SOURCE: AFI
In a significant milestone for the French Navy, a Rafale Marine from the embarked air group of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle successfully conducted a Meteor missile training launch at the Landes Test Center in France. This marks the first time a Rafale Marine, the carrier-based variant of Dassault Aviation’s 4.5-generation multirole fighter, has fired the advanced MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM).
The successful test, conducted in early June 2025, underscores the French Navy’s growing proficiency with the Meteor, a ramjet-powered missile renowned for its long range and expansive no-escape zone (NEZ). However, this achievement has sparked speculation about the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) 36 Rafale jets, acquired from France in 2016, and whether they are fully Meteor-capable, especially in light of their performance in the recent India-Pakistan conflict.
The Meteor missile, developed by MBDA, is considered one of the world’s most advanced BVRAAMs, with a range exceeding 150-200 km and a unique ramjet propulsion system that sustains high speeds (up to Mach 4.5) throughout its flight, ensuring exceptional agility during the terminal phase. Its large NEZ, estimated at 60-80 km, makes it nearly impossible for targets to evade once locked on. The missile’s two-way datalink and active radar seeker further enhance its precision, allowing mid-course updates and resistance to electronic countermeasures.
The French Navy’s test at the Landes Test Center, a premier missile testing facility operated by France’s DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement), involved a Rafale Marine launching a Meteor against a simulated aerial target. The trial was part of a series of evaluations to validate the missile’s integration with the Rafale M, which operates from the Charles de Gaulle. The successful firing, conducted under controlled conditions, demonstrated the missile’s compatibility with the carrier-based platform and its ability to withstand the stresses of catapult launches and arrested landings. This milestone builds on earlier tests, such as those in 2005, when the Meteor was first trialed on a Rafale M from the Charles de Gaulle using instrumented missiles to assess carrier compatibility.
The French Navy’s achievement has cast a spotlight on the IAF’s Rafale fleet, comprising 36 aircraft acquired under a €7.8 billion deal signed in 2016. The IAF’s Rafales, based at Ambala and Hasimara air bases, are equipped with advanced systems like the Thales RBE2 AESA radar and SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, making them formidable multirole fighters. The deal included 250 Meteor missiles, intended to give the IAF a decisive edge in beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat, particularly against adversaries like the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
However, posts on X and recent media reports have raised doubts about whether the IAF’s Rafales are fully integrated with the Meteor missile. During the brief but intense India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025, codenamed Operation Sindoor, the IAF deployed Rafales armed with SCALP-EG cruise missiles and MICA air-to-air missiles for strikes against alleged terrorist targets in Pakistan. Notably, there is little evidence that the Meteor was used, despite its touted superiority over the PAF’s PL-15E missile, carried by Chinese-built J-10C and JF-17 Block III fighters.
French media, cited in posts on X, claimed that the IAF’s Rafales were not equipped with Meteor missiles during Operation Sindoor, suggesting a “crucial air-to-air capability” was absent. This has led to speculation that the IAF’s Rafales may not yet be cleared to fire the Meteor operationally, despite the missile’s integration being validated for the Rafale platform globally. For instance, the French Air and Space Force, Swedish Air Force (on Gripen C/D), and other operators like the Qatar Emiri Air Force have successfully integrated the Meteor, with guided launches conducted as early as 2015 at France’s Cazaux test site.
Several theories have emerged to explain the apparent non-use of the Meteor by the IAF. First, integration challenges may exist. While the Rafale platform is Meteor-compatible, the IAF’s specific configuration (India-Specific Enhancements, or ISE) includes customized avionics and software tailored to Indian requirements. Integrating the Meteor’s complex datalink and fire-control systems with these modifications may require additional testing and certification, which could still be ongoing.
Second, operational doctrine may have played a role. During Operation Sindoor, the IAF’s Rafales were primarily tasked with air-to-ground missions, launching SCALP-EG cruise missiles and AASM Hammer glide bombs. Posts on X suggest that the Rafales may have been configured for ground attack rather than air superiority, potentially explaining the absence of Meteor missiles. However, this raises questions about the IAF’s situational awareness and rules of engagement, as Pakistani J-10Cs, armed with PL-15E missiles, reportedly engaged Indian aircraft at long ranges, possibly catching Rafales off-guard.
Third, logistical or supply issues could be a factor. Although 250 Meteor missiles were procured, their delivery status remains unclear. Some reports indicate that consignments began arriving in 2020, but delays in training or stockpiling may have limited their operational use. The IAF’s focus on other munitions, such as the MICA (with both radar and infrared seekers) and indigenous Astra Mk1, may have deprioritized Meteor deployment.
Critics argue that the Meteor’s absence, if true, represents a missed opportunity to leverage its superior range and NEZ against the PL-15E, which, while comparable in range (90-140 km for the export variant), lacks the ramjet propulsion that gives the Meteor an edge in terminal-phase agility. The IAF’s reliance on MICA missiles, with a shorter range (60-80 km), may have left Rafales vulnerable to the PAF’s long-range BVR tactics.
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