Aircraft
French Air Force Receives First AESA-Equipped Rafale
The first Rafale combat aircraft equipped with an AESA radar has been delivered (Photos: Dassault Aviation/A. Fevrier and Thales/Eric Raz)
The first Rafale combat aircraft equipped with an AESA radar has been delivered (Photos: Dassault Aviation/A. Fevrier and Thales/Eric Raz)

Dassault and Thales announced delivery of the first production Rafale to carry the Thales RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. The companies noted that the aircraft, production number C137 for the French Air Force, is the first AESA-equipped European combat aircraft to enter service. The development was completed on time and budget, they added. Dassault has now delivered 111 Rafales to the French Air Force and Navy; C137 is the seventh of eleven aircraft due to be handed over this year.