PARIS - France plans to significantly expand its fleet of Dassault Rafale fighter jets, with budget proposals for 2026 revealing an intention to order 52 additional aircraft from 2027 onwards. This would bring the nation’s total Rafale orders to 288 units, a notable increase from the 234 currently contracted. The order includes two replacements for jets lost in 2024 and reflects a larger ambition than previously signaled, as earlier plans suggested only about 30 new aircraft would be acquired post-2027. The proposal, however, still requires approval by France’s often divided parliament. The Rafale, serving both the French air force and navy, has been in service since the late 1990s, and despite the increased order volume, the actual operational fleet will be smaller due to aircraft sold to export customers and retirements of older models.
Beyond the Rafale program, France’s 2026 defense budget also allocates funding to modernize and expand broader air capabilities. This includes advancing a suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) capability for the Rafale F4 variant and initiating work on the next-generation F5 standard. Additional procurements include four more Airbus A400M transport aircraft, raising the total to 41, and a new maritime patrol aircraft based on the Airbus A321neo, to replace older models. The budget further outlines preliminary studies for a future replacement of the Airbus Tiger attack helicopter after 2040, while upgrades to the current Tiger fleet to the MkIII configuration are scheduled to begin deliveries from 2029.Fran
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