Rafale F4 standard launched

Paris, March 22nd 2017, French defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that he had authorized the development of the Rafale F4 standard. The first Rafale F4 should be delivered in 2025 but some of the features of this new version will be available as early as 2023.

The key improvements would be the following: 

• Improved net-centric capabilities (New data links, satcom)
• RBE-2 AESA upgrade 
• SPECTRA upgrade
• OSF IRST (New IR channel for the OSF)
• M88 engine upgrade (AB thrust > 8 T)
• Mica NG missile integration
• AASM missile upgrade

Le Drian also confirmed that a 5th production tranche should be ordered during the next LPM (Multi-year military procurement plan)

sources:
https://www.portail-aviation.com/
http://www.defensenews.com/
https://www.flightglobal.com/
http://www.air-cosmos.com/
http://www.defense.gouv.fr/


Previous Rafale standards contents                          

• LF1 standard (2000/05/01)
• R550 Magic 2
• F1 standard (2001/12/01)
• 30M791 gun A2A modes
• Mica EM
• SPECTRA                            
• F2.1 standard (2005/12/01)
• Hadrware update
• MDPU
• MIDS-Link16
• Upgraded SPECTRA
• OSF
• Sensor fusion
• SCALP
• MICA-IR                            
• F2.2 standard (01/06/2006)
• SBU-38
• Upgraded SPECTRA
• Obsolescences updates
• F3.0 standard (01/07/2008)
• Hardware update
• Long range MICA-IR modes
• High resolution Radar MAP
• Upgraded IFF
• SLPRM V4-2
• F3.1 standard (2009/06/01)
• Common F3 software for retrofited F2 and F3-O aircrafts
• F3.2 standard (2010/03/01)
• Full LGB capability
• Damocles-MP
• GBU-12/22
• SBU-64
• 30M791 gun A2G modes
• AM39 block 2 mod 2
• ASMP-A
• AREOS recce pod
• F3.3 standard (2012/01/01)
• MIDS-Link16 upgrade
• RBE-2 AESA
• OSF-IT
• DDM-NG
• New MFD
• Improved HUD transparancy
• Upgraded IFF
• F3.3' standard (2013/05/01)
• GBU-24
• AESA antenna compatibility with tranche 1, 2, 3 aircrafts
• F3.4+ standard (2014/12/01)
• MGRS format GPS data input
• Updated HUD safety symbology and warning
• New take off abortion warning (max brake energy capability)
• Real time ground following mode switch (radar-digital mapping)
• F3R standard (2018/10/01)   
• Meteor
• Talios LDP
• AGCAS
• IFF mode 5/S
• Link 16 upgrade
• RBE-2 PESA upgrade
• SPECTRA upgrade
• AREOS pod upgrade
• Full SBU-54 integration
• AASM fuse programmation upgrade
• GBU-16 integration
• NARANG refueling pod