Introduced in 2001, the Rafale is being produced for both the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations in the French Navy. The aircraft is available in three main variants: Rafale C single-seat land-based version, Rafale B twin-seat land-based version, and Rafale M single-seat carrier-based version. Originally scheduled to enter service in 1996, the Rafale suffered significant delays due to post- Cold War budget cuts and changes in priorities. Many of the aircraft's avionics and features, such as direct voice input, the RBE2 AA active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the optronique secteur frontal infra-red search and track (IRST) sensor, were domestically developed and produced for the Rafale programme.

The Rafale is distinct from other European fighters of its era in that it is almost entirely built by one country, involving most of France's major defence contractors, such as Dassault, Thales and Safran. Dassault built a technology demonstrator which first flew in July 1986 as part of an eight-year flight-test programme, paving the way for the go-ahead of the project. Subsequent disagreements over workshare and differing requirements led to France's pursuit of its own development programme. In order to reduce development costs and boost prospective sales, France entered into an arrangement with the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain to produce an agile multi-purpose 'Future European Fighter Aircraft' (which would become the Eurofighter Typhoon). In the late 1970s, the French Air Force and French Navy were seeking to replace and consolidate their current fleets of aircraft. The Rafale is referred to as an 'omnirole' aircraft by Dassault. Equipped with a wide range of weapons, the Rafale is intended to perform air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence missions.

The Dassault Rafale ( French pronunciation:Р’В РІР‚вЂ№, literally meaning 'gust of wind', and 'burst of fire' in a more military sense) is a French twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Multi-role combat aircraft family by DassaultР”Р„ French Air Force Dassault Rafale B at RIAT in 2009

Rafale flight scandal