Dassault Rafale A technology demonstrator

The Rafale A was Dassault's single technology demonstrator for the ACX combat-aircraft concept. It first flew from Istres on 4 July 1986 with Guy Mitaux-Maurouard, explored the canard-delta configuration and digital flight-control concept that led to the Rafale family, and completed its test programme with 867 flights before retirement in 1994.