French aviation giant Dassault Aviation announced that it has completed production of the 300th Rafale fighter. Production is planned to increase to four aircraft per month, or 48 per year.
A total of 533 Rafale fighters have been ordered so far, leaving a backlog of 233 units (up from 220 last year), keeping production busy well into the 2030s.
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This announcement brings back the question of Europe's most successful fighter. Despite France's claims about the Rafale, over 600 Eurofighter Typhoons have been produced. Even though the Typhoon is built by a consortium, that's still more than double the Rafale's numbers.
However, Dassault has matched the Eurofighter consortium in terms of the number of operators and customers, with significant growth over the past five years, reflecting the aircraft's popularity and strong potential for further international expansion.
Additional contracts have fully loaded Dassault's industrial capacity, which involves 400 subcontractors across France. New clients often face years of waiting for their first aircraft, which can push them toward competitors.
Dassault notes that increasing production rates requires additional orders, and first deliveries often come from the French military's inventory to secure contracts.
The Rafale has struggled in Europe against the technologically advanced American F-35, which offers broader capabilities. Some lost tenders have been a source of frustration for Dassault, even affecting the FCAS sixth-generation fighter program.
For countries outside the U.S. circle of trust or without large defense budgets, the French fighter has been an attractive option. Examples include Serbia and Indonesia. In the future, Ukraine could be a potential customer, but that remains a long-term postwar prospect, likely requiring competition with the Gripen E.
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