• Land Warfare

  ​SOFINS: New guided support weapon unveiled

  4th April 2017

  French company AA/ROK has developed a concept for the new SSA-1108 Joint-Forces Light Support Guided Munition (MIGALe) at the SOFINS exhibition, near Bordeaux.The MIGALe is …

• Defence Notes

  LIMA 2017: MRCA contenders jockey for pole position

  22nd March 2017

  European aviation companies are playing tug of war over Malaysia's next fighter aircraft selection, with Saab and BAE Systems making counter-claims that each has been …

• Defence Notes

  MBDA upholds European defence collaboration

  16th March 2017

  Against a backdrop of Brexit and political uncertainty across Europe, MBDA will to continue down the road of European defence industry collaboration as its looks …

• Defence Notes

  Emerging markets key to Thales growth

  28th February 2017

  French aerospace and defence group Thales has posted an increase in sales for 2016, with emerging markets being at the centre of 'strong growth' for …

• Defence Notes

  Aero India 2017: Indian fighters deliver déjà vu

  21st February 2017

  There was a strong sense of déjà vu at Aero India 2017, as the Indian Air Force (IAF) is yet again on a hunt for …

• Digital Battlespace

  French carrier heads for refit

  14th February 2017

  The French Navy's aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R91) entered dry dock in Toulon on 8 February to undergo a major refit period.This is …

• Defence Notes

  Indian budget falls short of expectations

  1st February 2017

  India declared a defence budget of $40.6 billion for 2017/18, a 6% increase over last year’s spending of $38.2 billion. The budget did not meet …

• Digital Battlespace

  France aims for air-to-ground precision

  11th January 2017

  The French DGA has awarded Safran a contract for the provision of guidance kits for its air-launched bombs. Under the contract, awarded on 29 December, …

• Training

  Pilatus details PC-21 orders

  5th January 2017

  Pilatus Aircraft has signed three orders worth $292 million to deliver a total of 21 PC-21 fixed-wing trainer aircraft, the company announced on 4 January. …

• Defence Notes

  Qatar and Kuwait closer to fast jet deals

  13th December 2016

  Last month the GCC states of Qatar and Kuwait moved one step closer to completing one of the largest fast-jet programmes in recent years with …

• Land Warfare

  Belgian army battalions fire first Spikes

  4th November 2016

  Operators from Belgian army manoeuvre battalions fired their Spike anti-tank missiles for the first time on 27 October on the Bergen-Höhne training area in northern …

• Defence Notes

  India clears military projects worth billions

  10th November 2016

  The Indian defence ministry has cleared projects worth $12.4 billion (Rs 82,117 crore) to buy fighter aircraft, tanks, rocket systems, helicopters and UAVs, as the …

• Defence Notes

  Malaysia slashes 2017 defence budget

  25th October 2016

  The defence budget announced by Malaysia on 21 October has taken a serious slash compared to a year earlier. The amount allocated to the Ministry …

• Naval Warfare

  Qatar seek fast patrol boats

  23rd August 2016

  The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale (FMS) to Qatar for an undisclosed number of Mk V fast patrol boats in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  nEUROn UAV demos in France

  7th June 2016

  The nEUROn unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator successfully flew at an air demonstration organised by the French Air Force at Istres, France, Dassault Aviation announced …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale Follow-On (Egypt)

  Programme Background Egypt was reported to request 12 Rafale fighters following an earlier contract in 2015. However, this deal fell into limbo after the Pentagon blocked ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale (Greece)

  Programme Background Greece is mounting a procurement surge amid renewed tension with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean. In announcing the Rafale deal, Greek Prime Minister ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale - Follow-On (Greece)

  Programme Background Referring to the rearmament programme for 2020-2025, Greek defence minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos said in parliament on 7 October 2021 that up to 48 new multi-role ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale Follow-On - France

  The Rafale F4 variant will feature advanced radar system and weapons such as Mica NG, Scalp and AASM. France signed a €2 billion contract for ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale Procurement (1-36) [Qatar]

  According to the Dassault 2018 Annual Report, the company recorded €1.7 billion ($2 billion) from 12 Rafales export order in 2018. This puts the total ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Loyal Wingman UCAV [French Air Force]

  Programme Background Rafale F5 Companion During a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the French Strategic Air Forces (FAS) at Saint-Dizier Air Base in October 2024, France's Minister of ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale (1-12) [Serbia]

  Programme Background Timeline The military aviation capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces have been actively expanded — and Belgrade was confirmed to be negotiating with ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale [Iraq]

  Programme Background Requirement Lt Gen Juma Anad Saadoun, the Iraqi Minister of Defence, said in a 10 November 2020 statement that the Iraqi Air Force ...

• Fighter - naval

  Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters (MRCBF) [India]

  Programme Background RFI / Requirments In January 2017, India issued an RFI for the procurement of 57 multirole naval fighters. The RFI for the Indian Navy ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale [UAE]

  Programme Background Abu Dhabi has a long-standing interest in two squadrons of F-35, which had been refused until 2017 when it was reported that the ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Rafale [Iraq]

  Iraqi Air Force is planning to procure Rafale combat aircraft from France. The Iraqi Minister of Defence announced in November 2020 that Baghdad is in ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Rafale [Iraq]

  Iraqi Air Force is planning to procure Rafale combat aircraft from France. The Iraqi Minister of Defence announced in November 2020 that Baghdad is in ...

• Data links

  Data links | Rafale [Iraq]

  Iraqi Air Force is planning to procure Rafale combat aircraft from France. The Iraqi Minister of Defence announced in November 2020 that Baghdad is in ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Rafale [Iraq]

  Iraqi Air Force is planning to procure Rafale combat aircraft from France. The Iraqi Minister of Defence announced in November 2020 that Baghdad is in ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Rafale [Iraq]

  Iraqi Air Force is planning to procure Rafale combat aircraft from France. The Iraqi Minister of Defence announced in November 2020 that Baghdad is in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - naval

  Rafale M

  The Rafale M is a single-seat, twin-engine, delta-wing aircraft with forward canards. It is the carrier version of the Rafale B/C, which is in service ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale

  The Rafale is a delta-wing agile aircraft with forward canards, which allow for short landing and slower speeds, powered by two Snecma M88 engines. The ...

• EO/IR systems

  AREOS

  The Airborne Recce Observation System (AREOS), known as Reco NG in France, is a standoff reconnaissance system designed for tactical and strategic missions.  The pod integrates ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS

  DDM-NG

  MBDA’s DDM-NG is a Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) which equips Thales’ Spectra integrated self-protection system used by the Dassault Rafale-F3B/C/M combat aircraft. Official documentation ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  CSR

  As part of a wider consortium including its parent company Dassault Aviation, Sogitec Industries delivered the two Rafale Simulation Centres (Centres de simulation Rafale/CSR) in ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers, Air: Defensive Systems - Laser Warning Receivers, Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  SPECTRA

  Thales’ SPECTRA (Rafale Fire Control Radar Protection and Avoidance System) is the Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) used by the Dassault Rafale series of combat aircraft. ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines

  M88

  The M88 powers Dassault's Rafale multirole fighter. The engine is manufactured by Safron and can develop 16,500lb of thrust with an afterburner.  Safran is working ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Stealth UCAV (nEUROn Successor)

  At the Paris Air Show 2025, Dassault Aviation showcased a stealthy UCAV, the successor of the nEUROn aircraft. A Safran M88 engine will power the ...

• Air: maintenance simulators

  VMT

  Virtual Maintenance Trainers (VMTs) present trainees with interactive virtual walkaround lessons, providing views of component locations and inspection areas around the aircraft, along with descriptions ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Rafale Simulator

  Thales, Sogitec and Dassault Aviation have together developed two pilot training centres to support the training of Rafale fighter pilots. The Saint-Dizier Rafale simulation centre ...

• EO/IR systems

  TALIOS

  The TArgeting Long-range Identification Optronic System (TALIOS) is a targeting pod from Thales.  It is equipped with top-down and bottom-up datalinks and can scan a large area, identify ...

• Air: mission management systems

  SLPRM

  Mission planning and debriefing system used by the French Air Force to program missions for its fighter jets. The SLPRM (Système local de préparation et ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  MICA RF

  Developed by MBDA, the MICA is a multi-mission, air-to-air missile system for the Rafale and the latest versions of the Mirage 2000 combat aircraft. The MICA ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  MICA IR

  Developed by MBDA, the MICA is a multi-mission, air-to-air missile system for the Rafale and the latest versions of the Mirage 2000 combat aircraft. The MICA ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  Meteor

  The Meteor is a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile that is intended to be used against long-range targets in an ECM-rich environment. Guided by an advanced active radar seeker, the ...