Aircraft
Latest Standard Rafale Gains Clearance; First Indian Aircraft Flies
The latest F3-R standard of the Dassault Rafale with Meteor missile, Talios pod, and other enhancements has received clearance from the DGA.
Representing the F3-R standard Rafale, this aircraft carries a Talios pod and is armed with AASM guided bombs and Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles, with MICA IR weapons on the wingtips. (Photo: Dassault)
Representing the F3-R standard Rafale, this aircraft carries a Talios pod and is armed with AASM guided bombs and Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles, with MICA IR weapons on the wingtips. (Photo: Dassault)

The French Ministry of Defence’s DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement), which functions as France’s defense procurement agency, approved the Dassault Rafale's latest F3-R standard on October 31, clearing the new sub-variant for operational service. The F3-R represents the latest step in the process of continuous evolutionary improvement to keep the aircraft upgraded in line with operational requirements. New aircraft on the production line will be delivered to F3-R standards, and in-service Rafales will be upgraded to the same standard, largely via new software releases, but with some hardware changes.


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