France reports higher Rafale fighter deliveries

France’s Dassault Aviation announced that it delivered 26 Rafale fighter jets in 2025, surpassing its annual plan of 25 aircraft.

The company said the deliveries included 15 jets for export customers and 11 for the French Armed Forces.

According to Dassault Aviation, the 2025 output exceeds the previous year, when 21 Rafales were delivered — 14 to France and seven to export operators. The manufacturer also reported that it delivered 37 Falcon business jets in 2025, compared to 31 in 2024, although slightly under its target of 40.

As noted by the company, customers ordered 26 export Rafales during 2025. That compares to 30 export Rafales ordered in 2024, reflecting another strong year of demand for the multirole fighter.

Dassault Aviation said its Rafale backlog remains stable. As of Dec. 31, 2025, the company holds 220 Rafale fighters on order — 175 for export clients and 45 for France. This matches the 220-aircraft backlog reported at the end of 2024, though with a shift toward higher export allocation.

The Rafale is a twin-engine multirole fighter designed for air-to-air, strike, reconnaissance and nuclear deterrence missions. It is operated by the French Air and Space Force and Navy and has been widely exported, with customers including India, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.

Dassault said it now expects its 2025 net sales to exceed €7 billion ($8 billion), raising its earlier guidance. The full annual financial report will be released on March 4, 2026, and will include detailed revenue, order intake and backlog figures.

The company highlighted its broader portfolio, noting that it has delivered more than 10,000 military and civilian aircraft worldwide over the past century.