Dassault Rafale A Technology Demonstrator
The Dassault Rafale A was the technology demonstrator that established the aerodynamic and control concepts of the later Rafale family. Guy Mitaux-Maurouard flew its first flight on July 4, 1986. Initially powered by two General Electric F404-GE-400 turbofans, it also investigated carrier-approach handling. After the initial test phase, its left engine was replaced by a Snecma M88-2 while the right F404 remained installed. Flight testing of that mixed-engine configuration began on February 27, 1990. The aircraft completed its 867th and final flight on January 24, 1994, and later entered the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace collection.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Rafale AACXRafale A demonstrator
- Family Name
- Dassault Rafale
- Full Name
- Dassault Rafale A Technology Demonstrator
- Roles
- researchexperimentaltechnology_demonstratormilitary
- Status
- retired
- Type
- aircraft
- Variant Name
- Rafale A demonstrator
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- fixed_wing
- Operating Modes
- land
- Takeoff Landing Capabilities
- conventional
- Description
- The Dassault Rafale A was the technology demonstrator that established the aerodynamic and control concepts of the later Rafale family. Guy Mitaux-Maurouard flew its first flight on July 4, 1986. Initially powered by two General Electric F404-GE-400 turbofans, it also investigated carrier-approach handling. After the initial test phase, its left engine was replaced by a Snecma M88-2 while the right F404 remained installed. Flight testing of that mixed-engine configuration began on February 27, 1990. The aircraft completed its 867th and final flight on January 24, 1994, and later entered the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace collection.
- Dimensions
- Height
- …
- Length
- …
- Wingspan
- …
- First Flight Year
- 1,986
- Last Flight Year
- 1,994
- Manufacturer
- Parent Vehicle Family
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Count
- 2
- Placement
- fuselage
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Name
- Rafale A initial twin-F404 configuration
- Entries
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- fuselage
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- Left engine replaced by Snecma M88-2 for the second flight-test phase.
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- fuselage
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- Right F404-GE-400 retained during M88 testing.
- Name
- Rafale A mixed M88-2 and F404 configuration from 1990
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- October 29, 2026 at 15:54:50 UTC
- Updated Time
- October 29, 2026 at 15:54:50 UTC