Iraq has long been fascinated by the Dassault Rafale fighter jet—with interest in operating the warplane dating back to the rule of longtime dictator Saddam Hussein.

Iraq is inching closer to concluding a deal for as many as 14 French-made Dassault Rafale F4 jet fighters, including 10 single-seat models and four twin-seat variants. Negotiations for the advanced “omnirole” Rafales began in 2022 and were resumed in February 2025, continuing through last year.

The deal could be finalized by the end of the first half of 2026. If completed, it would significantly enhance the capabilities of the Iraqi Air Force, which currently operates the US-made F-16IQ, a variant of the F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 50/52 built for the US Air Force in the 1990s and supplied around a decade ago. Iraq operates 36 Block 50/52 F-15IQ aircraft, comprising 24 single-seat and 12 twin-seat models.

Why Iraq Needs New Fighter Jets

Baghdad has been particularly interested in the capabilities of the Rafale F4, notably its ability to carry the Mica NG and Meteor air-to-air missiles, as well as the AASM 250 and AASM 1000 air-to-ground ordnance, according to Avions Légendaires, a French-based company that first reported this in December. It noted that last month, “two high-ranking Iraqi officers, General Ali Majeed Muhammed and his deputy, Colonel Ayad Ahmed Rokan,” traveled to France to take part in meetings with the French Air and Space Force, where they experienced “firsthand the advanced training and operational conversion program for future French Rafale pilots.”

The French aviation outlet also explained that Baghdad’s interest in the Rafale dates back to its early development as a “technology demonstrator” in 1989. The Dassault aircraft apparently impressed former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, whose air force had been badly battered by the eight-year Iran-Iraq War and nearly demolished during the ensuing Gulf War.

The Rafale entered service in 2001 and has been progressively upgraded to higher standards. It has been used in combat in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq, and Syria. And although the Iraqi Air Force did not adopt the Rafale while Hussein was in power, it might still enter service with the Middle Eastern nation in the coming years.

About the Dassault Rafale Fighter Jet

• Year Introduced: 2001
• Number Built: 300+ (as of October 2025)
• Length: 15.27 m (50.1 ft)
• Height: 5.34 meters (17 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 10.21 m (33.5 ft)
• Weight (MTOW): ~24,000 kg (50,000 lb)
• Engines: Two M88-4E afterburning turbofan engines
• Top Speed: 1,912 km/h (1,188 mph) / Mach 1.8 at altitude
• Range: 3,700 km (2,300 miles)
• Service Ceiling: 15,240+ m (50,000 ft)
• Loadout: 14 hardpoints for external payloads; 9,500 kg (20,900 lb) payload capacity
• Aircrew: 1–2, depending on variant

The Dassault Rafale, which means literally “gust of wind,” or “burst of fire” in a more military sense, was initially conceived for use by the French Air Force and Navy as an “omnirole” fighter, meaning that it would replace seven types of combat aircraft in operation at the time of its development.

It was developed to carry out a wide range of missions, including air defense/air superiority, anti-access/area denial, reconnaissance, close air support, dynamic targeting, air-to-ground precision strike/interdiction, anti-ship attacks, nuclear deterrence, and even buddy-buddy refueling.

The plane traces its origins to the Avion de Combat Experimental (ACX) program in the early 1980s, before France withdrew from the multinational European Fighter Aircraft (EFA) project in 1985, which went on to develop the Eurofighter Typhoon.

There has been speculation that Paris withdrew from EFA to pursue a smaller, lighter combat aircraft capable of operating from its aircraft carriers.

The ACX initially took the form of a technology demonstrator and was first flown in July 1986; it was later redesignated as the Rafale A.

That initial aircraft established the primary design features of the final Rafale, including its basic aerodynamic configuration, a fly-by-wire control system, and a structure that extensively used composite materials. In the years that followed, the aircraft was developed to carry out a wide range of missions, hence its “omnirole” designation. It can serve in several roles, including air defense/air superiority, anti-access/area denial, reconnaissance, close air support, dynamic targeting, air-to-ground precision strike/interdiction, anti-ship attacks, nuclear deterrence, and even buddy-buddy refueling.

Iraq’s Pilots Have Some Rafale Experience Already

Although Iraq doesn’t operate the Rafale, in 2014 and 2015, some of its pilots had taken part in joint sorties with French Air and Space Force aviators flying the Dassault fighter in Operation Chammal against ISIS and Daesh forces in Syria. This came as part of the larger Operation Inherent Resolve involving coalition forces in the Middle East to degrade ISIS capabilities.

“Iraqi combat pilots have had opportunities to train alongside their French counterparts and experience the differences between their F-16 fighter jets and the Rafale aircraft. Each time, the French jets showed a decisive superiority,” Iraqi News reported.

Although the F-16IQ is still a solid fighter, it is fundamentally a fourth-generation aircraft that lacks certain modern sensors and weapons employment. The downgraded Fighting Falcons in Iraqi service rely on older AIM-7s and AIM-9L/Ms for air-to-air combat, putting the fighter at a significant disadvantage against Rafales and other 4.5-generation aircraft. 

The Rafale’s MICA NG and Meteor air-to-air missiles would provide beyond-visual-range capability, which the Iraqi Air Force may need if it becomes involved in a conflict with a regional rival such as Iran. Although Baghdad and Tehran are currently uneasy allies, the situation could change quickly—a point not lost on the current Iraqi government.

Rafales Are Popular Across the Middle East

Even as Iraq continues to negotiate the terms of a Rafale deal, it has found favor in the region. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have already adopted the aircraft, and Saudi Arabia is close to finalizing a deal with Paris.

As previously reported, one sticking point in the potential oil for aircraft deal has been whether Iraq will receive the F4-standard aircraft along with the Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles, which has resulted in protests from Israel.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image: Shutterstock / Serge Goujon.

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