Dassault Rafale

Summary

Category	Combat aircraft
Origin country	🇫🇷 France
First flight	4 July 1986
Year of introduction	2001
Number produced	239 units
Average unit price	$115 million

Description

The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft developed by Dassault Aviation. It originated in the 1980s as a replacement for older French Air Force models like the Mirage III and Mirage F1. The Rafale is designed to perform air supremacy, reconnaissance, ground support, and anti-ship missions. It became fully operational in 2001 and has since been used by the French Air Force and Navy as well as exported to several other countries.

The Dassault Rafale program originated in the late 1970s and early 1980s as part of France's effort to develop a next-generation multirole fighter aircraft. Initially, France collaborated with other European nations like the UK, Germany, and Italy in the Future European Fighter Aircraft (FEFA) program. However, disagreements over design and capabilities led France to withdraw from the partnership in 1985.

Following the withdrawal, France launched its own national program to develop a multirole aircraft that would replace multiple types of older aircraft in its fleet. Dassault Aviation was given the lead role in development. The first prototype flew in 1986, and after a series of tests and modifications, the Rafale was introduced into service in 2001.

The Dassault Rafale features a delta wing design combined with active canards, which provides it with high maneuverability and allows for a wide range of flight conditions. It is a twin-engine aircraft, powered by two Snecma M88 engines, known for their high thrust-to-weight ratio.

One of the notable aspects of its design is its modular approach. Systems like avionics, sensors, and even engines can be upgraded without major overhauls to the airframe. This makes it easier to keep the aircraft up-to-date with technological advancements.

The Rafale is equipped with a RBE2-AA radar, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar that significantly enhances its targeting and detection capabilities. It also includes an integrated electronic warfare suite for self-protection against radar and missile threats.

In terms of armament, the Rafale is capable of carrying a wide range of weapons, including air-to-air missiles like the MICA and Meteor, as well as air-to-ground munitions like the SCALP cruise missile. It has a 30mm cannon for close combat.

The aircraft is also designed with carrier-based operations in mind for the naval version, featuring strengthened landing gear and tail hook for catapult launches and deck landings.

Armament

The Dassault Rafale has a versatile weapons suite designed to handle a broad spectrum of missions. It has 14 hardpoints (only 13 on Rafale M version) for carrying a variety of armaments and equipment.

For air-to-air combat, it can be equipped with MICA IR/RF (Infrared/Radio Frequency) missiles and the longer-range Meteor missiles. The MICA provides both short- to medium-range capabilities, and the Meteor is designed for long-range engagements, offering a no-escape zone larger than any other air-to-air missile.

For ground attack, the Rafale can carry laser-guided bombs like the GBU-12 Paveway II, AASM "Hammer" modular air-to-ground munitions, and the SCALP EG cruise missile for deep-strike missions. It can also deploy unguided bombs.

For anti-ship roles, it can be fitted with the Exocet AM39 missile.

Additionally, the Rafale is equipped with a Nexter (formerly Giat) 30mm DEFA 791B cannon with 125 rounds for close air support and dogfighting scenarios.

The aircraft's versatility allows it to carry a mix of these weapons simultaneously, enabling it to perform multirole missions in a single sortie. Its advanced avionics and targeting systems complement its weapons capabilities, allowing for highly accurate strikes.

Variants

The Dassault Rafale comes in 3 versions:

Rafale C: Single-seat variant for the French Air Force.
Rafale B: Two-seat version also for the French Air Force, intended for training but fully combat-capable.
Rafale M: Single-seat, carrier-based variant for the French Navy, equipped with tail hook and strengthened landing gear for carrier operations.

Over the years, these versions have undergone upgrades leading to multiple “standards”:

F1 Standard: Initial version, limited to air-to-air capabilities. Primarily for the French Navy.
F2 Standard: Added air-to-ground and reconnaissance capabilities, introduced in 2004.
F3 Standard: Further enhanced with nuclear strike and other capabilities, made fully multirole, introduced in 2008.
F3R Standard: An upgraded version of the F3, featuring improved avionics, Meteor missile integration, and other refinements, introduced in 2018.
F4 Standard: Currently under development, aims to improve networking, sensors, and other subsystems. Expected full deployment is around 2025.

Technical specifications

Version: Rafale M
Crew	1 pilot
Maximum speed	1912 km/h (1188 mph)
Wing area	45.7 m² (491.9 sqft)
Wingspan	10.9 m (35.6 ft)
Height	5.3 m (17.5 ft)
Length	15.3 m (50.1 ft)
Service ceiling	15240 m (50000 ft)
Empty weight	10196 kg (22478 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight	24500 kg (54013 lbs)
Climb rate	305.0 m/s (1000.7 ft/s)
Takeoff distance	400 m (1312 ft)
Powerplant	2 × turbofans SNECMA M88-2 delivering 5097 kgp, up to 7645 kgp with afterburner
Ejection seat	Martin-Baker Mk F16F