Dassault Rolls Out UAE’s First Rafale F4 Fighter Jet
Dassault Aviation has unveiled the UAE’s first F4 Rafale fighter jet, marking a significant milestone in the country’s 2021 agreement with the French manufacturer.
The new fighter will complement the UAE’s existing Mirage 2000 fleet and future US-made F-35s.
In December 2021, the UAE signed a record 14-billion-euro ($14.6 billion) deal with Dassault for 80 Rafale warplanes. It also committed billions of euros in other deals with France.
The first deliveries are expected in 2027.
The unveiling of the UAE’s first F4 Rafale highlights the swift progress of the deal, driven by close collaboration between French and Emirati engineers.
Éric Trappier, PDG de Dassault Aviation, a dévoilé le 1er Rafale produit pour l’armée de l’Air des Émirats Arabes Unis, en présence du Ministre français des Armées, Sebastien Lecornu, et du Ministre d’État aux Affaires de Défense émirien, Mohamed Bin Moubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei pic.twitter.com/6FOfeTNtXj
— Dassault Aviation (@Dassault_OnAir) January 29, 2025
Advanced Model
The F4 variant builds on the Rafale’s legacy, featuring cutting-edge avionics, radar systems, and increased range.
It also boasts enhanced stealth capabilities, which improve its survivability against enemy detection.
Known for its multi-role flexibility, the Rafale can conduct air-to-air, air-to-ground, reconnaissance, and even nuclear deterrence missions if necessary.
The UAE’s F4 fighter jet is tailored with advanced networking and weapons systems to modernize the country’s air power.
Dassault is now working on an upgraded F4.1 model, which will incorporate additional features like helmet-mounted sights, improved fire control systems, and passive threat detection capabilities.