TheMinistry of Armed Forces has for the new Dassault Rafale F3- R standard will be completed by 2018 and the aircraft will enter operational half of 2017, the teams of the DGA, Dassault Aviation, MBDA, Thales and the air and naval testing centres will complete integration of MBDA’s Meteor missile and the Thales Talios designation pod. According to the French DGA, “With the Meteor missile/AESA active antenna radar, the Rafale will still be at the forefront of combat aviation for many years.”

long- range air- to- air missile has also been completed with a successful test being carried out at the Biscarrosse site of DGA Missile Testing. Following the engagement of an aerial target at long- range by the Meteor missile, a simulated MBDA MICA missile fire against another objective was simultaneously performed. This showcased the new capabilities of the F3- R variant with combination of Meteor missile and RBE2 AESA radar. The 3rd and penultimate round of testing for the new TALIOS pod has also been completed at the DGA Centre test in Istres.