034. That schedule is linked to the country’s broader force modernisation cycle, including future strike and nuclear requirements.
For Dassault, the F5 is intended to keep the Rafale competitive into the mid-2030s and beyond. The aircraft has not reached a contract award, prototype rollout or certification milestone, but it is already positioned as the next major evolution of the type for both French service and future export campaigns.