The French Ministry of Defence confirmed that the French Air and Space Force has received the first Rafale F4.1 fighter, which began development in 2019.
Flight tests of the new Rafale fighter began in April 2021 and it is scheduled for deployment by 2025.
The new standard Rafale fighter features upgrades to existing capabilities such as the Thales AESA radar, an electronic warfare system, and a modern communications suite.
The new capabilities of the F4 include the Thales Scorpion display, the MICA NG missile from MBDA and a 1-ton version of the Hammer air-to-surface precision-guided munition from Safran.
