DGA delivers first Rafale testbed aircraft

The Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), France’s defense procurement agency, delivered its first Rafale testbed aircraft to the DGA Essais en vol center on Monday, November 2. This aircraft, designated B374, was built by Dassault Aviation and delivered to the F4.1 standard, marking the end of the fourth production batch of the Rafale fighter jet.

B374 will serve as a flying laboratory

The B374 will not be assigned to a combat squadron. Instead, it will be converted into a flying laboratory to test future Rafale F5 equipment, including the next-generation RBE2 XG radar currently being developed by Thales. This transformation supports the modernization of the Rafale fleet.

Testbed will use modular instrumentation

The aircraft will first be equipped with a reversible test and measurement installation (IEM), allowing it to participate in the development of the current F4 standard. This system can be removed without permanently altering the aircraft, ensuring flexibility for future upgrades.

Upgrades planned for 2027 and 2028

Starting in the second quarter of 2027, Dassault Aviation will integrate necessary interfaces to allow DGA Essais en vol to install a complete and permanent flight instrumentation system. By 2028, the B374 will be equipped with a modular information processing set (EMTI) running a special software version called "orange," designed specifically for testing future F5 sensors.

B374 will replace the B348 test aircraft

The B374 will eventually replace the Rafale B348, which is currently on long-term loan from the French Air and Space Force. The B348 is currently used by the DGA Flight Test Center, but the B374 will serve as a dedicated test aircraft. This transition is part of the DGA’s broader effort to modernize its test fleet in support of the Rafale F5 upgrade program.

F5 upgrade contracts signed in 2026

The first contracts for the Rafale F5 standard were signed in the summer of 2026, with implementation expected to begin by the end of the year. This upgrade is a major mid-life enhancement for the Rafale, aiming to extend its operational capabilities and integrate advanced technologies.