France Produces 300th Rafale Multi-Role Fighter Jet

French aerospace manufacturer Dassault Aviation has produced its 300th Rafale multi-role fighter jet.

The company announced the milestone on October 7.

According to Dassault, the corresponding fuselage was assembled a few days earlier. In total, the Rafale production program brings together around 400 French companies.

“It is the cornerstone of France’s industrial and military sovereignty, thanks to the development of critical technologies and its export success,” Dassault said in a statement.

The company currently has firm orders from France and eight export customers for an additional 233 Rafale fighter jets. Production is expected to increase to four aircraft per month.

The first Rafales entered service with the French Navy in 2004 and the French Air Force in 2006. Export deliveries launched in 2015 with Egypt.

Dassault Aviation recently opened a new production line, its first since the 1970s, to meet rising demand for the Rafale. The new facility is located in Cergy, northwest of Paris.

The plant currently employs more than 600 engineers and will eventually enable annual production of 30 to 40 Rafale aircraft.

In the summer of 2025, France completed the first Rafale B fighter for the Indonesian Air Force. The aircraft was spotted at the end of July at Dassault’s factory airfield in Bordeaux.

Taiwan, which is seeking to replace its aging Mirage 2000-5 fighters, may become a new buyer of the French aircraft.

For the history of the development and production of France’s most advanced combat aircraft, read the article: “Dassault Rafale: The Path to Europe’s Most Successful Fighter and a Symbol of French Aviation Independence.”