From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rafale
Rafale B at the Paris Air Show 2007
Type	Multirole fighter aircraft
Manufacturer	Dassault Aviation
Maiden flight	1986-07-04
Introduced	2000-12-04
Status	In production
Primary users	French Air Force French Navy
Unit cost	€113,2 million (Rafale C) in 2006[1] €121,4 million (Rafale M) in 2006[2]

The Dassault Rafale (or "Squall" in English) is a French twin-engined delta-wing highly agile multi-role fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Dassault uses "Omni Role" as a marketing term in an effort to differentiate the aircraft from other "multi-role" fighters that have primary and secondary roles. Dassault also uses the term to indicate the Rafale's ability to switch from one role to another during a single sortie, although the term is mostly meant to encapsulate the fact that the Rafale is replacing seven specialised planes.^{[citation needed]}

The Rafale is being produced both for land-based use with the French Air Force and for carrier-based naval operations with the French Navy. It has also been marketed for export; whilst several countries have expressed interest in the Rafale, there have been no foreign sales as of yet.

Contents 1 Development 2 Variants 3 Combat systems 4 Cockpit 5 Programme milestones 6 Standards 7 Users 8 Operational history 9 Export 9.1 South Korea and Singapore 9.2 Others 10 Costs 11 Specifications 12 References 13 External links 14 Related content

In the mid 1970s, both the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) and Navy (Aéronavale) had a requirement (the Navy's being rather more pressing) to find a new generation of fighter (principally to replace AdlA SEPECAT Jaguars and Aéronavale F-8 Crusaders), and their requirements were similar enough to be merged into one project.^{[citation needed]}

The Rafale A technology demonstrator was rolled out in late 1985 and made its maiden flight on 4 July 1986. The SNECMA M88 engines being developed were not considered sufficiently mature for the initial trials programme to be conducted without risk (though their development status has often been underplayed), so the demonstrator flew with General Electric F404-GE-400 afterburning turbofans as used on the F/A-18 Hornet. The demonstrator impressed the French Ministry of Defence enough to place production orders in 1988.^{[citation needed]}

Further testing continued, including carrier touch-and-go landings and test-flying early M88 engines, before the Rafale A was retired in 1994. Though the Rafale A and British Aerospace EAP were broadly comparable, when the first Eurofighter made its maiden flight in March 1994, pre-series Rafales had been flight-testing for three years, including carrier trials (Rafale C01, Rafale M01, and Rafale B01 first flew in May 1991, December 1991, and April 1993 respectively).^{[citation needed]}

Three versions of Rafale were in the initial production order:

• Rafale C (Chasseur) Single-seat fighter for the AdA (Armée de l'Air, French Air Force)
• Rafale B (Biplace) Two-seat fighter for the AdA
• Rafale M (Marine) Single-seat carrier fighter for the Aéronavale

The prototype Rafale C flew in 1991, the first of two Rafale M prototypes flew later that year. The prototype Rafale B flew in early 1993, and the second Rafale M prototype flew later that year.^{[citation needed]} Catapult trials were initially carried out between July 13 and August 23, 1992 at NAS Lakehurst in New Jersey, USA and NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, USA, as France had no land-based catapult test facility. The aircraft then undertook trials aboard the carrier Foch.^{[citation needed]}

Initially the Rafale B was to be just a trainer, but Gulf War and Kosovo experience showed that a second crewmember is invaluable on strike and reconnaissance missions, and therefore more Rafale Bs were ordered, replacing some Rafale Cs.^{[citation needed]} A similar decision was made by the Navy, who initially did not have a two-seat aircraft on order; the program nevertheless was stopped.^{[citation needed]}

Political and economic uncertainty meant that it was not until 1999 that a production Rafale M flew.^{[citation needed]}

At one time the French forces were expected to order 292 Rafales: 232 for the Air Force and 60 for the Navy.^{[citation needed]} 120 Rafales have been officially ordered to date.^{[citation needed]} These are being delivered in three separate batches, the most recent being the December 2004 order for 59 Rafales, though the French Ministry of Defense (MoD) has revealed that this figure is currently under study and is likely to be reduced to 51 aircraft "for the same overall cost". It was hinted that the sacrifice of 8–12 aircraft would "allow for the introduction of new sensors developed by the French industry on this batch."^{[citation needed]}

The marine version has priority since the aircraft it is replacing are much older, especially the Vought F-8 Crusader fighter which is a 50-year-old design.^{[citation needed]} Service deliveries began in 2001 and the type "entered service" on 4 December 2000, though the first squadron, Flotille 12, did not actually reform until 18 May 2001. The unit embarked on the Charles de Gaulle in 2002, becoming fully operational on 25 June 2004, following an extended opeval (operational evaluation) which included flying limited escort and tanker missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan. Though restricted to an air-to-air role, with a limited range of weapons the Rafale M was claimed by some to be the most advanced fighter in service in Europe.^{[citation needed]}

The Armee de l'Air received its first three Rafale Bs (to F2 standards) in late December 2004. They went to the Centre d'Expériences Aériennes Militaires (CEAM) at Mont-de-Marsan for operational evaluation and associated pilot conversion training.^{[citation needed]} The first Armée de l'Air frontline unit, Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Provence, will form at Saint-Dizier during 2006, delayed deliveries having forced some delay to the squadron's stand up date. Full Operational Capability (FOC) was until recently still optimistically scheduled for September 2006, but has now slipped back to mid-2007, when the type should be fully operational as an omni-role fighter/fighter-bomber with MICA air-to-air missiles, SCALP EG cruise missiles, GPS-guided bombs, and laser-guided bombs (LGBs) (though the latter will be designated by other platforms or by ground based systems).

Rafale A

This was a technology demonstrator that first flew in 1986, as described above. It has now been retired.

Rafale D

Dassault used this designation (D for discret or stealthy) in the early 1990s for the production versions for the Armée de l'Air, to emphasize the new semi-stealthy features they had added to the design. Various sources have reported the development of an active stealth system, involving the use of a system which broadcasts "cancellation" waves.^{[citation needed]}

Rafale B

This is the two-seater version for the Armée de l'Air; delivered to EC 330 in 2004.

Rafale C

This is the single-seat version for the Armée de l'Air; delivered to EC 330 in June 2004.

Rafale M

This is the carrier-borne version for the Aéronavale, which entered service in 2002. The Rafale M weighs about 500 kg (1,100 lb) more than the Rafale C. Very similar to the Rafale C in appearance, the M differs in the following respects:

• Strengthened to withstand the rigors of carrier-based aviation
• Stronger landing gear
• Longer nose gear leg to provide a more nose-up attitude for catapult launches
• Deleted front center pylon (to give space for the longer gear)
• Large stinger-type tailhook between the engines
• Built-in power operated boarding ladder
• Carrier microwave landing system
• "Telemir" inertial reference platform that can receive updates from the carrier systems.

Rafale N

The Rafale N, originally called the Rafale BM, was planned to be a two-seater version for the Aéronavale. Budget constraints and the cost of training extra crew members have been cited as the grounds for its cancellation.

The Rafale carries, for the first time in aviation history, an integrated electronic survival system named SPECTRA which features a software-based virtual stealth technology. The most important sensor is the Thales RBE2 passive electronically scanned multi-mode radar. Thales claims to have achieved unprecedented levels of situational awareness through the earlier detection and tracking of multiple air targets for close combat and long-range interception, as well as real time generation of three-dimensional maps for terrain-following and the real time generation of high resolution ground maps for navigation and targeting.^{[citation needed]}

However, in those circumstances when signature management is required, the Rafale can use several passive sensor systems.

The front-sector electro-optical system or Optroniques Secteur Frontal (OSF), developed by Thales, is completely integrated within the aircraft and can operate both in the visible and infrared wavelengths.

The SPECTRA electronic warfare system, jointly developed by Thales and EADS France, provides the aircraft with the highest survivability assets against airborne and ground threats.^{[citation needed]} The real-time data link allows communication not only with other aircraft, but also with fixed and mobile command and control centres. For those missions requiring it, the Rafale will also eventually use the DAMOCLES electro-optical/laser designation pod that brings full day and night LGB capability, though the Armée de l'Air's current plans call for Rafale to use stand off weapons, and for the LGB role to be handled by Mirage 2000s.

The Rafale core systems employ an Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA), called MDPU (Modular Data Processing Unit). This architecture hosts all the core functions of the aircraft as Flight management system, Data Fusion, Fire Control, Man-Machine Interface, etc..[1].

The cockpit uses a Martin-Baker Mark 16F "zero-zero” ejection seat, i.e. capable of being used at zero speed and zero altitude. The seat is inclined 29 degrees backwards to improve G force tolerance. The canopy hinges open to the right. An on-board oxygen generating system is provided to eliminate the need for multiple oxygen canisters. ^[3]

The cockpit includes a wide-angle holographic Head Up Display (HUD) and two head-down flat-panel colour multifunction displays (MFDs). Display interaction is by means of touch input for which the pilot wears silk-lined leather gloves. In addition, in full development, the pilot will have a Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD).

The pilot flies the aircraft with a side-stick controller mounted on his right and a throttle on his left. These incorporate multiple `hands on throttle and stick’ (HOTAS) controls. The Rafale cockpit is also planned to include Direct Voice Input (DVI), allowing for pilot action by voice commands.

Milestones include:

• 1983
  • April: Dassault awarded contract for ACX (Rafale A) technology demonstrator
• 1985
  • France formally withdraws from Eurofighter programme, commits to Rafale project.
• 1986
  • July 4: First flight of Rafale A
  • December: Development of SNECMA M88 engines commences
• 1988
  • April: First order signed (for Rafale C prototype).
• 1990
  • February: Flight tests of M-88 begin
• 1991
  • May 19: First flight of Armée de l'Air single seat prototype (Rafale C)
  • December 12: First flight of Aéronavale prototype (Rafale M)
• 1992
  • Rafale M carrier trials programme begins
• 1993
  • March: First contract for production aircraft signed.
  • April: Start of carrier compatibility trials with Foch.
  • April 30: First flight of Armée de l'Air twin seat prototype (Rafale B)
• 1995
  • June: First MICA fired from Rafale in self guided mode.
  • July: OSF system and helmet-mounted sight/display installed and tested.
  • September: Rafale M tested on board carrier (4th series).
  • November: First non-stop long-range flight by Rafale B01 (3,020 nm in under 6 hours 30 minutes).
  • October: Final land-based carrier test series of Rafale M in the USA.
  • December: First production model fuselage assembly.
• 1996
  • March: M88 engine "flightworthiness" qualified.
  • April: Production suspended, restarted in January 1997 following cost reductions.
  • May: Low level tests with digital terrain database.
  • July: Spectra electronic warefare system integration tests in anechoic chamber
  • November: Spectra flight tested.
  • December: First deliveries of production standard engines.
• 1997
  • February: Rafale B01 flight tested in heavyweight configuration (2 Apache ASMs, three 2,000l drop tanks, two Magic and two MICA AAMs).
  • May: First inertially-guided MICA firing.
  • June: Flight testing of Spectra countermeasures system.
  • October: First production RBE2 radar flown for the first time.
  • November: Inertially-guided firing of missiles against two targets, with aircraft-to-missile link, with countermeasures.
• 1998
  • June: Qualification of MICA fire control system.
  • June: Proposed initial operational capability evaluated by Navy and Air Force pilots flying Rafale B01 and M02 development aircraft.
  • November 24: First flight of production Rafale (a Rafale B)
• 1999
  • May: First test launch of SCALP EG cruise missile.
  • July 6: First deck landing of Charles de Gaulleafgan.
  • July 7: First flight of production Rafale M
• 2000
  • July 20: First Rafale M delivered to Flotille 12F
• 2002
  • Rafale M entered service with 12F (Aeronavale, evaluation)
• 2004
  • Full service entry with 12F (Navy)
  • September 9: First Meteor GHTM (General Handling Training Missiles) carriage trials by Rafale M from CEV Istres
  • December: Three Rafale Bs delivered to CEAM, Mont de Marsan
• 2005
  • September 11: First Meteor GHTM carriage trials by Rafale M from the carrier Charles de Gaulle.
• Summer 2006
  • Formation of EC 1/7 with 8–10 aircraft
• Mid 2007
  • Full service entry (Air Force) expected with EC7
  • First landing of Rafale M on US Carrier USS Enterprise

Initial deliveries of the Rafale M were to the F1 ("France 1") standard. This meant that the aircraft was suitable for air-to-air combat, replacing the obsolescent F-8 Crusader as the Aviation Navale's carrier-based fighter, but not equipped or armed for air-to-ground operations. Future deliveries (to Flotille 11 some time after 2007) will be to the "F2" standard, giving air-to-ground capability, and replacing the Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard in the ground attack role and the Dassault Étendard IVP in the reconnaissance role. This will leave the Rafale M as the only fixed-wing combat aircraft flown by the Aviation Navale, and plans are to upgrade all airframes to the "F3" standard, with terrain-following 3D radar and nuclear capability, from early in the decade following 2010.^{[citation needed]}

The first Rafale C delivered to the Armée de l'Air, in June 2005, was to the "F2" standard, and it is anticipated that upgrades similar to those of the navy will take place in the future. The Rafale replaces the SEPECAT Jaguar, Mirage F1 and the Mirage 2000 in the Armée de l'Air.

The Rafale is now in service in the trials and training role with the French Air Force (CEAM/EC 5/330) and EC 1/7 at Saint-Dizier is expected to receive a nucleus of 8–10 Rafale F2s during the Summer of 2006, and it looks set to enter full operational service (with robust air-to-air and stand off air-to-ground precision attack capabilities) during mid-2007 (when EC 1/7 will have about 20 aircraft).^{[citation needed]} The aircraft is already in limited operational service with the French Navy (Flotille 12F) in the air-to-air role, and has undertaken a great deal of air-to-ground trials and evaluation work.

The first Rafale deployed in a combat zone were those of the French Navy during Opération Héraclès, the French participation in Operation Enduring Freedom. They flew from the Charles de Gaulle over Afghanistan as soon as 2002, but the F1 standard precluded air-to-ground missions and the Rafale did not see any action.

In 2007, after a "crash program" enhancement some six Rafale were given the ability to drop laser-guided bombs, in view of engaging them in Afghanistan. Three of these aircraft belonging to the Air Force were deployed to Dushanbe in Tadjikistan, while the three others were Rafale Marine of the Navy on board the Charles De Gaulle.^[4] The first mission occurred on March 12, and the first GBU-12 was launched on March 28 in support of embattled Dutch troops in Southern Afghanistan, marking the operational début of the Rafale.^[5] However, they still have to rely on Mirage 2000Ds and Super Etendards carrying laser designation pods to illuminate their targets.^[6]

An unarmed Rafale B two-seater of French Air Force crashed near Neuvic, in Corrèze department, at approximately 18 h 20 on 6 December 2007, whilst on a training exercise with another jet fighter. They had taken off from a military air field in Saint-Dizier. According to the public relations service of the l'Armée de l'Air (SIRPA) the pilot who was alone was found dead at the site. Apparently he didn't eject and there is speculation that he suffered g-LOC. Primary source: La Montagne. According to the public prosecutor of Tulle, M. Etienne MANTEAUX, the pilot was Captain Emmanuel MORIUSER, 34 years old, a fighter pilot with about ten years' experience. Initial reports suggest that the aircraft, which was operating with 4-5 others, nose-dived from approximately 4000 meters. The cockpit was buried 15 meters in the ground and left a crater approximately 10 meters in circumference.

No foreign sales have yet been made, though the type has been rated highly in a number of evaluations.^{[citation needed]} It faces tough competition from other European and American aircraft manufacturers that offer the rivals Eurofighter Typhoon, JAS 39 Gripen, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15 Eagle, Sukhoi Su-30, Sukhoi Su-35, MiG-35 and the F-35 Lightning II. In addition, it competes with the older Russian designs such as the Sukhoi Su-27 and Mikoyan MiG-29, to which it has already lost contracts. Previous French fighter aircraft, such as the Mirage family, still perform well on the export market, but the Rafale has proved to be more difficult to sell in the international arena.

The Rafale was shortlisted (with the F-15K) in South Korea in early 2002, but was eliminated from the competition in April 2002. Dassault immediately filed a court injunction in Seoul, disputing the selection process, which it claimed to be biased in favor of U.S. interests. The Korean defense ministry responded that the selection was made on the basis of the F-15K's multi-role capability, payload, combat radius, performance and the proven combat capability of the F-15E Strike Eagle upon which the F-15K was based.^{[citation needed]}

Korea Times reported Rafale had outperformed F-15 :"At that time, Dassault accused the South Korean government of favoring the U.S. aircraft maker in consideration of their military alliance, though its Rafale outperformed F-15K in the first inspection of operational capabilities." 14 December 2005, Jung Sung-ki).

In August 2005, Singapore selected the Boeing F-15SG after a run-off with the Rafale. The Typhoon had been eliminated from the competition in June 2005.^{[citation needed]}

Several other countries have shown interest in purchasing the Rafale, including India.^[7] India is looking for more than 126 multi-role fighter and strike aircraft. Rafale is in competition with the MiG-35, F-16, F/A-18 Hornet, JAS 39 Gripen and Eurofighter Typhoon.^[8]

In January 2006, the French newspaper Journal du Dimanche reported that Libya wanted to order 13–18 Rafales "in a deal worth as much as $3.24 billion".^[9] To-date no official statements have been made by the Libyan government to support that report.

In February 2007, it was reported that Switzerland was considering amongst others the Rafale to replace its F-5 Tiger IIs. (Le Temps, February 13, 2007)

In September 2007, La Tribune reported that a sale to Morocco had fallen through, the government selecting Lockheed Martin's F-16 instead.^[10] In October 2007, La Tribune's earlier report appeared to have been confirmed that the Rafale would not be bought.^[11]

The total programme cost is around €28,000,000,000, which translates to a unit programme cost of approximately €95 million.

The unit system cost is €91 million, or €88 million including development cost per aircraft.

The unit flyaway price as of 2000 is €47 million for the Air Force version, and €49 million for the Navy version.

General characteristics

• Crew: 1–2
• Length: 15.27 m (50.1 ft)
• Wingspan: 10.80 m (35.4 ft)
• Height: 5.34 m (17.4 ft)
• Wing area: 45.7 m² (492 ft²)
• Empty weight: 9,060 kg (20,000 lb)
• Useful load: 9,500 kg (21,000 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 24,500 kg (54,000 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× SNECMA M88-2 turbofans
  • Dry thrust: 50 kN (11,250 lbf) each
  • Thrust with afterburner: 75 kN (17,000 lbf) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2 (2,130 km/h, 1,320 mph)
• Range: 1,800 km (970 nm, 1,100 mi)
• Service ceiling: 18,000 m (60,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: >305 m/s^[12] (60,000 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 326 kg/m² (83 1/3 lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: 1.13

Armament

• Guns: 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GIAT 30/719B cannon with 125 rounds
• Missiles:
  
  • Air-to-air:
    • MICA IR/EM or
    • AIM-9 Sidewinder or
    • AIM-132 ASRAAM or
    • AIM-120 AMRAAM or
    • MBDA Meteor or
    • Magic II
  • Air-to-ground:
    • MBDA Apache or
    • SCALP EG or
    • AASM or
    • AM 39 Exocet or
    • ASMP nuclear missile

  Avionics

• Thales RBE2 radar
• Thales SPECTRA electronic warfare system.
• Thales/SAGEM OSF (Optronique Secteur Frontal) infrared search and track system.

• Dassault Rafale official website
• Air Combat Information Group, Dassault Rafale by Vineet Srivastava
• Air Combat aircraft, Dassault Rafale
• DASSAULT RAFALE from Greg Goebel's IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN
• Dassault Rafale Information
• SPECTRA SYSTEM, Dassault Rafale
• Dassault Rafale on Air Force Technology

Comparable aircraft

• Eurofighter Typhoon
• F/A-18 Hornet
• F-35 Lightning II
• Mikoyan MiG-29

Designation sequence

• Mirage G - Mirage 2000 - Mirage 4000 - Rafale - nEUROn

Related lists

• List of fighter aircraft
• List of military aircraft of France

v • d • e Lists relating to aviation
General	Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines
Military	Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft
Notable incidents and accidents	Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths
Records	Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft