France’s DGA receives Rafale aircraft for future F5 radar and weapons testing

France's DGA has delivered Rafale B374 to its flight-test centre as the first dedicated Rafale testbed for future F5 equipment and weapons trials. Delivered in the F4.1 configuration, the aircraft will initially receive reversible instrumentation before Dassault Aviation begins a major modification in the second quarter of 2027. It is expected to return to the test fleet in 2028 with permanent instrumentation and a dedicated test version of its mission computer. This configuration will support further F4 development and integration of future F5 sensors, including the RBE2 XG radar.