Dassault Aviation kickstarts Stealth UCAV program as part of Rafale F5 standard

Source : IgMp Bureau

A French Dassault Rafale fighter jet guiding a Dassault nEUROn Stealth UCAV prototype

France has embarked on the development of an advanced air-combat drone designed to function as an unmanned wingman for its Rafale fighter jets. This initiative is part of a contract with Dassault Aviation, aimed at upgrading the Rafale to the F5 standard. The new stealth drone will be remotely controlled from the Rafale cockpit, as confirmed by the Armed Forces Ministry in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Dassault Aviation, drawing from its experience with the nEUROn demonstrator, is leading the effort to develop this unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).

🔴 Sur la base aérienne 113 de Saint-Dizier pour les 60 ans des Forces aériennes stratégiques, @SebLecornu annonce une évolution majeure pour la dissuasion nucléaire aéroportée française : le nouveau standard du Rafale, le F5, qui emportera le futur missile nucléaire ASN4G.

Le… pic.twitter.com/WfuOi24PWO

— Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants (@Armees_Gouv) October 8, 2024

According to Dassault CEO Éric Trappier, the drone is expected to bolster the French Air Force's technological and operational superiority by 2033. This UCAV initiative follows a November request by France's senate for Dassault to accelerate the Rafale upgrade, including the development of a "loyal wingman," due to uncertainties surrounding the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a joint project with Germany and Spain. The wingman drone will feature stealth capabilities, autonomous control with human oversight, and the ability to carry internal payloads. Its design will allow it to adapt to future threats.

Dassault nEUROn Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)

Dassault’s experience with unmanned systems stems from its work on the nEUROn program, which began in 2003. The drone first flew in December 2012 and conducted a successful weapon release in September 2015. Key partners on the program include Leonardo, which developed the internal weapons bay, Saab, responsible for the fuselage and avionics, and Airbus, which contributed expertise in wing design. Airbus has also showcased its own fighter-type stealth drone concept, designed to complement piloted jets like the Eurofighter. This concept was presented at the Berlin Air Show as a solution to the German Air Force's need for an unmanned wingman ahead of FCAS deployment. German Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz emphasized the urgent need for remote carriers from the FCAS program before the 2040s.

Dassault Aviation is the main contractor for the FCAS program, with Airbus as the key partner. Airbus is leading the development of remote carriers, with MBDA as a principal collaborator. Meanwhile, Germany has procured F-35 jets from the United States, and France recently ordered an additional 42 Rafale jets, bringing its total Rafale fleet to 234. This order includes a special acquisition of 12 fighters in 2021, replacing jets transferred to Greece.

Future Combat Air System (FCAS)

The Rafale F5 standard, which will eventually carry the ASN4G nuclear missile, represents a significant advancement in France’s airborne nuclear deterrent capabilities, according to the Armed Forces Ministry. The first orders for the upgrade program were issued a few weeks ago. Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu noted that the modernized Rafale will be prepared to counter the threats of the 2030s and 2040s. This upgrade marks a transformative phase, comparable to the transition from the Mirage 2000 to the Rafale.

The French Air and Space Force received its first Rafale fighters upgraded to the F4 standard in March last year. This iteration of the aircraft focuses on enhanced connectivity and includes the Mica medium-range air-to-air missile from MBDA and an upgraded Spectra self-defense system by Thales.

MBDA is concurrently working on the ASN4G nuclear missile, set to replace the current ASMP missile carried by the Rafale. The new missile is expected to become operational by 2035 and will feature multiple warheads with performance approaching hypersonic speeds, according to MBDA board adviser Adm. Hervé de Bonnaventure. The missile's propulsion, developed under France’s Myhysis program, involves supersonic and hypersonic technologies. Onera, France’s aerospace research lab, is tasked with advancing the combustion chamber for air-breathing propulsion, which is a key challenge for hypersonic missiles.

ASN4G French nuclear scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile

In parallel, France recently conducted the first test firing of its Aster 30 B1 next-generation surface-to-air missile, which will be integrated into the SAMP/T NG air-defense system. This advanced system, developed by Eurosam, a joint venture between MBDA France, MBDA Italy, and Thales, is set to enter service by 2026. The SAMP/T NG system can intercept hypersonic missiles and offers 360-degree threat detection and defense. Lecornu emphasized the importance of this technology in light of ongoing global conflicts. Additionally, France plans to deliver Mirage 2000 jets to Ukraine by early 2025, equipped with new air-to-ground capabilities and electronic warfare countermeasures.

This gradual replacement of the Mirage 2000 with the Rafale underscores France’s continued commitment to modernizing its military capabilities, which began with the Rafale's first flight in 1986

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