The Scaf will arrive in 2040. But the Rafale has no intention of returning to the hangar for good. Away from. In fact, Dassault Aviation is preparing two new versions of the French fighter plane. The standard F4 model will enter the qualification phase in 2023. This fighter will be “optimized for collaborative combat.”
But Dassault engineers, those of the DGA (General Directorate of Armaments) and industrial partners are already working on the future of the device dubbed by Serge Dassault as “the best plane in the world”. It will remain “online until 2060”, says the manufacturer.
Next year, teams will start thinking about the Rafale to F5 standard for a 2026-2027 launch. It will be a device that is even more connected and prepared for cyber combat. The elements will accentuate your discretion by reducing your visibility.
Drone effectors and remote weaponry
Stealth will be present, but at the weapon level. The Rafale F5 could be fitted with subsonic (speed of sound) stealth missiles. And if the speed of the device is maintained at Mach 1.8, it could also carry hypersonic missiles.
The Scaf will be the first device that can officially benefit from the sixth generation qualification. It will be completely stealthy with the ability to be remotely piloted by ground crews. The US Air Force unveiled the B-21 Raider in early December, the first sixth-generation bomber capable of flying without a human on board. However, the Pentagon clarified that no decision has been made to use this feature.
In fact, some Scaf technologies will come from nEUROn, such as stealth. Others that will equip the next Rafale F5 will be compatible with the aerial combat system of the future. The F5 can, for example, use “drone effects, remote weaponry,” Dassault reveals. Clearly, the crew will be able to handle swarms of drones and shoot from a distance from these aerial robots. The French plane of the future is (almost) here.
Source: BFM TV
