RAFALE MULTI-ROLE COMBAT FIGHTER, FRANCE
Rafale is a twin-jet combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide
range of short- and long-range missions, including ground and sea
attack, air defence and air superiority, reconnaissance, and
high-accuracy strike or nuclear strike deterrence.
The aircraft has been developed for the French Air Force and Navy.
61 aircraft were ordered (36 for the Air Force and 25 for the Navy)
and in September 2004, a further 59 aircraft (11 two-seater and 36
single-seat for the Air Force and 12 Rafale M for the Navy,
delivery 2008 to 2012) out of a total requirement of around 300
(234 for the Air Force and 60 for the Navy). The Rafale is produced
in three variants - M, B and C. The Rafale M variant is a
single-seater carrier-based version for the navy, while B and C are
two-seat and single-seat versions respectively for the Air Force.
The Rafale M entered service in 2001 and ten have been delivered.
Seven aircraft are operational on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft
carrier. Two Rafale B aircraft have been delivered to the Air
Force. Rafale B and C will enter service in 2005.
Rafale fighters delivered to the Navy so far are F1 standard with
air-to-air capability. F2 standard with air-to-ground missiles will
begin an initial testing phase at Mont-de-Marsan military flight
test center from September 2004. A contract to develop the fully
capable F3 standard aircraft with Thales terrain-following RBE2 3D
radar, Thales RECO NG optronics pod and the capability to launch
ASMP-A nuclear missiles and AM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles was
signed in February 2004. An order for 59 F3 aircraft, 47 for the
Air Force (11 two-seat and 36 single-seat) and 12 (single-seat) for
the Navy, was placed in December 2004. The Rafale F3 will be
delivered from 2007 and the first squadron of 20 aircraft will be
in service in 2008.
COCKPIT
The cockpit has hands-on throttle and stick control (HOTAS). The
cockpit is equipped with a head-up, wide-angle holographic display
from Thales Avionique, which provides aircraft control data,
mission data and firing cues. A collimated, multi-image head-level
display presents tactical situation and sensor data, and two
touch-screen lateral displays show the aircraft system parameters
and mission data. The pilot also has a helmet-mounted sight and
display. A CCD camera and on-board recorder records the image of
the head-up display throughout the mission.
WEAPONS
The Rafale can carry payloads of over nine tons on 14 hardpoints
for the Air Force version, and 13 for the naval version. The range
of weapons includes Mica, Magic, Sidewinder, ASRAAM and AMRAAM
air-to-air missiles; Apache, AS30L, ALARM, HARM, Maverick and
PGM100 air-to-ground missiles; and Exocet/AM39, Penguin 3 and
Harpoon anti-ship missiles. For a strategic mission, the Rafale can
deliver the MBDA (formerly Aerospatiale) ASMP stand-off nuclear
missile. Main weapons are expected to be the MBDA (formerly Matra
BAe Dynamics) MICA air-to-air missile, MBDA Storm Shadow/Scalp EG
stand-off cruise missile and the MBDA (Aerospatiale) AS 30
laser-guided missile.
From 2006, the Rafale will also be armed with the Sagem AASM
precision-guided bomb, which has both GPS / inertial guidance and,
optionally, imaging infrared terminal guidance.
The Rafale has a twin-gun pod and a GIAT 30mm DEFA 791B cannon
which can fire 2,500 rounds per minute.
The Rafale is equipped with laser designation pods for laser
guidance of air-to-ground missiles.
COUNTERMEASURES
The Rafale's electronic warfare system is the Spectra from Thales.
Spectra incorporates solid state transmitter technology, radar
warner, DAL laser warning receiver, missile warning, detection
systems and jammers.
SENSORS
The Rafale is equipped with an RBE2 radar, developed by Thales,
which has look-down and shoot-down capability. The radar can track
up to eight targets simultaneously and provides threat
identification and prioritisation.
The optronic systems include the Thales/SAGEM OSF infrared search
and track system, installed in the nose of the aircraft. The
optronic suite carries out search, target identification, telemetry
and automatic target discrimination and tracking.
NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
The communications suite on the Rafale uses the Saturn onboard
V/UHF radio, which is a second-generation, anti-jam tactical UHF
radio for NATO. Saturn provides voice encryption in fast-frequency
hopping mode. The aircraft is also equipped with fixed-frequency
VHF/UHF radio for communications with civil air traffic control. A
multifunction information distribution system (MIDS) terminal
provides secure, high-data-rate tactical data exchange with NATO C2
stations, AWACS aircraft or naval ships.
Rafale is equipped with a Thales TLS 2000 navigation receiver,
which is used for the approach phase of flight. The TLS 2000
integrates the instrument landing system (ILS), microwave landing
system (MLS) and VHF Omni-directional Radio-ranger (VOR) and marker
functions.
The radar altimeter is the AHV 17 altimeter from Thales, which is
suitable for very low flight. The Rafale has a TACAN tactical air
navigation receiver for en route navigation and as a landing
aid.
The Rafale has an SB25A combined interrogator-transponder developed
by Thales. The SB25A is the first IFF using electronic scanning
technology.
ENGINE
The Rafale is powered by two M88-2 engines from SNECMA, each
providing a thrust of 75kN. The aircraft is equipped for
buddy-buddy refuelling with a flight refuelling hose reel and
drogue pack.
Messier-Dowty provides the "jumper" landing gear, designed to
spring out when the aircraft is catapulted by the nose gear
strut
