More Power for RAFALE

 

In an surprising move, SAFRAN announced a 20% thrust improvement to the M88 engines on Rafale Fighter Jet

As far as I remember, Dassault Jet's like Mirage III, Mirage F1, Mirage 2000 and Rafale have never seen an improvement of the engine thrust in there service live. Once installed, nothing will be made - never change an working system.

Until now - the French Doubledelta Fighter will receive new engines called M88 T-REX with 20% more thrust and maximum compatibility to the actual M88 engine. The upgraded engine will be implemented on Rafale Standard F5, beginning in 2030.

First user will be the French Navy, with 12 Rafale F5 Marine in the 6th command for delivery in between 2030-2034. India will receive there first Rafale M in 2028, actually it's not clear if it will also be F5 standard - expected is an integration as fast as possible. 

External changes to actual Rafales are expected on the air inlet. With the production of more electricity on the new engine, internal systems can be optimized and improvements on radar, electronic countermeasures and other systems are possible. The F5 version has a lot of internal improvements already, for example another wiring and more capable computers and systems. Rafales of the future will be the 'old' F4.1 and the new F5 type - the new engine can be used on the old version (possibility exists, but it's not planned for French Armed Forces yet) but some other modifications of the F5 standard are not possible.

The new engine will also be of interest for Gripen and Tejas - especially to cancel all US parts in those aircrafts.

Link: https://www.safran-group.com/pressroom/safran-unveils-higher-thrust-version-m88-future-rafale-upgrades-2025-06-17

Mirage 2000D ready for the next 10+ years

 

Our western neighbours are modernising 55 of there 71 resting Mirage 2000D with some important mid-life updates to fullfill there role 'till 2030. The biggest surprise is the installation of an external pod for a canon DEFA 30mm named CC422. The direction générale de l'armement (DGA) wants to give the bomber aircrafts more flexibility with that - needing no more the help of the Mirage 2000C or Rafale aircrafts to supress enemy troops / showing of force on the battleground. Other upgrades includes the change from MAGIG 2 to MICA air-to-air missiles and the possibility to further improve the weapon load and new defence and navigation systems. 

Some important notes about the Mirage 2000D

- first flight february 19th, 1991; operational since april 9th, 1993

- integration of Link16 in between 2009 and 2011, called Mirage 2000D VI

- with the withdrawal of the Mirage F1 in 2014, Mirage 2000D received there ASTAC (Analyseur de Signaux TACtiques) reconnaissance pod

- 1st flight with mid-life update january 7th, 2021

An Mirage 2000D arriving at the Good Bye ceremony for Swiss Air Force's Mirage IIIS at Buochs airfield back in 1999

Mission NKF - Saab Gripen NG

Last but not least - Saab sends in two aicraft for the evaluation. With production already prepared for brasil and sweden, the Gripen NG has some important moduifications.

exJordan F-5 Tiger II receives glass cockpit - in TacAir service

What a bummer .... Swiss Air Force always blocked modernisation of the cockpit of our 'obsolete' F-5 Tiger II combat aircrafts. They prefer to sell them cheap to the US Navy and Marines Corps and buy new fighters.
Now the US TacAir company includes a Garmin G3000 flight deck and boosts the capacity of 21 ex Jordan Air Foce Fighters into 21 century ....
TacAir has modernised there fleet of Tigers already with Duotech’s purpose-built Nemesis Aggressor Radar, Argus RWR gear, Mason HOTAS, Tailored Mission Computer, and Upgraded Wiring allowing Integration of Multiple Tactical Systems. They are used for Aggressor/Adversary Support, JTAC Training and Fighter-Lead-In Training.

Garmin public release
TacAir