India's largest Rafale fighter jet deal under threat due to source code dispute

India's largest fighter purchase in history, the acquisition of 36 Rafale aircraft from the French company Dassault Aviation— has faced serious complications. The deal, concluded in 2016, initially included a requirement from the Indian side to transfer the source codes of the aircraft's on-board software, which is necessary for the independent integration of Indian weapons and the modernization of systems in the future.

However, Dassault Aviation has reportedly categorically refused to provide access to the source codes, citing French national security concerns and commercial confidentiality. This refusal calls into question India's ability to fully adapt the fighters to its tactical needs, as well as limits long-term autonomy in the maintenance and modernization of the Rafale fleet.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that the Indian Air Force is currently experiencing a critical shortage of combat aircraft. The number of squadrons has reached a historic low of about 31 squadrons, compared to 42. This creates a serious gap in combat readiness and the ability to ensure air superiority in potential conflicts.

The Indian military and experts have expressed concern that dependence on a foreign manufacturer for software could become a strategic vulnerability. This is especially true against the background of India's plans to purchase even more fighter jets, including a possible new deal with France.

Without access to the source codes, India risks being left in a position where even simple upgrades or integration of new weapons will require Dassault's approval and participation, which slows down the processes and increases the cost of operation.

The French Rafale has passed a "technical inspection" before going into production: DGA has completed tests of the F4 standard.3

 

Rafale F4.3

The General Directorate of Armaments of France (DGA) has put an important point in the development of the Rafale fighter. It has successfully completed a large—scale campaign to assess the operational capabilities of the aircraft in its future standard configuration, the F4.3. All tests took place at the DGA flight Test center in Istres, which is a key testing ground for new French military equipment.

This campaign was not just a formality. Its goal is to thoroughly test all the new features and improvements that are included in the F4.3 standard to ensure that the aircraft is fully operational. The successful completion of these tests is a critical step towards official certification of Rafale according to this new standard. After certification, all new Rafales will be produced in the F4.3 configuration, and the existing fleet aircraft will be gradually upgraded to this level.

The F4.3 standard is designed to significantly enhance the combat capabilities of Dassault Aviation's flagship fighter, making it an even more deadly and technologically advanced player on the modern battlefield.

The French "Archangel" took off: the Dassault Archange spy plane took to the air for the first time

 

Dassault Archange

Well, he's finally in the sky — the French Dassault Archange electronic reconnaissance aircraft has made its maiden flight. This is not just another test, but an important stage in the creation of one of the most classified and technologically advanced machines in the arsenal of the French Aerospace Forces. Imagine: a plane that doesn't shoot, doesn't bomb, but knows everything. About where the enemy is, what he's broadcasting, what kind of equipment he has—and he's doing it from a great height, while remaining almost invisible.

Archange is being developed jointly by two French defense giants: Dassault Aviation, which is responsible for the aircraft — its design, aerodynamics, piloting — and Thales France, which supplies the "brains" — all electronic stuffing. It is Thales that makes systems capable of intercepting signals, analyzing radio emissions, finding radars, and even determining the type of equipment the enemy has. In simple terms, this is not just a scout — it is a "big-eared" supercomputer on wings.

Archange is based on the already proven Falcon 8X business jet. Why him? Because it has an excellent range, altitude and, most importantly, stealth. This means that it is more difficult to detect it, which means that it can get closer to the "hot" zones and collect maximum data without risking being shot down.

What's cool about this car? The fact that it works in real time. All the information that it "catches" on the air is immediately processed and transmitted to the command. This allows the French army to literally see the electromagnetic battlefield — where radars are turned on, where negotiations are taking place, where forces are concentrated. It's as if you turned on "god mode" in military strategy and saw not only the units, but also their communications.

By the way, the name "Archange" (which means "Archangel" in French) was chosen for a reason. This is a hint that the plane is like a celestial observer, always in the sky, always on guard, but at the same time almost elusive.

So far, there are few details — as it should be for such a secret program. But the first flight is already a signal: France is seriously modernizing its intelligence. And now she will have her own "super spy" in the sky, able to keep abreast of any conflict zone.

"They're going into orbit": France makes a breakthrough in space with hypersonic Vortex aircraft

France continues to strengthen its position in the aerospace industry by introducing the large—scale Vortex project, a hypersonic space aircraft developed jointly by the government of the country and the aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation. This innovative project sets ambitious goals for itself: not only to ensure France's strategic dominance in space, but also to revolutionize the field of high-speed transportation and defense.

The creation of the Vortex spaceplane was a response to the challenges of the time, when access to space is becoming a key element of both the economic and military potential of the state. According to the information, the French government has already allocated 30 million euros to Dassault Aviation for initial work on the design of the device, which indicates the seriousness of intentions and the level of government support. The goal of the project is to create a fully reusable orbiter capable of launching payloads into low—Earth orbit, as well as performing maneuverable combat missions.

Vortex development faces a number of complex technical challenges, including:

- Hypersonic guidance — the need for precise control of the aircraft at speeds above Mach 5;

- Heat resistance of the structure — protection against extreme temperatures when entering and exiting dense layers of the atmosphere;

- Maneuverability for suborbital missions, allowing you to quickly change the trajectory and quickly respond to external threats.

These technologies are the foundation of the future space aircraft and will determine its combat and operational capabilities.

The Vortex project involves a phased development. As part of the first phase, it is planned to create a subsonic prototype Vortex-D, which will be used to test basic technologies. The full launch of the orbital version of Vortex-C is expected by 2027-2028, which should be an important stage in the development of space capabilities by the country. According to Defense News, other countries are showing interest in the project, including the United States, which is considering the possibility of cooperation in the field of creating strike systems from orbit.

The Vortex spaceplane can be used for both military and peaceful purposes. In the military sphere, it can serve as a platform for rapid response, satellite delivery, or even conducting strikes from orbit. In the civilian sphere, it is important to ensure low—cost and regular access to space, which is especially important for the development of small satellites and commercial space exploration.

In addition, France intends to use Vortex to strengthen its position within the European Space Agency (ESA), where it actively promotes the idea of creating European independent space systems.

France will present the future Dassault Aviation combat drone at the Paris Air Show

The French Air Force is preparing to present its new advanced combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the upcoming Paris Air Show. The developer of this innovative platform is Dassault Aviation, which will demonstrate a model of the future drone as part of a static exhibition.

The project was officially announced in October 2024, when French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecorny presented a detailed plan to put the new combat capability into operation by 2033. This UAV will become a key element of the modernization of the French Air Force, providing enhanced reconnaissance, precision strikes and complex combat missions without risk to pilots.

The project reflects France's desire to maintain technological leadership in the field of military aviation and adapt to modern challenges associated with the development of unmanned systems and autonomous combat platforms. It is expected that the new UAV will be integrated with existing and future weapons systems, providing a high degree of autonomy, maneuverability and stealth.

The Paris Air Show will become an important platform for demonstrating the achievements of the French defense industry and attracting international attention to the prospects for the development of unmanned aircraft in Europe.

India is faced with the problem of access to the source code of Rafale fighter jets: a technological limitation amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region

Rafale fighter jet

In the context of growing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, especially against the background of worsening relations with China and Pakistan, India is facing a serious challenge — France refuses to provide access to the source code of Dassault Rafale combat aircraft systems acquired under a contract in 2016.

Despite persistent diplomatic efforts New Delhi, the French company Dassault Aviation still does not agree to transfer key software elements governing aspects such as flight control systems, weapons integration and avionics. For India, this creates significant difficulties in terms of modernizing the fighter fleet and adapting them to its own needs.

The Indian authorities considered the possibility of independent updating and modification of the systems as an important step towards achieving technological independence and increasing  the combat effectiveness of the Air Force. However, the lack of access to the source code calls into question the full operational autonomy of these promising but strategically limited machines.

This issue is particularly acute now, as  China is strengthening its military presence in the South China Sea and is actively modernizing its aviation, and Pakistan is developing ties with Russia and other countries to purchase modern weapons.

Although France continues to support India through the QUAD+ trilateral cooperation, the issue of access to critical technologies remains a stumbling block in bilateral relations.

Egypt strengthens aviation fleet: flight tests of new Rafale DM18 and DM19 fighter jets

 

The French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation is actively conducting flight tests of two new Rafale multirole fighters, designated as DM18 and DM19. These aircraft are intended to be transferred to the Egyptian Air Force as part of a large-scale contract for the purchase of Rafale fighters. The delivery of the new aircraft will be an important milestone in the development of the Egyptian Air Force and the strengthening of cooperation between Cairo and Paris.

Egypt began acquiring Rafale fighter jets back in 2015, becoming the first international buyer of these machines. Since then, the country has consistently expanded its Rafale fleet, making it the second largest operator of this type of fighter after France. The two new aircraft, the DM18 and DM19, are part of the second contract signed in 2021, which provides for the supply of additional fighters to enhance the combat capability of the Egyptian Air Force.

The Rafale fighters developed by Dassault Aviation are considered to be one of the most technologically advanced multirole combat vehicles in the world. They are equipped with modern control systems, high—precision weapons and the ability to perform a wide range of tasks - from air combat to strikes against ground targets. The flight tests of the DM18 and DM19 are aimed at verifying their systems and operational readiness in real-world operations.

The acquisition of new Rafales significantly strengthens Egypt's position in the region. Fighters of this type can effectively counter modern threats and support the modernization strategy of the Egyptian army. In addition, cooperation with France demonstrates Cairo's desire to strengthen defense ties with key world powers.

The success of the Rafale program not only contributes to strengthening Egypt's defense capability, but also opens up new opportunities for further cooperation with France. This applies to both technological aspects and joint training programs for personnel and maintenance of aviation equipment.

Dassault Aviation continues to play a key role in ensuring global security through the supply of its fighter jets. For Egypt, this partnership was an important step towards building one of the most modern air forces in the Middle East region.