Chris Pocock has been covering the defense beat for AIN for over 30&nbsp;years. He is a British citizen and a graduate of the University of Cambridge. Chris worked in the air cargo business for ten years before becoming a full-time writer in 1983. He subsequently edited two air cargo journals before becoming AIN’s Defense Editor. He retired from that position in 2018, but still contributes to the publication. Chris has written extensively on aerial reconnaissance, including four books on the history of the U-2 spyplane. He also lectures on this and other topics related to intelligence-gathering in the Cold War.

Defense Correspondent

Chris Pocock

Dassault has redelivered to the French Navy&nbsp;the first of 10 Rafale M aircraft that are being upgraded from F1 to F3 standard. The work included replacement of the fighter’s central mission computer, new cockpit screens, wiring and weapons store changes. The Spectra electronic warfare system was also upgraded, and provision to change the RBE2 radar to the latest AESA version was made.


These first 10 operational Rafales were delivered to the Navy at the turn of the century, as an urgent replacement for aging F-8 Crusaders. They were limited to air superiority missions, not least because of the small capacity of the central mission computer. Subsequent Rafale deliveries were to the F2 standard, with much greater versatility, Dassault explained. The current F3 standard provides complete multirole versatility, the company added.


Of the 180 Rafales ordered by France, 133 have now been delivered. Production continues at a slow rate of 11 per year. The fleet has now amassed 120,000 flight hours, of which some 16,000 have been on combat operations over Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Central Africa, and now Iraq.


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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Dassault Upgrades Early Naval Rafales

With the new central mission computer, the upgraded Rafales offer complete versatility, according to manufacturer Dassault.

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News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

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