Dassault Rafale Specs, Variants, Cost and Operators
The Dassault Rafale is a twin-engine, delta-wing multirole fighter built by Dassault Aviation in France, flown by the French Air and Space Force and Navy and by eight export customers, with a Rafale backlog of 208 aircraft on 30 June 2026. This guide covers Rafale specs, the B, C, M, F4 and F5 variants, cost, operators and production.
Dassault delivered 26 Rafales in 2025, 15 of them to export customers, and told investors it plans 28 deliveries in 2026. Orders now come from Egypt, Qatar, India, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Croatia, Indonesia and Serbia.
Dassault Rafale Specs and Performance
The Rafale combines a delta wing with close-coupled canards and is powered by two Safran M88 turbofans.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 (Rafale C and M) or 2 (Rafale B) |
| Length | 15.27 m |
| Wingspan | 10.90 m |
| Height | 5.34 m |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 24,500 kg |
| Engines | 2 x Safran M88, 50 kN dry and 75 kN with afterburner each |
| Maximum speed | 1,912 km/h (Mach 1.8) at altitude; 1,390 km/h at low level |
| Service ceiling | 15,835 m |
| Ferry range | 3,700 km with three drop tanks |
| Load factor | +9 g to −3.6 g (+11 g in emergencies) |
| Hardpoints | 14 (13 on Rafale M), up to about 9 tonnes of external load |
| Gun | 30 mm revolver cannon |
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Rafale A technology demonstrator makes its first flight on 4 July |
| 1991 | Rafale C flies on 19 May and Rafale M on 12 December |
| 2001 | French Navy squadron Flottille 12F becomes the first operational Rafale unit on 18 May |
| 2015 | Egypt signs the first export contract, for 24 aircraft, in February |
| 2025 | India signs for 26 Rafale M on 28 April |
Rafale Variants: B, C, M, F4 and F5 Explained
Rafale variants split into airframes and software standards. B, C and M describe the airframe, while F3R, F4 and F5 describe the capability standard fitted to it.
| Variant | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rafale C | Single-seat, land-based | Baseline air force fighter |
| Rafale B | Two-seat, land-based | Combat-capable two-seater that keeps the gun |
| Rafale M | Single-seat, carrier-based | Reinforced structure adds about 500 kg; 13 hardpoints |
| F3R | Standard | Adds the Meteor missile; validated in 2018 |
| F4 | Standard | Programme launched 20 March 2017; radar and sensor upgrades, improved helmet display and networking; first delivered 2023 |
| F5 | Standard | Planned uprated engine, RBE2-XG radar, ASN4G hypersonic nuclear missile, better data links and a companion combat drone |
France has placed the first industrial contracts for F5 work, and our report on the first Rafale F5 contracts covers the RBE2-XG radar and the M88 T-REX engine. The main development phase is due to start at the end of 2026, with qualification around 2033.
How Much Does a Rafale Cost?
There is no single price, because figures differ by definition. The French programme cost was about €45.9 billion in fiscal 2013, which works out to a unit programme cost of about €160.5 million once 40 years of development are included. The unit flyaway price was €101.1 million for the F3+ version, according to the Wikipedia summary of French budget documents.
| Measure | Figure | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Unit cost excluding development, Rafale C | €68.8 million | French Senate budget report, 2013 |
| Unit cost excluding development, Rafale B | €74 million | French Senate budget report, 2013 |
| Unit cost excluding development, Rafale M | €79 million | French Senate budget report, 2011 euros |
| UAE, 80 F4 | About $16 billion | Aircraft only, December 2021 (The War Zone) |
| Indonesia, 42 F4 | About $8.1 billion | Package, signed 10 February 2022 (Quwa) |
| India Navy, 26 Rafale M | About Rs 60,000 crore ($7.2 billion) | Package incl. weapons and support, April 2025 (The Aviationist) |
| Serbia, 12 | €2.7 billion | Signed August 2024 (Wikipedia) |
Which Countries Operate the Rafale?
France remains the largest operator, with 43 Rafales still on Dassault’s backlog on 30 June 2026. Eight export customers have ordered the aircraft. Egypt is the largest, and its 54 aircraft make it the second-biggest fleet after France. Our coverage of Egypt’s request for 24 more Rafale F4 tracks a possible third batch.
| Country | Ordered | Contract and status |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 54 | 24 signed February 2015; 30 more in May 2021; deliveries continued into late 2025 |
| Qatar | 36 | 24 signed May 2015; option for 12 more exercised 7 December 2017; all delivered |
| India (Air Force) | 36 | Signed September 2016; delivered July 2020 to April 2022 |
| India (Navy) | 26 | Signed 28 April 2025: 22 Rafale M and 4 two-seaters; deliveries from 2028 |
| UAE | 80 | Rafale F4 order announced 3 December 2021; first aircraft received January 2025; main deliveries from 2027 |
| Greece | 24 | 18 signed 25 January 2021 (12 used, 6 new); 6 more added; all delivered by January 2025 |
| Croatia | 12 | Used F3R aircraft; contract signed 25 November 2021; deliveries completed by 2025 |
| Indonesia | 42 | Signed 10 February 2022 in three tranches; 6 delivered by 18 May 2026 |
| Serbia | 12 | Nine single-seat and three two-seat; signed August 2024; deliveries due to finish by 2029 |
India has also cleared plans for 114 more Rafales. Its Defence Acquisition Council granted approval in principle on 12 February 2026, with 18 to come from France and the rest built in India, and Dassault’s half-year release says the government chose direct negotiations.
M88 Engine, SPECTRA and Weapons: What Does the Rafale Carry?
The Safran M88 produces 50 kN dry and 75 kN with afterburner. It has an overall pressure ratio of 24.5:1, weighs 897 kg dry and entered serial production in 1996. An uprated M88 T-REX, unveiled in 2025, is planned to raise thrust by about 20 percent to 88.2 kN for the F5.
SPECTRA is a fully internal electronic warfare system developed by Thales and MBDA France. It combines radar, laser and missile-approach warning with jamming and countermeasures, and a digital SPECTRA F5 is now under contract.
| Weapon | Type | Key data |
|---|---|---|
| Meteor | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air | Ramjet, above Mach 4, range of 120 km to more than 200 km; first guided Rafale launch 28 April 2015 |
| MICA EM and IR | Air-to-air | Radar and infrared versions for close and medium range |
| SCALP-EG | Air-launched cruise missile | About 250 km range, 450 kg warhead, in service since 2003 |
| AASM Hammer | Guided bomb kit | 125 to 1,000 kg classes, range over 70 km, in service since 2007 |
| ASMP-A | Nuclear stand-off missile | France only; ASN4G is its planned successor |
How Many Rafales Does Dassault Build a Year?
Dassault delivered 21 Rafales in 2024 and 26 in 2025, according to the company. In the first half of 2026 it handed over 12, of which 10 went to export customers, and guides to 28 for the full year. Chief executive Eric Trappier said in March 2025 that output would reach three aircraft a month in 2025 and four a month from 2028 to 2029. The backlog fell from 220 aircraft at the end of 2025 to 208 on 30 June 2026, of which 165 are export orders and 43 are for France.
| Period | Delivered | Backlog at period end |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 21 | — |
| 2025 | 26 (15 export, 11 France) | 220 (175 export, 45 France) |
| First half 2026 | 12 (10 export, 2 France) | 208 (165 export, 43 France) |
| Full year 2026 plan | 28 | — |
Recent Rafale Developments
Three threads dominate the programme: the F5 upgrade, India’s 114-aircraft plan and Egypt’s follow-on request. Our shorter explainer Dassault Rafale: what is it covers the basics. Ukraine and France also announced roadmap planning in July 2026 for Kyiv to acquire 16 Rafales, according to Dassault’s half-year release.
Dassault Aviation Company Profile
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Saint-Cloud, France (Paris region) |
| Founded | 1929, as Société des Avions Marcel Bloch |
| Chief executive | Éric Trappier (since 9 January 2013) |
| Employees | 14,600 (2024) |
| Revenue | €7.42 billion (2025), up from €6.23 billion (2024) |
| Net income | €1.06 billion (2025) |
| Order intake | €10.94 billion (2025) |
| Backlog | €46.60 billion (31 December 2025) |
| Listing | Euronext Paris, ticker AM |
| Ownership | Subsidiary of the Dassault Group |
| Products | Rafale fighter, Falcon business jets, earlier Mirage series |
Dassault Rafale FAQ
What is the Dassault Rafale?
A twin-engine, delta-wing multirole fighter built by Dassault Aviation. It serves in the French Air and Space Force and Navy and with eight export customers.
How fast is the Rafale?
Published maximum speed is Mach 1.8, or 1,912 km/h, at altitude, with 1,390 km/h at low level.
What engine does the Rafale use?
Two Safran M88 turbofans, each rated at 50 kN dry and 75 kN with afterburner. The M88 T-REX is planned for the F5 standard.
How much does a Rafale cost?
French budget documents give about €101 million flyaway for the F3+ version and about €160.5 million unit programme cost including development. Export contract values include weapons and support.
Which countries fly the Rafale?
France, Egypt, Qatar, India, Greece, Croatia and Indonesia operate it, and the UAE and Serbia have ordered it.
What is the difference between Rafale B, C and M?
B is the two-seat land-based version, C the single-seat land-based version, and M the single-seat carrier version with a reinforced airframe.
How many Rafales are built each year?
Dassault delivered 26 in 2025 and plans 28 in 2026. It targets four a month from 2028 to 2029.
- Dassault Aviation – 2026 first half-year results financial release: globenewswire.com
- Forecast International – Dassault Aviation reports €7.42 billion in 2025 revenue: flightplan.forecastinternational.com
- StratPost – Dassault delivers 26 Rafale fighters in 2025: stratpost.com
- Wikipedia – Dassault Rafale; Dassault Aviation; Snecma M88; Thales SPECTRA; MBDA Meteor; AASM Hammer
- The War Zone – UAE Rafale order: twz.com
- Quwa – Indonesia inducts Rafales: quwa.org
- The Aviationist – India signs for 26 Rafale M: theaviationist.com; Egypt Rafale deliveries: theaviationist.com
- Defense News – India clears the way for 114 Rafales: defensenews.com
- EDR Magazine – Greece and Serbia Rafale orders: Greece; Serbia
- Government of Croatia – Rafale aircraft to arrive in 2024: vlada.gov.hr
- AIN – Egypt orders 30 more Rafale fighters: ainonline.com
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