France prohibits arming Serbian Rafale jets with Meteor AAMs

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Local sources have confirmed that the Rafale fourth-generation fighters, currently on order for the Serbian Air Force, will have downgraded air-to-air capabilities. This ensures that they will pose a limited challenge to NATO air power, should Belgrade align its policies with the preferences of the Western Bloc.

Rafale faces off with USAF F-35 in combat simulation against J-20 — Photo credit: Pan.bg

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic first announced the deal to acquire the fighters on April 9, following discussions with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron. While the Rafale is regarded as a modern fighter, it has relatively limited air-to-air performance compared to other Western fighters. The aircraft’s engines are among the weakest of any fighter in production, and its small radar lacks the power of rivals like the F-15’s AN/APG-82 and the F-35’s AN/APG-81.

Its range and missile-carrying capacity are also considerably lower compared to high-performing fighters like the Russian Su-30, the Chinese J-16, and the American F-15. Nevertheless, Rafales in Serbian service will experience a significant reduction in their air-to-air capabilities due to a ban on the provision of Meteor air-to-air missiles, which are the fighter’s primary armament. Other potential downgrades remain unconfirmed.

Serbia's Dassault Rafale ambition dashed by French objection — Photo credit: Focus Agency

The Meteor missile was designed to surpass the American AIM-120, and it reportedly benefitted from key U.S. technology transfers. Introduced in 2016, the Meteor boasts a superior range and kinematic performance compared to the AIM-120. One of its standout features is its propulsion system, which more closely resembles that of a cruise missile due to its reliance on a variable-flow ducted rocket [ramjet] instead of a traditional rocket motor.

This ability allows the missiles to regulate their engine during flight rather than burning through their energy in one unmodulated burst. As a result, they can conserve more power for the terminal attack phase, enabling them to perform extreme maneuvers and climb quickly, making them much harder to evade.

The Meteor missile is one of the few features that keep the Rafale’s performance on par with leading American and Chinese counterparts. The Meteors are considered comparable to the American AIM-260 missile, the Chinese PL-15, and the Russian R-77M. Without the Meteor missiles, Serbian Rafale fighters would lack any long-range air-to-air capability, relying solely on the medium-range MICA missile as their primary armament.

Meteor air-to-air missiles and NH90 helos for the Qatari Air Force — Photo credit: Defence Blog

Blocking the sale of the Meteor missile to certain clients is not without precedent. For example, Rafale fighters offered to Egypt faced similar restrictions. This aligns with a longstanding Western policy of limiting Egypt’s access to advanced air-to-air assets. Consequently, Egypt’s F-16 fighters must rely on the aging AIM-7 missile from the Cold War era, which is even less capable than the MICA missile. Additionally, Egypt’s French-supplied Mirage 2000s face even more stringent limitations.

As Serbia prepares to make its first-ever acquisition of Western fighter aircraft, it is clear that similar restrictions will apply. This means Serbian Rafale fighters will be among the least capable in air-to-air combat in Eastern Europe. In contrast, countries in the region are upgrading to more advanced options, such as the F-35, while Croatia is acquiring Rafales equipped with Meteors, and Slovakia is purchasing F-16 Block 70s armed with modern AIM-120 variants.

It’s worth noting that the Serbian Air Force’s new Rafale jets will actually have a shorter air-to-air engagement range compared to the MiG-29s currently in their fleet. While the MiG-29s use R-77-1 missiles with a range of 110 kilometers, the Rafale’s MICA missiles are limited to 80 kilometers. The MiG-29 also outperforms the Rafale in terms of speed and flight capabilities, although Serbia’s existing variants lag behind in terms of modern avionics.

New munition under the French Rafale F4.1 wings - the AASM 1000 — Photo credit: French MoD

Once seen as a top contender for the latest MiG-29 models like the MiG-29M or the advanced MiG-35, Serbia shifted its focus due to increased economic sanctions from Western nations in the late 2010s. Had they acquired these modern MiG variants, Serbian pilots would have benefited from advanced AESA radars, enabling them to deploy R-77M missiles comparable to the Meteor and potentially far-reaching R-37M missiles.

Serbia’s decision to acquire Rafale fighters has stirred quite a debate on the home front. The country still vividly remembers the intense NATO bombings of the 1990s and views Western-supplied aircraft with understandable skepticism. Many Serbians believe these fighters would offer little practical use if conflicts reignite.

While Belgrade has shied away from buying Russian air defense systems due to potential Western sanctions, there was also talk about opting for the Chinese J-10C fighter instead of the Rafale. This choice could reflect Serbia’s neutral stance amidst ongoing NATO-Russian tensions.

Greece received the first six of eighteen Rafale fighters — Photo credit: Dassault Aviation

The Serbian government’s desire to strengthen economic ties with the European Union seems to be the driving force behind its interest in Western fighter jets. Interestingly, non-Western sources often provide aircraft without sacrifices in performance, adding another layer to the debate.

France, unlike the United States, imposes fewer restrictions on how its fighters can be utilized by non-allied nations. This flexibility has made the Rafale attractive to countries like India, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates. In contrast, American fighters such as the F-15 and F-35, despite their superior capabilities, often come with political strings attached.

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