The Spectra: a Fox digital revolution

odern air warfare places a severe protection against threats likely to appear and Matra Bae Dynamics. The system, N° 1 M requirement on aircraft self- in the future. which offers a dramatic increase in defence capabilities, and only the most The Spectra - Self-Protection Equipment survivability against modern and Three Countering Threats of Rafale Aircraft - emerging threats, is entirely mounted modern fighters will survive any major conflict. Mirage 2000-5 state-of-the-art self-defence system internally in an effort to keep weapon and Rafale combat aircraft are equipped mounted on the Rafale is a complete and stations free, a big improvement over Rafale keeps with highly-automated systems which totally integrated electronic warfare suite older designs such as Jaguars, Mirage F1s provide an unprecedented level of designed and produced jointly by Thales and Super Etendards which all needed external jammers and chaff/ on moving ahead flare dispensers. It ensures efficient electromagnetic detection, laser warning, Rafale M: IR detection for missile warning, jamming light testing of the Rafale has been gaining momentum in center who deal with them everyday on a routine basis : and chaff/flare dispensing, even in the FIstres in the last months with entry into service on the the Direct Voice Input in the cockpit, the production RBE2 radar First two accepted into service. most demanding multi-threats environ- Charles-de-Gaulle carrier slated for mid-2001. Significant test with its electronically steered array - it has been flying on the ment. Spectra is divided into different In a ceremony held in December 2000 at Landivisiau Naval Air Station, the hurdles have been cleared as the LRIP programme unfolds and Rafale since late 1997 - and the sensor fusion which blends target modules and sensors strategically has accepted into service its first two Rafale M combat aircraft. intense marketing activity has taken place with more customer data provided by the RBE2, the front sector optronic system and positioned throughout the to This crucial event marks the beginning of an extensive fleet renewal programme evaluations and out-of-country deployments. To date, the Rafale the Spectra EW system. provide all-round coverage. The latest encompassing the successive replacement of F-8E Crusader fighters, Etendard has been deployed on 17 occasions abroad, the last major two advances in micro-electronic technology IVPM and Super Etendard strike fighters. A total of six being Asian Aerospace 2000 and the hot weather trials in July Coming up next on the flight test schedule are the conformal fuel have led to a new system which is pilots, including two French Air Force exchange officers, are currently involved 1999 in the UAE. tanks (CFTs) which have passed wind tunnel tests and are now much lighter, more compact and less in a Navy operational evaluation and tactics elaboration campaign which will cleared for flights. As a matter of fact, CFTs boost the deterrence demanding than its ancestors in terms of culminate in complex air-defence exercises with multi-target multi-threat The programme is mature enough for the aircraft to become a value of fighters by freeing up for extra drop tanks electrical and cooling powers. Thanks to engagements. familiar sight at air shows around the world, from the UK and the and/or weapons, thereby significantly increasing their range vs. its advanced digital technology, Spectra From January 2001 onwards, Rafale fighters will be delivered at the rate of Netherlands to Dubai, Singapore and Seoul. Twelve countries have weaponload performance ■ provides passive long-range detection, one every two months, and the first front-line Squadron, Flottille 12F, will be been visited so far, with local air force pilots and officials performing identification and localisation of threats, officially reborn at Landivisiau in June. By the beginning of 2002, this unit familiarization sorties, thanks to the quick-to-learn pilot interface, and allows the pilot or system to react will have taken delivery of ten Rafales out of 60 planned by the French Navy, carefree handling and inherent safety features. In all, the Rafale has immediately with the best defensive bringing it to full operational status. been put through its paces to date by 75 air force evaluator pilots from outside .

The development aircraft have been joined by instrumented production aircraft to cope with the aggressive schedule of flight testing (at the Istres Flight Test Center) and demos during the past years.

Test highlights include the firing of active seeker Mica against twin targets in electronic warfare environment, and live GBU-12 firing at the Cazaux test range in southwestern France. The airframe (which has 80% commonality between all versions) has been certified to 9g with a demonstrated margin of 90% on top of that, after 10,000 hours of testing on the fatigue test rig - the cycles were typical of carrier-based operations with stress loads simulating catapult launches and arrested deck landings, more than will be endured by any land-based fighter. Separation trials of the Scalp missile have also been carried out as a risk reduction measure in anticipation of the final Scalp integration tests.

Mica and PGM live firings have been successfully A surprising number of groundbreaking Rafale features are now completed as Rafale entry into service nears. considered ordinary by test pilots and specialists at the Dassault SPECTRA Rafale demonstrates Precision-Guided Munitions capabilities

configurations cleared during the recent separation trials featured 4 mid-wing mounted GBU-12s together with 4 AAMs (2 Mica and 2 Magic 2 - the wing-tip The Spectra System and its various components, on board the Rafale. Magic are to be replaced by IR-guided Mica on the production aircraft) and three 2000 l tanks. Combat radius is quoted measures: jamming, decoys, evasive decoys - are built into the airframe, and smart data fusion significantly increases at 800 nm unrefuelled, with up to 4 manoeuvres and/or any combination of the Rafale is equipped with internal mission success rates through enhanced ground targets assigned and a solid GBU-12s - included here in a swing-role configuration - these actions. Moreover, SPECTRA chaff dispensers. The exact location and crew awareness and improved aircraft self-escort capability resting on the BVR provide precision strike capability with minimal collateral damages. features accurate Direction-finding and types of systems detected by Spectra can survivability. Mica. Thanks to its carrying capability, reduced time for signal identification. be recorded for later analysis, giving stealth performance and multisensor Rafale operators a substantial built-in The first Spectra flight onboard a Rafale assault Aviation has completed a it has the advantage of reduced collateral fusion, Rafale brings an unprecedent Additionally, very high processing SIGINT/ELINT capability while took place in September 1996, after M02 D series of test flights on the Rafale, damage while retaining the same lethality level of tasking flexibility and of lethality. power gives excellent detection and completing specialised dedicated prototype had been retrofitted. Since then, dedicated to GBU-12s’ certification. against point targets due to its precision Risk reduction work had been performed jamming performance, optimising the intelligence platforms. the system has been thoroughly tested in The first LGB firings were carried out guidance. prior to the test flights, with simulation response to match the threat: incoming very complex electronic warfare scenarios with the Rafale B01 development aircraft This development effort comes in the wake runs using computational fluid dynamics electromagnetic signals are analysed, But Spectra is much more than a and environments. For instance, Rafale on the Cazaux test range in south western of the French Air Force engagements in software and with in-house GBU-12 and the bearing and location of traditional self-defence system as it is M02 was pitted against a wide variety France and involved several swing role joint operations over Bosnia and Kosovo experience on other aircraft types. the emitters are determined with great closely integrated with the primary of the latest IR-defence systems during configurations, with Mica BVR missiles stressing the political implications of The PGM capability programme has been precision. sensors also supplied by Thales, the the NATO Mace X trial organised in and 2000 l (530 USG) fuel tanks. precision strike capability. A fast track pushed on hard with guided GBU-12 RBE2 multimode electronic scanning August 2000 in Southwest France, and its The GBU-12 is a 500 lb GBU-12 upgrade had to be fielded on Air releases performed in late 2000 at Cazaux The proliferation of new generation radar and the FSO passive front sector self-defence suite performed flawlessly. 2 laser-guided bomb which is fast Force Mirage F1CTs and Navy Super using a forward air controller. Self- weapons such as man-portable optronics system. As such, it considerably It is now in full production, and is already becoming one of the most widely used Etendards and the Rafale development designation of laser guided weapons is to surface-to-air missiles has raised concern improves pilot situational awareness: entering operational service onboard weapons in precision strike operations, agenda was also reshuffled according to be performed with the Thomson-CSF among key decision makers. Both laser all data obtained thanks to the various French Navy Rafale. Spectra, a particularly because of its pinpoint accuracy, lessons learned in combat by including LDP now in development and and IR missile warning systems have been means are fused into a single tactical cost effective system, has been designed low cost and widespread availability. the PGM capability into the definition available for test flights from 2002, well in mounted on the fighter. They provide picture, offering the pilot a clear image of with growth in mind to keep the Rafale Compared to heavier conventional bombs, of the first air force batch. One of the time for export deliveries slated for 2004 ■ 360 degree coverage and ensure the evolving tactical situation. Spectra abreast of emerging threats ■ detection/warning of incoming threats. identifies the type of air-defence weapon, The IR missile warner ensures high that has been detected; it takes the probability of detection and low false local terrain configuration into account alarm rate, even against totally passive and displays the lethality zones on IR-guided weapons. Four upward-firing a colour tactical screen, enabling the launcher modules for various types of aircrew to avoid dangerous areas. This

GIE - Rafale International - 78 quai Marcel Dassault - 92210 St Cloud - France RAFALE INTERNATIONAL RBE2 A revolutionary leap in radar technologies

FOXTHREEN°2 Designed and produced by Thales, the RBE2 (Radar à Balayage Electronique 2 plans, two axis electronic scanning radar) enables Rafale pilots to accurately detect, track p.2/3 p.4/5 p.6 p.7 and engage airborne and ground threats from very long ranges. Compared with classic radar sets, phased array radars represent a major leap in efficiency: they are inherently more reliable and more stealthy, and do not need complex gimbal systems to point the antenna. The beam shifting of the phased array radar is M88 RBE2 Fire Power Datalink extremely precise and instantaneous, in both vertical and horizontal planes. Even more important is the capability to share time between modes, thus carrying out different tasks simultaneously. Powerful data processors and unmatched beam agility allow the Rafale to fully interleave functions within a given mode: the radar combines search, track and missile guidance Conformal Fuel Tanks: functions, processing them simultaneously to assist the the latest innovation tested on Rafale crew in achieving air-dominance. It also features a superior fighter/missile data link which gives better fire control During combat operations , it five wet points, and two types can be mounted or removed in capabilities in adverse environment, thus increasing the clearly appeared that fighters of external tanks are available: less than two hours. All Rafales overall lethality of the Rafale’s weapon system. Finally, were required to hit distant 1,250 litre (330 US gallon) have a built-in CFT capability: targets, and tankers were in supersonic tanks may be CFTs can be adapted to any fixed arrays considerably reduce radar returns towards very high demand. Air forces carried on any of the five wet variant of the fighter, enemy aircraft. All these factors contribute to the soon realised that they had pylons, and 2,000 litre (528 including naval and two-seat enhancement of the Rafale’s combat efficiency and become dependent on extre- US gallon) drop tanks can be versions. mely vulnerable assets, and mounted on the centreline and The CFTs are being tested at the stealthiness compared with fighters fitted with that long-range strike fighters inner wing stations. A pressure Dassault Test Centre in Istres, outdated mechanical planar radar antennas. were necessary to overcome refuelling system is fitted as and the first flight of a Rafale this worrying trend. standard for both internal and fitted with CFTs took place on Thankfully, the external fuel tanks, and internal April 18, 2001, with pilot Eric was conceived from the start tanks can be refilled in four Gérard at the controls. RBE2 Functions to carry an extremely large minutes only. Finally, the Rafale Supersonic speeds have been fuel load, as the internal tanks is equipped with an in-flight evaluated, and various confi- Thanks to its unique waveform the Micas with the dedicated, architecture, the RBE2 has of a single-seater contain 5,750 refuelling probe located to the gurations have already design and electronic scanning mid-course, secure, radar-to- been designed for growth. For litres (1,519 US gallons). right of the nose, ahead of the been successfully tested: management, the RBE2 radar missile link which allows very instance, a Synthetic Aperture Additionally, the fighter is windscreen. long-range strike with three performs long-range detection long-range multiple firings with Radar mapping mode is acti- equipped with no fewer than For air forces in need of an 2,000 litre drop tanks, four and tracking of up to 40 air an exceptionally high proba- vely being developed. It will even larger capacity, Dassault Mica and two Scalp stand-off targets in look-down or look-up bility kill rate. This gives the allow Rafale aircrews to “paint” Aviation has designed two missiles, and air-to-air confi- aspects, in all weathers, Rafale a unique combined revealing high-resolution maps 1,150 litre (303 US gallon) gurations with Mica missiles. and in severe jamming situational awareness and combat of surface targets from detachable Conformal Fuel It has been determined that environments. Interception capability/efficiency while stand-off distances. Tanks (CFTs) which can be the CFTs had negligible impact data are calculated for eight considerably reducing aircrew In the terrain-avoidance/fol- mounted on the upper surface on aircraft handling. priority targets which can be workload, especially in lowing mode, the RBE2 looks of wing/fuselage blend, causing With CFTs and drop tanks, the engaged with Mica BVR / air complex situations. ahead to build a constantly less drag than traditional tanks, Rafale boasts an unrivalled combat active radar seeker For air-to-surface attacks, the changing, wide-angle, 3-D and freeing underwing range for such a compact and IR missiles fired in quick radar has specific functions for profile of the terrain to be stations for armament. CFTs aircraft, offering Commanders succession. With its electronic navigation, target-aiming, overflown. With the electronic bring the Rafale’s maximal greater flexibility, and giving scanning antenna, the radar searching and tracking of moving scanning technology, terrain external fuel load to an aircrews unprecedented deep is fully capable of tracking the and fixed targets, ranging, avoidance is optimised to improve astonishing 10,800 litres strike capabilities. other 32 targets, wherever they and terrain-avoidance/fol- survivability while flying at very (2,853 US gallons), and they are located, while updating lowing. With its open low altitude and very high speed. Active Array Although the innovative RBE2 already represents a giant leap forward compared with Power On ! older mechanical scanning M88 omnirole thrust radars, the adoption of an active array will ensure that The Rafale’s stringent air-combat and low-altitude penetration performance the design remains fully effective in the long term. Thales requirements have imposed an innovative powerplant, prompting Snecma to design started studies on active array the state-of-the-art M88 twin-spool . This revolutionary engine, which technology in 1990, and has powers every Rafale variant, represents the third generation of French fighter been constantly progressing in this field with several engines, after the acclaimed Atar family of the Mirage III/IV/V/F1 (now totalling ongoing operational over six million flying hours), and the successful M53 of the Mirage 2000. programmes for ground/naval The M88 development programme was launched in 1986, and qualification was obtained and airborne applications. In 1999, it was decided to offer in early 1996. The first production engine was delivered at the end of the same year, the active antenna technology and, as of May 2001, 56 had been built. The test programme has proved on the Rafale to boost export highly successful, and development and production engines have accumulated prospects. «The new active array to be integrated in the 22,000 functioning hours, including 8,000 hours of bench running, 11,000 flying RBE2 has many significant hours logged by prototype engines, and 3,000 flying hours by series M88-2s. So advantages over the current far, Snecma has secured orders for 160 M88s, and the French MoD will passive antenna», says Philippe Ramstein, Thales Director of eventually acquire about 700 engines for its 294 Rafales. Production currently the Rafale programme. «It is runs at four a month, but will later stabilise at six a month to satisfy the composed of about 1,000 French requirements. This output can be rapidly increased to respond to any solid-state transmit/receive modules which offer conside- export contract. rably increased power and detection range. Reliability M88-2 will also benefit from the The M88-2 is a light, compact, to improve performance and short response time and introduction of the new it possible to scan an extremely The RBE2’s open architecture antenna: whereas a failure of wide area at very high speed.» will facilitate upgrading, and fuel efficient powerplant rated durability: the engine incor- pilotability: whatever the speed the receiver or of the transceiver «Our active array compares the new array is totally ‘plug at 50 kN (11,250 lb) dry and porates advanced technolo- or altitude, there is no throttle makes most radars useless, a favourably with the latest and play’. It can be readily 75 kN (17,000 lb) with gies such as integrally-bladed movement restriction. The percentage of an active array American technology. When adapted to standard RBE2 radar . It was clear from compressor disks (‘blisks’), FADEC has also proved essential radar’s transmit/receive combined with the sets without any changes to the the outset that, compared with low-pollution , for mission effectiveness, safety modules may fail without functionalities developed processing equipment, a crucial the M53, the M88 would have single-crystal high-pressure and reliability. For instance, the significant effect on radar for the French Forces, it will advantage for customers to run at much higher tempe- turbine blades, ceramic FADEC is fully capable of performance. Moreover, direc- bring a unique efficiency to in need of a radar update as ratures. This represented a coatings, revolutionary powder handling minor engine faults tion of the radiation beam from the Rafale’s already impressive this can be achieved in a very challenge, but Snecma came metallurgy disks, and composite without a need to warn the pilot. each module is very accurately capabilities», stresses Philippe short time. out with innovative solutions materials. Additionally, the For the M88-2, a staged controlled by computer, making Ramstein. M88 has been optimised so approach was chosen from that its small infrared signature the start: the first 29 production does not compromise the engines were of the M88-2 Rafale’s overall IR signature. Step 1 standard, but all The M88 is equipped with a subsequent turbofans ordered The RBE2 is now totally qualified for air-to-air combat, while air-to-surface functions are being Snecma-developed FADEC by the French Ministry of developed for F2 standard aircraft. The first production RBE2 was delivered in 1997, and the (Full Authority Digital Engine Defence will be built to the radar is already in operational service with the French Naval Aviation. Navy pilots are actively Control) which allows it to improved M88-2 Step 4 developing new air-combat tactics to match the formidable capabilities offered by the Rafale’s accelerate from idle to full standard which will feature unique radar, and it is widely anticipated that the will switch to active afterburner in less than three extended time between radar technology. By embracing open architecture and commercially off the shelves (COTS) seconds. Numerous foreign overhauls (TBO), thanks to its technology, Thales has designed a highly evolutive multimode radar which will satisfy even test pilots have already redesigned high-pressure the most stringent requirements. From 2006 onwards, the active array will be available, evaluated the Rafale, and they compressor and turbine. bringing Rafale operators into the era of total supremacy. all praise the M88 extremely Uprated M88-3

For customers requiring more even further engine TBO. variants have about 40% parts power, Snecma has launched Although the M88-3 is much in common», explains Jacques the development of a growth more powerful, it will have the Desclaux, Director of the M88 Astounding variant of the M88. Called same specific fuel-consumption programme. The M88-3 features M88-3, it will be rated at as the M88-2. This is an a redesigned low-pressure 90 kN (20,000 lb) with overall improvement which compressor for a higher afterburner, a 20% increase will help reduce operating airflow (72 kg/sec instead of over the original M88-2. costs while increasing the 65 kg/sec), a new high-pressure Fire Power Improvements are not limited radius of action. turbine, a new stator vane to power output, and durability «Every effort has been made stage, a modified afterburner, is also expected to be improved. to retain a high degree of com- and an adapted nozzle. Over the years, cannons have optimise hit probabilities. The a faulty round after a short The customer can select a 75 monality between the M88-2 The M88-2 and M88-3 are proved essential in a number 120 kg (264 lb), gas-powered safety time period. of scenarios when missiles gun is autonomous, and its The 30 M 791 has been kN peacetime rating to boost and the M88-3, and the two interchangeable, but the were either too expensive or effective air-to-air range is extensively tested in extreme introduction of the M88-3 will unable to hit targets at very 2,500 m (8,200 ft). The firing- conditions to check that it impose the adoption of slightly close range. As a direct rate is instantaneously could resist corrosion, shocks enlarged air-intakes to allow consequence, guns reached, and 21 rounds are and quick temperature for the higher airflow. These are still considered ideal for fired in 0.5 sec (the normal changes. Numerous firing intakes, which can be easily the interception of slow and burst duration). The powerful campaigns have been retrofitted to existing , low-flying targets, such 30 M 791 is mounted on the conducted at the Cazaux Flight will retain the same drag and low observable characteristics, as the previous one.

The has now successfully entered operational service with the French Navy, and, looking further ahead, other variants could give even more power. Tailored to simultaneously excel in low- altitude and air-combat flight regimes, this outstanding turbofan offers a combination of extremely high thrust and The powerfull 30 M very low cost of ownership. 791 as helicopters or transport side of the starboard engine Test Centre, in the South-west Thanks to its aircraft. Additionally, guns duct in all Rafale versions, of France, and final approval advanced conception, are still regarded as being apart from the two-seat naval for the operational use was the M88 can be Long Engine Life useful and highly-effective Rafale N. granted in mid-2000. replaced in under an hour. In an effort to reduce costs of ownership, the M88 has been designed with ease of weapons for use against The technically advanced The 30 M 791 is now in maintenance in mind. The engine comprises 21 modules, interchangeable without a need ground and unprotected naval 30 M 791 gun fires the powerful full-scale production, and has for balancing and re-calibration. Some of these modules can even be changed without targets. 30 x 150 range of ammuni- entered operational service removing the engine from the airframe, and a M88 can be replaced in less than an hour. For the Rafale, GIAT Industries tion designed specifically for with the French Naval After maintenance, there is no need to check the turbofan in a test bench before it is of France has developed the the Rafale. These new ammu- Aviation. installed back on the aircraft. M88 reliability is such that, even for sustained combat new 30 M 791 seven-chamber nitions have high penetration Even for such an advanced operations, only limited quantities of spare parts and spare engines are required. revolver cannon, the world’s and incendiary effects, and fighter, the gun definitely «When introducing into service such an advanced engine, you have to be very cautious at only single-barrel 30 mm provide an excellent compro- remains a highly cost-effective first», explains Jacques Desclaux. «For the M88, we have selected new technologies such weapon capable of firing at a mise between their splinter weapon, and the high-tech as powder metallurgy, and we want to be certain that problems do not appear. This is why rate of 2,500 rounds/minute. effects and detonation powers. 30 M 791 cannon certainly the engine initially had to be inspected every 150 hours, but in January 2001 this interval The cannon is designed to offer A total of 125 rounds are places the Rafale in a class was raised to 500 hours, corresponding to roughly two/three years of operational use. maximum efficiency in air-to- carried, and ammunition of its own among the latest As experience builds up, it will be progressively extended to 800 hours or 1,000 hours, air combat, and its very high ignition is electrical. The gun is combat aircraft. depending on the components. In comparison with the Rafale, when the Mirage 2000 firing-rate and high initial velo- equipped with a pyrotechnical entered service, the M53 had to be checked every 75 hours.» city (1,025 m/s, 3,360 ft/min) rearming device which ejects RAFALE INTERNATIONAL Ultimate

Dominance FOXTHREEN°3 Rafale masters the world of connectivity p.2/3 p.4 In modern combat, information 2000-5Fs, Mirage 2000Ds, fully operational on standard F2 and situational awareness are AWACSs, A400Ms, tankers, aircraft. For countries with no essential for immediate and combat-SAR helicopters, and NATO approval, Thales and total success, and the futuristic various warships. With the Dassault have designed the network-centric warfare MIDS-LVT, each Rafale in a for- LX-UHF tactical datalink, which Maintenance VoiceMagics concept is a key enabler. One mation will have access to the has already been selected by of the most significant advances sensor data of other aircraft, two customers for their in technology, the advent of ground stations, and AWACSs. Mirage 2000s. This high-tech, this global military RAFALE : info-sphere will shape the future of MULTINATIONAL SUCCESS combat operations, allowing assets to From May 21 to June 2, 2001, Charles de Gaulle, the French ning radar and the Spectra exchange and share the French Navy participated Navy flagship. With its electronic warfare suite were tactical data at very for the first time in a major trai- embarked air-group, the extensively tested, and per- high rates, and brin- ning exercise with its state-of- Charles de Gaulle played a formed flawlessly. The Rafales ging together the-art Dassault Aviation Rafale pivotal role in this event, car- were flown in various confi- all forces in the fighters. Trident d’Or (Golden rying out air-defence, strike, gurations, sometimes heavily “battlespace” in a Trident) was one of the largest combat SAR, and surveillance loaded with external fuel tanks. very efficient way. international exercises ever missions. To extend mission duration, Thanks to advanced On May 18, the Rafales took advantage sensor data fusion 2001, Flottille of the buddy-buddy refuelling technology, the Rafale 12F, the first capabilities offered by the car- has the edge over com- Rafale naval rier-borne Super Etendard peting designs, and the fighter squa- Modernisé fighters. In-flight introduction of a tactical dron, recreated refuellings from French Air datalink will boost its at Landivisiau. Force Boeing C-135FR already impressive Just a few days Stratotankers were also per- capabilities. later, the unit formed. Additionally, French The Rafale was designed Mastering digital technologies jam-resistant, line-of-sight deployed on naval aviators demonstrated from the outset for NATO has proved essential when desi- system is comparable. board aircraft- the Rafale hot refuelling pro- compatibility: for France gning the MIDS, and Thales The introduction of datalinks carrier Charles cedure during the exercise. and other NATO-approved and its partners came out with is recognised as a fundamental de Gaulle with At the time of writing, seven countries, it will shortly be the very light LVT, which also change in air warfare tactics, the first six Rafales had been delivered equipped with the secure, inter- includes a TACAN. The LVT and and Rafale pilots will have Rafale pilots to the French Navy, and ten operable MIDS-LVT its two associated antennas access to far more tactical and their air- pilots had converted to the (Multifunction Information offer a 360° coverage. Flight information than their craft. During type. Deliveries are continuing, Distribution System - Low testing of the MIDS has already predecessors, with the Trident d’Or, and, by mid-2002, Flottille Volume Terminal) Link 16 started with systems mounted on MIDS-LVT or the LX-UHF consi- Flottille 12F per- 12F will be fully operational system. Jointly developed by Falcon 20 and Mirage 2000 test derably enhancing their sonnel trained with a complement of 10 France, Germany, Italy, Spain, beds. Additionally, an airborne combat effectiveness. In future and evaluated Rafales. and the USA, the lightweight Rafale has successfully improvements, the Rafale’s the fighter’s 2 (29 kg, 64 lb) LVT can transmit exchanged data with a C simu- information-sharing capabilities held in the Mediterranean, weapon system. They encoun- and receive data at a rate of lator and an integration rig. will be developed even involving warships from ten tered AV-8B+ Harriers and 200 Kbits/s. In France, the The first production MIDS-LVT for further thanks to the adoption nations. Among the vessels F/A-18 Hornets, simulating MIDS-LVT will eventually equip the Rafale will be delivered in of an advanced satellite taking part was the nuclear- interception profiles. Both the numerous platforms: Mirage 2003, and the system will be communication system. powered aircraft-carrier Thales RBE2 electronic scan- Unrivalled deployability

deployments. As a direct for on-board coolanol and result, the French requirement nitrogen circuits. The built-in SUSTAINING G for the Rafale called for signi- auxiliary power unit provides ficant built-in deployability electrical power until the and self-supportability, and engine-driven generators come Dassault and its partners have on line. taken advantage of their undisputed know-how to For future operators, the THE EFFORT develop a fighter with an Rafale’s unmatched reliabi- extremely low logistic foot- lity, maintainability and tes- Capitalising on the Mirage 2000 impeccable track record, Dassault Aviation, print. This is a crucial advan- tability will ensure an extre- tage which will prove less mely high availability, allowing Snecma and Thales have designed the Rafale omnirole fighter to offer unprece- constraining for strategic air- sorties to be conducted at a dented reliability, supportability, testability, sustainability and deployability levels. lift assets as only four C-130 sustained tempo for extended Customer and product support considerations have influenced the design of the air- Hercules loads are necessary periods of time. Full scale in- to carry equipment and spares country maintenance will be craft from the outset, and the Rafale will undoubtedly set new reliability and main- for 20 Rafales for 30 days. For carried out by customers, and tainability standards. example, no integral engine the local industry will benefit test cell is required for the from technology transfers: M88 turbofans. Additionally, French authorities have already Excellent supportability thanks to unrivalled manu- approved source codes trans- facturing and assembly tech- fers, and even radar cross sec- Thanks to advanced technolo- tromagnetic compatibility», fully redundant, very high pres- niques, there is no need to tion reduction material will be gies, the Rafale’s supportabi- explains Xavier Labourdette, sure (350 bar / 5,000 PSI) check equipment boresigh- maintained locally. The elec- lity will be boosted by about International Support Manager. hydraulic systems and the ting after replacement, and no tronic warfare suite can be 30 percent compared with that The Rafale has been built to variable frequency alternators complex external testers are programmed by indigenous of the Mirage 2000. Dassault last, and features a fully auto- which all boost reliability and required for Flight Line or experts, and new weapons engineers have developed a matic, non-dedicated structural safety. These advances have Organisational level main- can be easily integrated. This very simple fighter with fixed monitoring system which pro- proved so successful that they tenance. facilitates transparent deci- For self-supportability, the sion making process and sup- air intakes and no dedicated vides individual follow-up of have been adopted as stan- Rafale is designed to require port through the life of the air- airbrake, helping reduce main- airframe components, facili- dard by other aircraft manu- Stringent carrier In the past 30 years, the French requirements have had a Armed Forces have partici- the minimum of ground sup- craft. tenance requirements. tating fatigue index surveillance facturers, and, for instance, positive impact on Rafale pated in countless operations port equipment: it is equipped «The Rafale has been conceived throughout the 7,000 flying they have been specified for maintainability. far from their national support with an on-board oxygen gene- for naval operations, and even hour service life. the A380. infrastructure, gaining consi- ration system, and with a the Air Force ground-based Fault detection is a key aspect A single test bench capable of derable experience in forward closed-loop cooling fluid system variants benefit from the naval of modern aircraft maintaina- dealing with all electronic equip- characteristics: rugged air- bility, and all Rafale systems ment has been developed, allo- Unmatched Affordability frame, excellent corrosion pro- are monitored in real-time by wing specialists to determine An extremely reliable and easily maintainable fighter invariably translates into tection, and aircraft-carrier elec- the IHUMS - Integrated Health which component in a Line considerably lower maintenance costs. Numerous maintenance/support aspects and Usage Monitoring System Replaceable Unit (LRU) is defec- contribute to the Rafale’s incredibly low life-cycle costs: - which ensures clean and unam- tive. The first one is already - There is no complete airframe or engine depot level inspection required throughout the biguous failure detection. This fully operational with the French aircraft service life, and only specific components such as Shop Replaceable Units (SRUs) unique and fully automatic moni- Navy. A similar bench has been are returned for maintenance/repair. This is a remarkable achievement that will reduce toring system helps reduce selected for the Tiger and NH90 the amount of time during which the aircraft is not available. The same philosophy turnaround times by easing trou- helicopters, and for the French applies to the M88 turbofan composed of 21 modules, interchangeable without needing bleshooting and repair, dras- E-2C Hawkeye. It is also the full balancing and re-calibration. For maintenance and repair, only modules or parts are tically minimising the need for baseline for that of the French returned to the depot/manufacturer. ground support equipment. Army Leclerc main battle tank. - The minimum spare part requirements allow a reduction in spares inventory, and the Testability targets call for a 95 The selection of the uprated very high commonality between variants minimises the number of spare items. Similarly, percent fault detection, plus the Snecma M88-3 engine and of changing, at flight-line level, printed circuit boards within a LRU instead of replacing the ability to detect all safety- a state-of-the-art Active Electronic LRU itself lessens the need for complete spare units (radar, Spectra, modular computers). critical failures. Scanning Antenna (AESA) for - The fighter is extremely reliable, and easy to maintain and repair, ensuring reduced With the Rafale, Dassault has the Thales RBE2 radar also manning levels (minus 30 percent compared with the Mirage 2000), and lowered mecha- pioneered the use of revolu- contributes to the overall impro- nics training requirements. For instance, the side opening canopy facilitates ejection-seat tionary advances such as the vement of aircraft reliability. removal. VOICEMAGICS Compared with earlier gene- data entry and systems selec- mer’s requirements, the system ration systems fitted to other tions. boasts a vocabulary of bet- fighters, the Rafale’s Man- «As an alternative to using ween 50 and 300 words. The FFOXTHREEN°4 Machine Interface has been manual methods, the direct response time is extremely tuned to considerably reduce voice input technology allows short (less than 200 ms), and aircrew workload. One of the the pilot to activate data entry critical voice command selec- p.2/3 p.4 most innovative choices made functions, and select non-safety- tions are confirmed by visual by Dassault Aviation is the critical modes», explains feedback.» Display manage- introduction of the combined Philippe Rebourg, Dassault ment, navigation tasking and Voice, Throttle and Stick (VTAS) Chief Test Pilot for Military mode switching are even system which drastically eases Aircraft. «In some demanding quicker. A typical example is combat scenarios, manual radio and navigation aids Quality Process The survivor actions can prove painfully selection: a single pressure slow, and the voice command on a button on the throttle acti- system increases overall effec- vates the voice input system, tiveness: the pilot does not and, with chosen code words, THE FIRST OPERATIONAL have to look into the cockpit any the pilot can instantly repro- more. That enables him to focus gram the flight-plan or select DEPLOYMENT IS A SUCCESS on the mission and on systems various modes or operation.» radio/IFF frequencies. In the aftermath of the September 11, at that time. However, Dassault and they regularly practise dissimilar Developing such an advanced «As an added bonus, the voice 2001 attack, the French authorities and the Navy accelerated the air-combat training against tool was a challenge since the command system proves also decided to support the American upgrade programme, and we American fighters from USS various speech recognition extremely useful by reducing war effort against terrorist groups, were soon able to increase the Theodore Roosevelt and USS John algorithms had to cope with high pilot workload during and the aircraft-carrier Charles number of deployed fighters." In C. Stennis and AV-8B+ Harrier de Gaulle was sent to the Indian March 2002, the number of IIs from Italian carrier Garibaldi. the noises of the cockpit envi- emergency situations», says Ocean to participate in combat Rafales on board the aircraft- According to the pilots, the F-14 ronment as well as with the Gérard Dailloux, Dassault operations over Afghanistan. carrier had grown to seven. Tomcats, F-18 Hornets and AV-8B+ stress and the high g-loads Flight Safety Vice-President. Equipped with Dassault Rafale The reinforcement Rafales were Harriers are no match for the that can affect pilots’ voice. sent directly to the Charles de Rafales: thanks to their high thrust- But Dassault and Thales engi- The direct voice input system Gaulle from continental France, to-weight ratio, low wing loading, neers overcame all hurdles, will be available on export and four in-flight refuellings were and extreme agility, the Rafales and two production Rafales, Rafale Block 05s, and, required on average. "Initially, quickly gain the upper hand. two-seaters B301 and B302, although Dassault has mainly we were a bit worried about lan- On board the Charles de Gaulle, are currently equipped with concentrated on the Rafale so ding on a carrier after a seven the pilots have a combat simulator the direct voice input system. far, it could be adopted at hour flight, but the Rafale’s cockpit at their disposal where they can «These two aircraft allow us some stage on the Mirage is very comfortable, allowing train in a number of scenarios : us to remain fully alert, and we catapult shots, carrier landings, to push development even fur- 2000-5 Mk2 and on the future experienced no problem at all", navigation, and BVR combat. ther», says Philippe Rebourg. Falcon 7X long-range business says Commander Planchon. After the acceptance into full «Numerous foreign test pilots jet, helping reduce cost by Clearly demonstrating the Rafale’s operational service of the Rafale have evaluated the system, increasing series production. deployability, this long-range fighter, the French Naval Aviation

and they all praise its effi- Alain Ernoult - aeropicture.com Christian Boisselon. - Aviation - Dassault Robineau Photos F. effort was a first for the French has gained unmatched air-defence ciency: word recognition rates Navy. The seven fighters are capabilities, and, with its Rafales, are better than 95 percent, 2b - equipped with two variants of the Super Etendards, and E-2C and, depending on the custo- Snecma M88 turbofan, the M88-2 Hawkeyes, the Charles de Gaulle’s PEMA Stage 1 and the M88-2 Stage 4 Air Group is among the most fighters, Flottille 12F is the which features increased time powerful air wings operating spearhead of the French carrier between overhauls. in the World. air group. "When the Charles With only a couple of service- de Gaulle left her home port in able, outdated fighters, the Taliban November 2001, we were caught Air Force was not a threat, and in the middle of a comprehensive there was no need to engage air- update programme, says superiority assets over Afghanistan. GIE - Rafale International Commander Denis Planchon, As a result, the Rafales do not 78, quai Marcel Dassault 92552 Saint-Cloud cedex 300 - France Officer Commanding Flottille 12F. participate in full-scale operations This is the reason why only two over that country. They are www.dassault-aviation.com Rafales were on board the vessel nevertheless kept extremely busy, www.snecma.com www.thalesgroup.com First flight

This important mission is carefully monitored, the fighter climbs 36,000 feet, checks the altitude When Quality Comes First planned by the Test Pilot, the Test nearly vertically to 10,000 feet, hold mode of the autopilot, and Engineer, and the other members and the pilot performs tight turns verifies again the agility of the of the team. The sortie is followed in the two flight control modes fighter in the two flight control by an air traffic controller who has available: ‘air-air’, with no limits, modes. Full afterburner is then The Dassault Acceptance Team in -Mérignac, in south-west of France, undergone a special ‘acceptance’ and ‘weapons’, simulating a load selected to accelerate from Mach is in charge of flight testing every aircraft coming out of the Dassault assembly lines, training. His mission is to ensure of drop tanks or ordnance (with 0.7 to Mach 1.4 before easing be it a Mirage 2000-5 Mk 2, a Rafale or a Falcon business jet. The purpose of the the dedicated flight test airspace reduced g, angle-of-attack and back the throttle to decelerate acceptance process is to check that a new aircraft is up to full specifications: used by the aircraft is clear of roll rate limits). The autopilot and to Mach 0.8 and climb up to Flight thanks to this practice, any potential fault will be detected before the aircraft any other traffic. the airbrakes are then verified, Level 500 where the air- is delivered to the customer. Four Test and Acceptance Pilots undertake the numerous This first mission is a flight envelope and the pilot enters 360 deg turns conditioning and pressurisation test sorties flown out of Mérignac. They are helped in their daunting tasks by highly sortie during which the aerodynamic to automatically calibrate the systems are checked. Manoeuvring qualified Test Engineers, Flight Test Engineers, and ‘Inspecteurs Mécaniciens’. performance and behaviour of magnetometer. At the end of the aggressively all the way down, the fighter are checked. After a full last turn, the Rafale starts climbing the pilot descends to FL330 where reheated takeoff during which again in full dry power up to Flight he makes tight turns to decelerate the acceleration (Jx) is again Level 360. The pilot levels off at to 110 knots to initiate an engine A Test Engineer is responsible for Dassault fully complies with the test during which he slams a Standard F1 Rafale M from latest environmental protection the throttle open from idle to full the moment it leaves the assembly laws, and the Thales RBE2 radar afterburner power to ensure that line until it is delivered to the and Spectra electronic warfare the M88s are trouble-free. Then, customer. He manages the suite are not cleared to emit while the throttle is brought out of after- acceptance programme, prepares on the ground. The Snecma M88 burner, and the pilot descends the flights, briefs the Test Pilot, reactors are run from idle up to full down to FL200 where he tests the and supervises the sorties from afterburner power, and the ‘logics’ slow speed and high alpha flying the monitoring room. When the of the electronic systems are tested. qualities of the Rafale before aircraft has landed, he debriefs When this is completed, the aircraft cycling the undercarriage. the team, checks the recorded is towed back to the assembly The descent is continued down parameters, and ensures any fault floor to undergo the ‘debugging’ to 2,000 feet where the Test Pilot is rectified by the maintenance process. The fighter is then jacked checks the anemometric data specialists. The mission of the up for the security check, and all while accelerating from 250 to ‘Inspecteurs Mécaniciens’ - the systems are once again tested, 450 knots. After a few minutes ‘inspector engineers’ - starts as including retraction. of low-level flight to analyse the soon as the Rafale leaves the Every single access panel will be ride quality and the precision of assembly line. They are in charge opened in search of any snag, the navigation equipment, the of making sure the aircraft is such as forgotten foreign objects. one-hour long mission is concluded trouble-free. The fighter is first The ‘Inspecteur Mécanicien’ and with an ILS approach to Mérignac. tested in a hush test facility where his team will then ready the aircraft the engines and the various (this is called the ‘Security components, including the weapon Inspection’) for the first trial system, are thoroughly verified. by a Test Pilot. Second and third flights

The second sortie is also a flight radar modes: look up, look down, ensure that the customer is satisfied, envelope mission during which air-combat and interception. and the acceptance process the Rafale reaches Mach 1.6 at Targets of opportunity, generally represents the best way of checking Ground run 36,000 feet. The Rafale M is Armée de l’Air fighters operating the quality of the end product. cleared for hands-off sea-surface out of Cazaux Air Base, are Dassault’s ‘know-how’ is not limited The acceptance programme of sure everything goes according is back to the Dassault flightline, following, and this dedicated acquired in the Search While to the Mirages and Rafales, a Rafale, a lengthy process spread to the book. The switches in the the engineers make certain the mode is checked during the second Scan mode. For the second part and the Falcon business jets are over about a month, is divided cockpit are set to simulate a quick flight data recorder is working sortie. of the sortie, an Air Force Mirage also built and tested in exactly into a ground run and three flights. reaction alert, and the Rafale taxies as it should be. The Test Pilot The third mission is a ‘système’ 2000C uses its RDI radar to check the same rigorous way. The ground run commences half out to the runway to accelerate to and the Test Engineer will then flight during which the fighter’s the Rafale’s radar- an hour before the planned start-up 30 knots in full dry power. Then, debrief, and the engineers will combat capabilities are fully tested. warning receiver time, when the Test Pilot meets with it returns to its starting point and correct any fault. The sortie is divided into two parts. and jammer. When the ‘Inspecteur Mécanicien’ and his accelerates, this time up to 90 For the first one, the Standard F1 Standard F2 Rafales team, and climbs into the cockpit. knots with full afterburner selected, Rafale M is accompanied by are delivered, weapon He totally trusts the engineers and, before applying the brakes. During an Alpha Jet which acts as an system testing will be as a consequence, a pilot preflight this run, the pilot carefully monitors exercise target to check the expanded to include check is not deemed necessary. the Jx, the longitudinal acceleration performance of the RBE2 radar. air-to-surface armament A ground power unit is switched of the aircraft. This helps ensure that Also flown by a Test Pilot, modes. on for the system check during the M88 turbofans are delivering the Alpha Jet flies an extremely In the highly competitive which the Test Pilot communicates their normal maximum thrust, and accurate profile, and the RBE2 market of the combat with a Test Engineer sitting in the that they spool up in the required acquires its target in various aircraft, everything monitoring room, both making amount of time. When the aircraft conditions using the different has to be done to THE SURVIVOR

Survivability is the key to modern air-warfare, and the Rafale fighter is well equipped to slip undetected through dense air-defence networks and survive, even against the latest threats.

Avoid Detection Materials in various areas of the the Thales Spectra electronic war- The French fighter is definitely a airframe, ‘sawtooth’ edges on fare suite is capable of accurately ‘low-observable’ aircraft, and its the foreplanes, on the flaperons, localising and targetting enemy systems will set new standards in and on some access panels and radar emitters (both surface- terms of low-observability and doors, specially treated canopy, to-air and airborne systems). survivability. Every effort has been plus ‘double-S’ shaped air-intake Lethality zones, determined by made by the engineers to mini- ducts to hide the engine com- Spectra according to the perfor- mise its infrared and radar signa- pressor faces. Thanks to the Hot mance of the air-defence weapon tures. The objective was not to Spot treatment, infrared signature types detected and the local terrain, make the aircraft undetectable is minimised, and the Snecma M88 are displayed on the colour or to match the Radar Cross Section turbofans have been optimised to tactical screens, enabling the (RCS) of the F-117 or B-2, but to limit infrared detectability. aircrew to avoid dangerous areas significantly reduce the detection without being detected. and tracking range of hostile air- Dodge the Threat defences. Accordingly, the air- But low-observability is definitely Survive damages frame has been carefully shaped not the only way to boost survi- The ‘fail-safe’ concept has been to cut down its RCS. Other signa- vability. As radar and radio emissions implemented to simultaneously ture reduction measures include can betray the position of a fighter, increase redundancy and reduce state-of-the-art Radar-Absorbing the designers have adopted for vulnerability: the dual redundant the Rafale a wide range of unique hydraulic and electric systems passive sensors and missiles: ensure maximum safety, even if Rafale measurements in anechoic chamber. the passive Front Sector Optronics combat damages have been used in conjunction with the long- inflicted to the aircraft. The range, infrared-guided Mica IR advanced fault management missile gives Rafale pilots unpre- system can automatically recon- cedented capabilities, allowing figure the fly-by-wire control system totally silent interceptions to be if a control surface is damaged. performed, especially when accu- When used in conjunction, all rate targetting data is received these advanced redundancy and via a datalink. Additionally, radar signature reduction technologies emissions can be carefully significantly increase the Rafale’s controlled, and emission limitations effectiveness and survivability. can even be programmed on In the not too distant future, other a data transfer cartridge before refinements might be introduced, the mission. such as a new system to shroud The Rafale is fitted with a disc- external weapons to reduce radar rete terrain avoidance/following cross-section, the stealthy shapes

system optimised to improve being ejected before weapon Grolleau - Studio Pons Photos : H.P. survivability while flying at release. Alternatively, tube-launched

extremely low altitude and very and ‘cocooned’ missiles could 2b - high speed. For threat avoidance, also be adopted. PEMA

GIE - Rafale International 78, quai Marcel Dassault 92552 Saint-Cloud cedex 300 - France www.dassault-aviation.com www.snecma.com www.thalesgroup.com FOXTHREE 19 A TRULY PASSIVE RADAR

To complement its multisensor The FSO comprises two ranges thanks to the outstan- suite that includes the modules mounted on top of ding angular accuracy and RBE2 multimode electronic the Rafale's nose, ahead of resolution of the TV/identifi- FOXTHREEN°5 scanning radar and the Spectra the windshield, to offer an cation channel, and target electronic warfare system, the unobstructed view of the designation can be performed Rafale is fitted with the Front forward sector: the infrared for air-to-ground weapons. p.2/3 p.4 Sector Optronics (FSO), a state- sensor (Infra-Red Search and The FSO is an integral part of of-the-art passive system. Track), and the TV sensor the Rafale's mission system as Operating in different infrared coupled with an eyesafe laser it is closely integrated with the wavelengths, the FSO provides rangefinder. The functions of other primary sensors, the discreet long-range detection, the two modules are clearly RBE2 radar and the Spectra multi-target angular tracking complementary: Electronic Warfare suite. As Significant Milestones A truly Passive Radar and range-finding for air and - surveillance and high-accu- such, it considerably improves surface targets, considerably racy, multi-target automatic pilot situational awareness: enhancing the Rafale's tracking by the starboard IR all sensors' data is fused into surveillance module a single tactical picture THE FIRST PRODUCTION - target tracking, identification displayed on the central wide- and ranging by the port angle colour screen, offering SINGLE-SEAT AIR FORCE RAFALE FLIES TV/laser module. the pilot a clear image of the The latest 3rd generation matrix evolving tactical situation. This On 16 April 2003, Rafale over the F1 Standard currently be adopted for naval aircraft. detector technology has been smart data fusion significantly C101, the first production in service. The main features At the core of the F2 Standard chosen for future versions of increases mission success rates single-seater for the French of the F2 Standard include the increased capabilities is the the FSO to ensure extended through better understanding Air Force, made its maiden Front Sector Optronics Modular Data Processing Unit detection ranges, and the IR of enemy tactics. flight from Mérignac with test (although it is not yet fitted to (MDPU) composed of line- module is fully capable of Whatever the rules of enga- pilot Frédéric Lascourreges at C101), the MIDS-LVT replaceable modules, inclu- operating in hot and humid gement, the FSO minimises the controls. During the 1 h (Multifunction Information ding commercial off-the-shelf climate/conditions. the risks of fratricides (blues 15 min flight, the fighter per- Distribution System - Low elements. The MDPU enhances The TV sensor has an excep- on blues) in both air-to-air and formed aggressive combat Volume Terminal) Link 16 data- avionics/armament integra- tional long-range identification air-to-surface modes, and it link, specific air-to- tion thanks to its redundant, capability, allowing a high- allows instantaneous battle ground modes for open and modular architec- resolution image of the target damage assessment to be per- the RBE2 electronic ture. The system is highly to be displayed on any of the formed. This unique surveillance scanning radar, flexible, allowing the inte- cockpit's three screens. Target and identification system has additional modes gration of new avionics and counting for raid assessment been thoroughly tested on for the Spectra self- future weapons. It has been is also a key advantage of the board various testbeds and defence/electronic conceived with growth in mind stealthiness as the fighter can FSO, and tracking of low radar Rafale prototypes M02 and warfare suite, and to facilitate the incorporation covertly detect, track and iden- cross-section aircraft is a B01, plus two-seaters B301 a wide range of of new capabilities from one tify enemy aircraft without distinct possibility. Similarly, and B302 production aircraft. weapons: Scalp EG standard to another. C101 is using its own radar which hostile fighters performing a The FSO will be introduced cruise missiles, the the first Rafale equipped with would betray its presence. defensive 'beam' manoeuvre into F2 Standard Rafales. AASM (Armement the MDPU straight from the Additionally, the entire system will be tracked easily. In the Air-Sol Modulaire) production line, although both is immune to radio-frequency air-to-surface mode, targets - K. Tokunaga. Robineau - Dassault Aviation 2b - Photos F. air-to-surface M02 and B302 have been jamming. can be pinpointed at stand-off modular armament retrofitted with the system. PEMA with INS / GPS refe- The first Rafale B/Cs will be rence and imagery delivered to the French Air guidance, plus long- Force test and evaluation unit range infrared- (CEAM squadron) which will manoeuvres and flew at high guided Mica IR missiles which deploy to Saint-Dizier Air Base supersonic speed. supplant the long-serving in 2005. Escadron de Chasse Rafale C101 is the first air- Magic 2. Moreover, a high- 1/7 'Provence' will then GIE - Rafale International craft to be equipped with the resolution 3D digital database become the second Rafale 78, quai Marcel Dassault 92552 Saint-Cloud cedex 300 - France new avionics core of the omni- permits automatic terrain-fol- front-line unit after French Navy www.dassault-aviation.com role F2 Standard which encom- lowing at low-level. Finally, Flottille 12F which stood up www.snecma.com passes major improvements an in-flight refuelling pod will in May 2001. www.thalesgroup.com New weapon configurations

The improved Standard F2 for the surface armament). "The new Full-scale guided firings are French Armed Forces will allow air- weapons are already being tested expected to be carried out in late SIGNIFICANT to-ground attacks to be performed at Istres and Cazaux, and Scalps 2003." with advanced weapons such as were recently dropped from the A new triple ejector rack for the powerful and stealthy MBDA wing pylons of the Rafale, a more staggered carriage of GBU-12 Scalp EG and the demanding scenario than releases laser-guided bombs has now been low-cost Sagem AASM (Armement from the fuselage centreline hard- tested, allowing six GBU-12s to be MILESTONES Air-Sol Modulaire, Modular air-to- point, says Pierre-Cyril Delanglade. carried, along with three 2,000 litre drop tanks and four Mica missiles. Taking advantage of In the last few months, the Rafale has passed numerous and significant miles- what had been done with the tones in its development programme. The trials of the air-defence Standard F1 GBU-12s, the first flights of a Rafale fitted with six AASM have been completed, and various new configurations have been tested with GPS/INS/Imagery-guided bombs Standard F2 and F3 external loads. New internal and external systems are also under have been performed too. The first separation firings of the active development and testing. infrared-guided, long-range, multi-target MBDA Mica IR air-to-air missile have also been "At the moment, we are concen- lowed a similar path, and prog- conducted with the firing trating on the trials of the F2 omni- ress has been quick: Dassault envelope now opened at super- role standard, says Pierre-Cyril Aviation test pilots and flight test sonic speeds. Fully guided Delanglade, Engineer in Charge engineers have been very active missiles are planned to be fired of Rafale Flight Tests at Istres. We developing and testing the Front in late 2003. are busy expanding the flight Sector Optronics (FSO), the Link Flight test engineers have taken envelope with new external stores 16 Multifunction Information advantage of the ongoing in heavy configurations. We are Distribution System-Low Volume programmes to clear the also performing weapons releases Terminal (MIDS-LVT) datalink, the normally subsonic 2,000 litre to make sure there are no adverse Modular Data Processing Unit drop tank up to Mach 1.6 when effects on the stores or on the air- (MDPU), and the Direct Voice two fuel tanks are fitted to the craft during the release." Input system. aircraft. The obvious advantage Internal systems trials have fol- of this flight envelope expansion is that a Rafale in an air-to-ground fit could accelerate to high-super- sonic speed after weapon New external loads delivery, either to escape a threat or to carry out an interception The range of missions which can transfer rates of 530 litres/minute Recce Pod will significantly boost without dropping its fuel tanks. be performed by the Rafale is - at 280-350 knots at altitudes up the capabilities of reconnaissance constantly being expanded, and to 20,000 feet, but this could be units. It will be fielded by Rafale the integration and trials of the expanded to 30,000 feet without units from 2007, and will pro- Intertechnique buddy-buddy refuel- any problem." Even for countries gressively supplant Mirage F1CR Carrier trials ling pod have now been com- with no naval air arms, a Rafale and Super Etendard reconnais- pleted. This pod is due to be used equipped with this refuelling pod sance aircraft currently in service In late 2002, the fighter partici- 15,7 tonnes (34,581 lb.) with six and it is expected that, in 2003, by the French Navy from its air- could increase the combat capa- with the French Air Force and pated in a three-week trial cam- AASM 300 kg bombs (plus empty more than 450 Rafale sorties will craft-carrier to provide an organic bilities of a strike package as it Navy. The NG Recce Pod has paign on board the Charles de 1,250 litre drop tanks), clearly have been carried out from Istres in-flight refuelling capability to boasts a significant self-escort been flown at Mach 0.9 / 580 Gaulle to validate various demonstrating its huge ‘bring and Cazaux by the Air Force / the carrier battle group. "To date, capability with its Mica air-to-air knots IAS with two 2,000 litre weapon/external load configu- back’ capability. Test Centre / Dassault integrated Rafale M1, the first production missiles, allowing a raid to pene- external fuel tanks and four Mica rations at heavy weights. Perhaps even more significant is test team. In 2004, other impor- naval Rafale, has successfully trate deep into hostile territory missiles. Supersonic speeds have For instance, Rafale M1 was cata- the flight testing of the NG Recce tant events will be recorded, such refuelled other Rafale and Super while still having an embedded been demonstrated too, the fighter pulted at a weight of 21,4 tonnes Pod in an aircraft-carrier envi- as the first firing of a Scalp Etendard fighters, clearly demons- tanker force. reaching Mach 1.4 with the NG (47,137 lb.) with a Scalp on the ronment to make sure that the pre-strategic cruise missile trating the inherent flexibility of Similarly, the Rafale has suc- Recce Pod on the centreline pylon centreline pylon, two 2,000 litre pod/Rafale airframe combina- from a Rafale launched from the design, explains Pierre-Cyril cessfully flown with a New and two Mica air-to-air missiles at drop tanks on the inboard wing tion could withstand the shocks the Charles de Gaulle carrier. Delanglade. The pod itself has Generation Reconnaissance Pod the wingtips. It has been deter- pylons, and four Mica missiles at and vibrations associated with been cleared up to Mach 0.9 / (NG Recce Pod), a new configu- mined that the NG Recce Pod has the wingtips and under the carrier operations. 580 knots IAS, and in-flight refuel- ration which is representative of negligible impact on aircraft hand- fuselage. During another test, The Rafale flight test programme lings have been conducted - with the Standard F3 fighter. The NG ling. it was recovered at a weight of is continuing at an unabated rate Data fusion: seeing through the fog of war FOXTHREEN°6 In order to cope with the multifaceted threats of the 21st Century, Rafale aircrews p.2/3 p.4/5 p.6/7 p.8 rely on three essential systems to survive and achieve total battlespace dominance: a state-of-the-art multisensor suite, a smart data fusion management system and an advanced Man-Machine Interface (MMI).

DataFusion AASM Eric Gerard Advanced MMI Bucking the trend : the lower, the better Good situational awareness function selections easier, and to head-down mission moni- Recent conflicts have shown that commander's dream. without the burden -and energy- begins with a big and clear a Helmet-Mounted Sight and toring without a need to refocus. most fight/bomber strike raids The Rafale is fitted with a multi- consuming anxiety - of main- picture displayed on large, Display is on offer. To acce- In the two-seat Rafale variant, are now conducted with preci- sensor terrain-following system taining terrain clearance during colour screens. For the Rafale lerate and facilitate informa- the front and rear cockpit sion-guided weapons from operating at the pilot's choice hi-speed/low-altitude legs. With omnirole fighter, Dassault engi- tion assimilation, the instru- displays can be operated in medium or high altitude. from the radar or from a digital its high thrust and low wing-loa- neers have designed the most ment panel of the Rafale cockpit a tandem mode, which presents A variety of strike aircraft of terrain database : the RBE2 radar ding, the Rafale is equally at modern Man-Machine Interface is divided into one large the pilot and the back-seater diverse age, technology and can detect even unreported ease flying at treetop height: its in service anywhere, introdu- Head-Up Display (HUD) and with the same information, or performance level are generally obstruction and the digital aerodynamics - and cing 21st Century technology three colour multifunction de-coupled so that crew mem- involved in coalition operations. terrain database does away canards - is ideal for low-level to considerably reduce air- screens: two touch-sensitive bers can carry out different Capabilities vary widely bet- with telltale emissions where agility and ride quality, and its crew workload and to sub- lateral displays, and a wide- tasks simultaneously, an obvious ween these platforms, and man- total covertness is required. There foreplanes do not block stantially improve situational angle, high-resolution head- advantage during complex portable air defences are right- is also a radar altimeter avai- downward visibility. awareness. The Hands On level display collimated to missions. fully considered a formidable lable in nap-of-the-earth flight Flying low and fast in the clouds Throttle and Stick technology infinity to enable the pilot to shift threat for all of them below over water or flat land. Data then becomes a real option : has been adopted to make instantly from head-up flying 15,000 feet. Stand-off jamming fusion is part of the system to high altitude SAMs are no longer is required, at the expense of cross-check the sensors before fee- an issue since you fly under the tasking flexibility. However this ding their data to a flight path radar coverage, and short range Multisensor technology is not always enough to avoid computation module whose deve- optically-guided air defences "blue" losses in the face of oppo- lopment has been carried out are powerless against a foe they To carry out all its missions, comprises the Thales RBE2 attack targets on the ground nents operating SAMs with high per the exacting standards of cannot see. Other short range air the omnirole Rafale is equipped multimode electronic scanning while engaging the enemy altitude coverage and counter- safety-critical engineering. The defence systems can be dealt with a multisensor suite that radar, the Thales Front Sector fighters presenting the grea- stealth airspace surveillance… relevant expertise does not come with by the Spectra EW suite Optronics (FSO) passive test threat. For example, even At this point, theatre air com- overnight and actually builds capable of jamming and IR/TV/laser system and the with the radar in an air-to-sur- manders would probably dream on the lessons learned of the decoying. Speed is part of the Thales Spectra multi-spectral face mode, the FSO is fully of an aircraft with a hefty payload Mirage 2000N and D in ser- game too, since air defence electronic warfare system, plus capable of detecting and tracking capability for smart weapons, vice with the French Air Force. engagement zones are drama- the infrared seekers of the Mica hostile interceptors, and the immune to air defence systems. The terrain-following function tically reduced against transonic IR missiles. This combination pilot can instantly engage an The aircraft must be survivable integrated with the Rafale's flight targets, even in clear weather. of multiple sensors conside- emerging threat. and operate on a "reasonable" control system actually flies the rably enhances the probabi- Silent intercepts can be budget... aircraft closer to the ground or lity of detecting hostile targets, conducted with the radar Enters the Rafale. It is fully inter- the sea than would be reaso- including . It switched off, the FSO and the operable with coalition assets nable for the crew flying in also lowers the risk of fratri- Spectra system then becoming and procedures, and it is the- manual mode - and it does so cides. the main sensors. It is worth refore totally capable of parti- with a demonstrated safety level Advice to commander : next The Rafale’s weapon system noting that the FSO’s laser cipating in strike operations, as even in blind weather. It remains time, think twice before choosing can also simultaneously deal supplies an accurate range- required for political and diplo- a valuable help to the crew even your altitude option. Higher with airborne and ground measurement, to provide the matic flexibility. Taking a closer when flying higher above ground might not necessarily be better. threats, a crucial advantage pilot with the 3D positions of look at the bird, we find level, allowing them to concen- The Rafale offers high AND low over the nearest competitors the targets. an aircraft very close to the trate on other mission tasks altitude options. because pilots are now able to Smart data fusion On the Rafale, there is no Right preferred sensor: the radar, the FSO, and the Spectra electronic warfare suite all contribute to situational awa- on the Spots ! reness, and the data obtained from the different sources is fused into a single tactical picture shown on the central, The revolutionary AASM (Armement Air-Surface Modulaire, Modular Air-to-Surface head-level display, offering Armament) was selected by the French Air Force and the French Navy in September the pilot a clear image of the evolving tactical situation. 2000 to supplement their current inventory of laser-guided bombs and missiles, Until now, pilots only had their more than 3,000 AASMs being acquired for the Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighters. brains to process the information This unique weapon designed to destroy an adversary’s best-defended target is obtained by their radars/eyes and to build a mental image of already undergoing a comprehensive test programme for both the Rafale and the the evolving situation. With Mirage 2000. The first flights of a Rafale fitted with six AASMs were performed the Rafale, the system has taken over the processing role, in 2003, and the weapon was subsequently tested on board French aircraft-carrier considerably reducing wor- Charles de Gaulle when a Rafale was recovered at a weight of 15,7 tonnes (34,581 kload, and allowing aircrews to devote more time to tactics lb.) with six AASM bombs (plus empty 1,250 litre drop tanks), clearly demons- management. The pilot now trating its huge ‘bring back’ capability. The first firings are now due to be conducted concentrates on the fight, not at the Cazaux Flight Test Centre in 2004. on the flight. Sensors have inherent advantages and drawbacks: the passive FSO has excellent One of the key advantages of tion/tracking associated with A modular weapon countermeasure resistance, the system is its ability to identify smart sensor fusion is a and its angular resolution is and classify the type of key-enabler which will radi- Designed and produced by targets. The weapon is divided Unit / GPS receiver for day better than that of the radar. On target/threat, by using either cally change the face of air Sagem, the AASM is a low- into three major subsystems: and night attacks with metric the other side, the radar is the Spectra suite or the TV warfare. This combination of cost, all-weather, fire-and- - the guidance kit at the front precision. able to determine the target's sensor of the FSO. When all multisensor technology and forget weapon optimised for - the warhead and fuse in the The low-cost IMU / GPS position and velocity vector tracks are positively identified, smart data fusion significantly high-accuracy stand-off attacks. middle receiver would be the main in all weather conditions. The the system automatically creates increases mission success rates - the range extension kit at the guidance system in most cases. Spectra suite can analyse a synthetic image with all enemy through enhanced crew awa- rear. In the event the AASM is unable enemy radar emissions to and friendly tracks shown in reness and improved aircraft Recent advances in the fields to receive GPS signals after precisely identify an emitter. a clear and explicit way. survivability. With its multi- of navigation and optronics launch for any reason, the IMU The powerful data fusion Off-board sensor can also sensor technology, its advanced technologies have allowed will provide rate and accele- algorithms combine and contribute data to the inte- data fusion management Sagem engineers to design a ration measurements which compare the data gathered grated tactical air picture, via system, and its remarkable highly accurate weapon, a the weapon will develop into by all Rafale sensors, and accu- the datalink. Wingmen or AEW Man-Machine Interface (MMI), crucial advantage when col- a navigation solution. rately position and identify aircraft can feed their data to the Rafale clearly stands in a lateral damages must be For even greater accuracy, targets. It’s much more than the leader’s system, thus helping category of its own and no avoided. Depending on the the affordable infrared ima- simple correlation as it gives target-sorting and co-opera- other fighter in the world has tactical situation, the required ging seeker is a key subsystem. the pilot an accurate and tion within the formation. such a wide array of systems precision, and the importance It uses autonomous target reco- unambiguous tactical picture. Multichannel target acquisi- at its disposal. of the target, the Air Force gnition algorithms to locate commanders can choose its target, no operator inter- between two types of state-of- vention being required. This the-art guidance kits : seeker also ensures excep- Thanks to its fully modular - a combined Inertial Measuring tional resistance to GPS signals architecture, the AASM can Unit / GPS receiver navigation unavailability or jamming, be utilised for a wide range system for all-weather attacks and target coordinates errors of strike missions, offering with a 10 m class accuracy can be compensated. unmatched destructive capa- - a combined Infrared Imaging bilities against soft or hardened seeker / Inertial Measuring Stand-off engagement capability Rafale pushes For very long distance enga- engage targets requiring more to bomb release, the guidance gements, the AASM is destructive power or deeper kit will be fed with aircraft equipped with a bolt-on tail penetration. position, velocity and altitude BVR fight at extreme ! unit / range extension kit which The AASM is a 3 m long data through the store-station comprises a solid rocket motor weapon that weighs 340 kg. interface. and flip-out wings. Ranges Up to six can be carried by a For the AASM, Sagem has In order to quickly achieve total air-dominance, a concept of multi-layer offensive/defensive air-to-air weapons has been chosen for the Rafale omnirole fighter, allowing all known and future air-threats to be engaged from extreme long range to extreme short range. To carry out its air-defence/air-superiority missions, the Rafale relies on a wide range of advanced air-to-air weapons: Meteor missiles for very long-range engagements, Mica RF and Mica IR multirole missiles for long-range to short-range scenarios, and a powerful 30 mm gun for close-in dogfights. With such a wide array of weaponry, hostile fighters, strike bombers, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and helicopters will all be easily defeated.

Integrating the Meteor to the Rafale

Thanks to the involvement of the This first stage of the compre- by a single Rafale, two under Rafale integration team in support hensive trial programme was the aft lateral fuselage pylons of missile development from a total success. Functional inte- and two under wing store sta- the very beginning, Meteor gration (fire control) is not tions. Obviously, the capabi- qualification on the Rafale is expected to be a major hurdle lity to carry Mica missiles will definitely a low-risk underta- either: the Mica and the Meteor remain unchanged, especially king. Preliminary aerome- both operate in the same way, for the infrared-guided Mica IR chanical integration work has and the Rafale’s fighter-to-missile variant mounted at the wingtips already been completed, and datalink is already fully capable and under the outboard wing exceed 50 km for a high-alti- Rafale on two triple stores chosen the "Wooden-round" a series of wind tunnel tests of accepting the new missile. rails. tude release or 15 km for a adaptors. Six widely sepa- concept, and the weapon can have now been conducted. Up to four Meteors can be carried low-level firing, and even more rated targets to be attacked be left unattended for many significant is the capability to in a single pass, with a full 90 years until it is used. engage targets at high off- degrees off-boresight capa- The AASM fulfils the warfigh- boresight angles: the Rafale bility. For maximum terminal ter’s most stringent require- does not have to overfly the efficiency, the AASM angle of ments in terms of attack accu- target to carry out its attack impact can be adjusted to racy, destructive power and with deadly accuracy, and it match the target’s characte- cost effectiveness. can safely remain out of reach. ristics. The 250 kg warhead can be The mission planning module either a general purpose unitary can be used on a stand-alone munition (Mk 82, or any other basis or can be embedded similar types) or a hardened into the penetrator (BLU-111, or MBDA Bang/CBEMS series opti- mised for storage on board aircraft-carriers). It is worth noting that other variants Rafale mission plan- with heavier, more powerful ning system. The mis- warheads weighing up to 1000 sion parameters com- kg such as the Mk 84 multi- prise release envelope, purpose bomb or the BLU-109 the target co-ordinates and penetrator are planned to weapon terminal settings. Prior Ramjet propulsion

The Meteor is a Pan-European ramjet motor which is one of the end-game to defeat fast and ERIC GERARD multinational programme principal elements of the missile’s hard manoeuvring targets such officially launched in December success. Thanks to the ramjet as highly-agile, fifth genera- The Rafale is from Hyères and Landivisiau Dassault Aviation to take part 2002 when MBDA was propulsion, high-speed is main- tion fighters. Its vastly expanded regularly naval air stations, and from in the Mirage 2000-5 deve- awarded a development and tained throughout the enga- no-escape zone significantly displayed at the Foch and Clemenceau lopment effort and in the Rafale production contract by the gement and the motor offers enhances the Rafale’s lethality major airshows carriers, successively flying carrier trials. In July 1999, he British Defence Procurement around the with Flottilles 17F and 14F. became the first pilot to trap a Agency on behalf of the govern- world by He was then selected to fixed-winged aircraft on the ments of six European countries. Dassault Aviation test pilot Eric become a test pilot and gra- nuclear aircraft-carrier Charles The Meteor is a highly flexible, Gérard. duated from the EPNER, the de Gaulle. long-range, agile air-to-air After high school, Eric joined prestigious French Test Pilot During his career, he was missile which provides a com- the French Navy in 1975 and School, in 1988. While serving successively awarded the prehensive operational was awarded his Naval with the French Flight Test French National Defence capability in the most complex Aviation Fighter Pilot Wings Centre, Eric was involved in Medal, the Lebanon Campaign combat scenarios. The weapon in 1978. The following year, various projects, including the Medal and the French can engage air targets auto- he gained his carrier-qualifi- Super Etendard Modernisé, Aeronautical Medal. Eric is nomously by using its state- variable thrust levels to match at long ranges. Moreover, cation. the Mirage 2000 and the now credited with over 5,200 of-the-art active radar seeker the target’s hard manoeuvres. high-value assets such as tan- From 1979 to 1987, he flew Rafale flight test programmes. flying hours. by day and night, in all wea- The Meteor’s ramjet motor kers and early warning aircraft Super Etendard strike fighters In 1991, he was recruited by thers and in dense electronic system offers ranges in excess can be engaged at very long warfare environments. of 100 km and speeds of more ranges too, boosting even The rear section of the missile than Mach 4. Even when further the fighter’s overall IN FLIGHT DISPLAY comprises the Bayern Chemie / launched from extreme stand- combat efficiency. Protac boron-filled, solid off ranges, the missile has propellant, throttleable, ducted enough kinetic energy in the

Advanced active radar seeker

Terminal guidance is provided provided by a fighter-to-missile constant ram air supply. The by an active radar seeker design datalink until the active seeker Meteor missile will therefore based on proven technologies acquires the target, the missile have the level of manoeuvrabi- borrowed from the MBDA Aster then becoming autonomous. lity and speed needed to achieve Alternatively, the Meteor can the demanding end-game be fired without using mid-course performance to intercept even update, allowing the Rafale to the most agile air targets. immediately turn away to deny To ensure total target destruc- the enemy aircraft any firing tion, the missile is equipped with possibility. both proximity and impact fuses Following extensive wind tunnel and with a powerful blast testing, a wingless aerodynamic fragmentation warhead that is configuration has been chosen detonated at the optimum point for the Meteor: MBDA has to maximise lethality. concluded that the selected air- With the acclaimed Mica IR and frame configuration is the RF missiles, the Rafale is already Tokunaga. - K. Aviation - Dassault Robineau PEMA 2b - Photos F. optimum solution to fulfil the equipped with superior required performance weapons, but the advent of the surface-to-air and Mica air-to- characteristics. The controls Meteor will further improve the air missile programmes. In June and aerodynamics principle fighter’s outstanding combat 2003, Thales and MBDA signed incorporated by MBDA will efficiency: the Meteor offers an agreement to jointly develop result in a missile which has a enhanced all-round kinematics an improved derivative of the very high turn rate and which, performance and a higher kill GIE - Rafale International AD4A seeker already in service at the same time, maintains the probability to ensure unequalled 78, quai Marcel Dassault 92552 Saint-Cloud cedex 300 - France on the Mica and Aster missiles. performance of its ramjet pro- combat efficiency, even against www.dassault-aviation.com Mid-course guidance will be pulsion system thanks to a the most modern hostile fighters. www.snecma.com www.thalesgroup.com A new configuration tested operationally

During the tactical evaluation other two fighters, M4 and M9, missions as a refuelling tanker is phase, Dassault Aviation and the were both directly retrofitted by a welcome boost to operational Marine Nationale have gone even Flottille 12F specialists and further than initially planned, and their validation flights were the Rafale Standard F1 can now conducted by two pilots of be used for buddy-buddy in-flight the unit. A batch of five 2,000 FOXTHREEN°7 refuelling, a capability not envi- litre drop tanks was lent by sioned until the delivery of the Dassault to supplant the 1,250 Standard F2 Rafales. What is litre variant in use with Flottille p.1/2 p.3/4 even more significant is the fact 12F, considerably boosting that the first three aircraft adapted the off-load capability of the for the in-flight refuelling mission aircraft. It is worth noting that were all modified, at sea, onboard switching from an air-defence the Charles de Gaulle in the Indian configuration to a tanker fit Ocean with minimal assistance takes only about 1 h 30 min. flexibility: the Rafale can keep Flottille 12F AESA from France. Only three Dassault The modified Rafales were up with any strike package since personnel and three Navy spe- engaged operationally over it can match the speed and altitude Afghanistan to support the effort performance of other fighters, THE FIRST RAFALE UNIT against terrorism, co-operating providing great flexibility in plan- with reconnaissance Super ning and executing long-range IS NOW FULLY OPERATIONAL Etendard Modernisés from Flottille missions. 17F. Two Rafales fitted with in- The comprehensive operational test flight refuelling pods were capable programme set up by the French In a ceremony headed by 2004, Flottille 12F was offi- been engaged in combat two of significantly increasing Super Navy has resulted in the Rafale Admiral Jean-Louis Battet, cially granted approval to years ago. In 2002, at the Etendard Modernisés radius of being a mature programme. the French Chief of the Naval conduct offensive and defen- peak of Operation Enduring action. Although there was no Indeed, the omnirole fighter was Staff, Flottille 12F - the first sive missions with its Standard Freedom - the international real airborne threat in the theatre successfully flown in complex air- Rafale unit - was officially F1 Rafales. From then on, the effort against terrorism - in the of operations, the Rafales were defence missions as part of a declared combat ready, a French Navy Rafales became Indian Ocean, Flottille 12F cialists had to be flown to the also utilised to escort the recon- coalition, the latest operations major step forward for the fully capable of carrying out flew operationally and could area. The first aircraft, Rafale naissance jets with their long- over Afghanistan clearly marking Rafale programme. the whole spectrum of air- have fired air-to-air missiles to M6, was modified in only eight range, active radar Mica mis- the beginning of the Rafale’s ope- superiority and air-defence protect the French carrier battle days by this dedicated team. The siles. The ability to carry out rational career. After months of intense ope- missions, either from the group if needed. To this day, rational testing, the Rafale has Charles de Gaulle nuclear car- nearly 5,000 flying hours and now reached full operational rier or from any land base. In 2,000 carrier landings have capability. On Friday 25 June fact, the Rafale could have been recorded by the unit.

A successful process The future is definitively on track :

Flottille 12F, previously flying entry into service was undoub- reliability has been demons- Rafale Standard F3 development contract signed the F-8E(FN) Crusader, was tedly a major success. The fighter trated and the Thales RBE2 radar recommissioned in May 2001, has been operationally tested and the Thales/MBDA Spectra In February 2004, the Délégation Générale pour l’Armement (the French Procurement Agency) and has been a key in severe environments - extreme electronic warfare suite have asset and player for temperatures and high ambient proved extremely successful, announced that the contract to develop the F3 Omnirole Standard for the Rafale had been signed. the tactical evalua- humidity levels - in the Indian allowing the fighter to efficiently Due to enter service in 2008, the Standard F3 will offer new, expanded capabilities for both tion of the new Ocean and the Red Sea, and it perform all the missions it was fighter. This evalua- is fully compliant with the extre- envisioned for. The Snecma M88- French Air Force and French Navy units. New functionalities for the radar include a high-resolu- tion phase is now mely stringent French Navy requi- 2 turbofan is also highly praised tion synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mode. With its high-quality digital images, the New Generation completed, and, rements. According to Flottille by pilots and maintainers alike. from now on, the 12F pilots, the Rafale has already Its thrust, responsiveness, relia- Reconnaissance Pod will offer unmatched capabilities for real-time stand-off reconnaissance. pilots will be able to demonstrated its exceptional bility and maintainability have The new Gerfaut Helmet-Mounted Sight/Display produced by Sagem will also be adopted for devote their time to qualities during numerous enga- set new standards: the excess Standard F3 Rafales, remarkably enhancing the lethality of the agile Mica IR missile. With the advent tactical training. gements against other fighters power available and the imme- Thanks to a remar- such as US Navy F/A-18 Hornets diate power response give the of Standard F3 Rafales, new weapons such as the ASMP-A nuclear missile and the latest variant kable collaboration between and F-14 Tomcats, Royal Saudi aircraft exceptional wave-off of the acclaimed anti-ship missile will find their way into the Rafale’s already impressive the French Navy, the DGA and Air Force F-15 Eagles, and characteristics, a decisive factor all the companies involved in Belgian Air Force F-16 Fighting for demanding carrier opera- armament inventory, thus enhancing the firepower of the new omnirole fighter. the programme, the Rafale’s Falcons. The required level of tions. AESA RADAR TEST FLOWN ON RAFALE Test-flying the DRAA In December 2002, the first (South-West of France). radar architecture. This modi- flight of the AESA system was Subsequently, the DRAA fication was a total success, In April 2002, the DGA, the French defence procurement agency, appointed Thales carried out in a Mystere XX demonstrator was fitted to two- Thales and Dassault engineers seat production being able to complete the to develop an active array radar demonstrator optimised for the Rafale omnirole Rafale B301. “For task in less than three hours! fighter. Called DRAA (Démonstrateur Radar à Antenne Active, or Active Array us, it was essential This is a considerable achie- to prove to our cus- vement that proves impossible Radar Demonstrator), the programme culminated in a series of demanding flight tomers that we could for our competitors who would tests to validate its detection performance. Although the development schedule was easily fit a new array have to completely redesign to the existing RBE2 and rebuild their radar sets to extremely tight, the DRAA met all programme milestones on time. This Active hardware, stresses accommodate an AESA.” Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) demonstrator will pave the way to a produc- Jean-Marc Goujon, The first flight in Rafale B301 tion equipment for the Rafale. Rafale Radar was recorded from Istres in Programme May 2003. During the com- Manager. As such, prehensive flight test pro- one of the main gramme, the fully integrated An extremely fast programme goals of the DRAA Band X DRAA radar success- programme was to fully transmitted, received and Today, the Rafale is the only improved situational awareness significantly greater operational demonstrate that the collected radar data, confir- European fighter fitted with an while observability of the aircraft readiness than previous antenna new array could ming all Thales prediction, a electronic scanning radar. Its will be reduced. Additionally, technologies. easily be fitted to the clear indication that the com- remarkable RBE2 radar is already the introduction of the active array To develop the DRAA, Thales has flying test bed belonging to B301’s current RBE2 electronic pany totally masters AESA in full operational service with paves the way for the develop- taken advantage of its long expe- the French MoD located in the scanning radar without any technology. the French Navy and will soon ment of new radar functions in rience in solid-state technology Flight Test Centre at Cazaux modifications of the whole enter service with the French Air such areas as counter-counter- which dates back to the early 90s Force. It is far more advanced measures. when the Cobra battlefield radar than legacy mechani- was conceived. Since then, cally-steered radars other radar applications DRAAMA towards the serial production AESA RBE2 used by most of the have benefited from solid- For Thales, the next stage of the technology. It is worth noting ting edge radar technology. Rafale’s competitors. state advances, and nume- ongoing development process that all components of the Developed in a record time, Their flexibility and rous surface warships and for the Rafale fighter is the DRAAMA antenna will be built the DRAA radar already proved performance are ground-based defence sys- DRAAMA (Démonstrateur in Europe, a key factor for total that Thales is fully capable of clearly limited by the tems are equipped with Radar à Antenne Active Modes autonomy and independence. meeting stringent requirements complex hydraulic such radar systems. “The Avancés, or Advanced Modes By the end of 2007/early with state-of-the-art solutions. drives associated with first development studies Active Array Radar 2008, DRAAMA development With the AESA, the Rafale moving their radar dish for the airborne AESA array Demonstrator) programme and test flying programme will Omnirole fighter will undoub- around. for the Rafale had been car- which was officially launched have been completed, and tedly become more lethal, more With the adoption of ried out in 1999, explains by the DGA in July 2004. qualification should have been survivable, more reliable and an active antenna, Philippe Ramstein, Thales Optimised to prepare full-scale granted by the DGA. more affordable, key advan- RBE2 radar performance will be The numerous T/R modules also Director for the Rafale Programme. production, the DRAAMA array The advent of the DRAA and tages for operators in search even further increased : detec- virtually eliminate mechanical The RBE2 variant currently in front- will be entirely new and will DRAAMA programmes will of the ultimate fighter. tion and tracking ranges will be breakdowns and reliability has line service is already an elec- benefit from the latest deve- allow engineers to shortly equip significantly improved, angular been dramatically improved tronic scanning radar, and lopments in radar/solid-state production Rafales with cut- coverage will be considerably thanks to an increased redun- changes to adapt the new AESA expanded and reliability will be dancy: a number of modules can array are kept to a strict minimum. boosted to unprecedented levels. fail without affecting overall radar The DRAA fully complies with the The state-of-the-art DRAA active performance. Antenna status can plug-and-play concept, and the array is composed of numerous be established in real-time, and passive and active arrays are solid-state transmit and receive maintenance operations pro- thus totally interchangeable. This GaAs modules. They are used to grammed accordingly, leading clearly facilitates upgrades, so point and move the radar beam to considerably lower operating all French Rafales will have the GIE - Rafale International at an extremely high speed. costs for operators. As a result, capability to be equipped with 78, quai Marcel Dassault 92552 Saint-Cloud cedex 300 - France - Marine Nationale Robineau - Dassault Aviation Photos F.

Aircrews will also benefit from active array technology offers an AESA.” www.dassault-aviation.com 2b - www.snecma.com

www.thalesgroup.com PEMA Dassault Aviation • Snecma • Thales

FRENCH MINISTRY OF DEFENCE ORDERS A FURTHER 59 RAFALE FIGHTERS

The French MoD has recently seaters) plus 12 Rafale M car- announced an order for 59 rier-borne fighters for the French Rafale omnirole fighters, Navy. The order also encom- bringing total orders so far to passes 138 Snecma M88-2 120 aircraft - 82 Rafale B/Cs turbofan engines. for the Armée de l’Air and 38 The 59 fighters will be pro- Rafale Ms for the Marine duced in the latest, fully omni- Nationale - out of 294 role F3 Standard capable of required. Deliveries of these undertaking an extremely wide modular air-to-surface arma- DATA FUSION 59 Rafales will stretch from range of roles: air-defence/air- ments, anti-ship strikes with June 2008 to January 2012, superiority missions with Mica the acclaimed AM39 Exocet with 47 fighters for the French IR and EM air-to-air missiles, sea-skimmer, reconnaissance Air Force (11 Rafale B two- precision attacks with Scalp with the Thales new genera- seaters and 36 Rafale C single- cruise missiles and AASM tion reconnaissance pod, and nuclear deterrence with ASMP- A missiles. Among other improvements, Standard F3 Rafales will be fitted with the Sagem Gerfaut Helmet- Mounted Sight and with an enhanced Thales Spectra self- defence suite. Their Thales RBE2 radar will offer high-res- Photo F. Robineau - Dassault Aviation - Dassault Robineau Photo F. olution cartographic modes

2b - plus a radar terrain-following capability on top of the high- Pema resolution 3D digital database introduced in the F2 Standard variant. RAFALE INTERNATIONAL

While rival late-generation fighters build pilot ergonomics around inherited technologies, Rafale offers a revolutionary man/machine interface designed around the plane’s most vital component: the pilot. The result is the most advanced modular integration of data, communication and ■ control ever engineered into a combat aircraft. Rafale. The OMNIROLE fighter FOXTHREE 3 FRENCH AIR FORCE RAFALE OMNIROLE FIGHTERS ENTER SERVICE

In December 2004, the first three Rafale fighters arrived at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base, in the south-west of France, where they are utilised for initial conversion training and for the Rafale operational evaluation.

CEAM the specifications laid out by five navigators were all expe- the Ministry of Defence, oper- rienced aviators drawn from a ational testing is geared wide range of backgrounds, The whole evaluation phase towards using the aircraft in and some of them had pre- will be conducted at Mont-de- its role as a fighter. As a result, vious Rafale experience with Marsan by the CEAM (Centre the Rafale will be flown in a the French Navy. They started d’Expériences Aériennes wide variety of scenarios flying the Air Force Rafales at Militaires), the French Air Force against various threats. Here, Mont-de-Marsan in December Evaluation Centre. «The CEAM we also handle initial Rafale 2004 and became the first has now begun a rigorous pilot conversion and we cadre of instructors in order series of tests to assess the develop new tactics and pro- to train the following waves Rafale’s performance in all cedures adapted to the air- of front-line aircrews. mission areas, explains craft.» The number of French General Eric Rouzaud, CEAM Air Force Rafale pilots is cur- Commander. Whereas devel- rently rapidly expanding, with French Minister of Defence Flies in a Rafale fighter opment testing conducted by a steady flow of newcomers the integrated test team mainly arriving at Mont-de-Marsan On 24 February 2005, Mrs Michèle Alliot-Marie, the French Minister of Defence, undertook a sortie in two-seat Rafale involves demonstrating that from various Armée de l’Air B304 from Mont-de-Marsan Air Base. The pilot who flew the Minister of Defence, Lieutenant-Colonel François Moussez, the aircraft meets or exceeds bases. The first five pilots and said Mrs Alliot-Marie was ‘totally at ease’ during the 1 h 30 min sortie. The mission included long-range and short-range air-to-air engagements, an in-flight refuelling by a French Air Force C-135FR tanker and some low-level flying during a simulated attack profile with Scalp cruise missiles.

In-depth evaluation Distribution System link 16 year, with Mica IR air-to-air datalink has forced us to devise missiles, Scalp cruise missiles a comprehensive evaluation and AASM air-to-surface arma- The evaluation of the Rafale’s programme, says Lieutenant- ment, all to be tested in realistic robust air-to-air and air-to-sur- Colonel François Moussez, conditions, including jamming. face capabilities will impose the Officer in Charge of the When operational testing is a major effort to the CEAM. Rafale evaluation at Mont-de- complete, the aircraft will be «The advent of the Rafale with Marsan. It is anticipated that, declared fully combat-ready its modern RBE2 electronic- by mid-2006, more than 600 in the air-to-air and air-to-sur- scanning radar, its Front Sector Rafale evaluation sorties will face arenas, and the oper-

Optronics, its advanced elec- have been logged by CEAM ating manuals will be ready tronic warfare suite and its specialists. Numerous firings for the first front-line squadron.» Multifunction Information will be conducted in the coming

4 FOXTHREE FOXTHREE 5 …FRENCH AIR FORCE RAFALE OMNIROLE FIGHTERS ENTER SERVICE

A fully omnirole missiles, their AASM powered of the fighter very soon.» squadron bombs and their Scalp mis- All aircrews agree that the siles. EC 1/7 will eventually be Rafale is a big improvement equipped with 20 Rafales, fif- on existing jets. «Early assess- By early June 2005, six Rafales teen two-seaters and five single- ment has been satisfactory, will have been delivered to seaters. It has already been explains Louis Pena. The man- the CEAM and this number announced that the second machine interface is very intui- will grow to fourteen by the Rafale squadron will be sta- tive and easy to use. The end of the year. «In July 2005, tioned in Saint-Dizier too, whe- reclined seat proves extremely the first Rafale squadron, reas the third will be based in comfortable and g-tolerance is Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Mont-de-Marsan. massively ameliorated. ‘Provence’, will officially reform Endurance is excellent, even at Saint-Dizier, in eastern A superb fighter at low-level where we can fly France, reveals Lieutenant- at 450 knots for 1 h 30 min in Colonel Louis Pena, EC 1/7’s The aircrews at Mont-de- a clean configuration.» The future Deputy Commander. Marsan are all enthusiastic airframe, engines and avio- However, the aircraft and air- about their new aircraft. «So nics suite are also highly crews will remain at Mont-de- far, we are extremely pleased praised. «The fighter proves Marsan until early 2006, when with the first results of the eva- extremely agile and the the first Rafale fighters will luation, stresses General Snecma M88-2 turbofans are relocate to Saint-Dizier. Rouzaud. Obviously, we have very powerful, confirms Currently, the squadron and taken advantage of the Navy’s François Moussez. Engine the operational evaluation unit experience: thanks to the exper- response is instantaneous, a share the aircraft.» tise they have passed on to crucial advantage in a dog- When the first squadron is us, the Rafale’s introduction fight. The Front Sector declared operational, in is all but a step into the unk- Optronics will allow new, inno- September 2006, the aircrews nown for the French Air Force. vative tactics to be devised. will be cleared to carry out a Dassault’s technical support Finally, the RBE2 radar can wide range of missions with is outstanding, and our strong track multiple targets, even their radar-guided (Mica EM) partnership will allow us to when enemy fighters split.» and infrared-guided (Mica IR) fully exploit the capabilities

Rafale squadron facility construction begins Construction of a new high-tech facility for the first Rafale squadron officially began at Saint-Dizier Air Base on 03 February 2005 when General Wolsztynski, the French Chief of the Air Staff, laid the building’s foundation stone. When fully operational, in December 2005, the 12,000 square meter building will be divided into four areas: a hangar large enough to accommodate five fighters, a maintenance / servicing facility, a storage area and an office / mission planning block.

6 FOXTHREE FOXTHREE 7 AIR-DEFENCE MISSION FOR FLOTTILLE 12F

In early 2005, Flottille 12F, the first naval Rafale unit, was tasked to participate in the air-defence of the French airspace. Two Rafales were detached to Lann-Bihoué Naval Air Station, in western France, to replace a pair of French Air Force Mirage 2000-5 fighters. It is highly unusual for Navy aircraft to take part in a traditional Air Force mission, but Armée de l’Air Commanders had requested help from their Navy counterparts to share the burden for a week, as an experiment.

At Lann-Bihoué A very well-suited fighter First Rafale participation in the Tactical Leadership Programme

The detachment was composed of two pilots and seven «The Rafale is ideal for the job, stresses one of the two duty pilots. maintainers/armourers. The two Rafales were each armed It can climb to 40,000 feet in under two minutes and accelerate To further increase its tactical capabilities and ameliorate with two Magic 2 heat-seeking missiles at the wingtips, very rapidly to supersonic speed. More significantly, it can super- aircrew effectiveness, the French Navy decided to send and one of them also had two Mica EM fire-and-forget cruise in dry power, even with four missiles and a belly drop three Rafale fighters to Florennes, in Belgium, to take part radar-guided missiles under the wings. Both were equipped tank. Endurance is excellent too, and we can stay airborne up in the prestigious Tactical Leadership Programme. During with a 1,250 litre fuel tank on the centreline pylon and to two hours with one tank.» The pilots also praise the Rafale’s the exercise, the three aircraft (including one spare) flew with an array of flare and chaff decoys. During the whole advanced man-machine interface which considerably reduces 50.6 flying hours in 28 sorties, recording a remarkable week, the two fighters were cocked and ready to go in just their workload. On average, the fighters were launched once 100% mission availability rate. The Rafales were mainly seven minutes, ready to be vectored off to intercept any a day for training, but two live intercepts were also carried out. used in the escort role, and they usually took off first and threat. At the end of each sortie, the engineers had 30 The participation of Flottille 12F to the French air-defence landed last after two hours airborne without in-flight refu- minutes to turn around the fighter, including ten minutes effort has been so successful that it is expected that the exper- elling, a testimony of their outstanding endurance. Their to fill up the tanks. However, the aircraft was usually oper- iment will be re-conducted in the fall, between two training deploy- weapon system and their self-defence suite proved extremely ational again in 15 minutes, and no major technical problem ments of the Charles de Gaulle’s carrier air group. reliable and impressed all participants. arose during the deployment.

8 FOXTHREE FOXTHREE 9 THE RBE2 AESA: a major asset for the Rafale and a critical component of operational superiority

Designed from the outset to For very low-altitude pene- to the AESA active antenna. deploy an electronically scanned tration missions, the RBE2 uses The transition to electronic radar, the Rafale is equipped electronic scanning tech- scanning technology, which with the RBE2 radar from Thales. nologies to generate a three- in the case of the RBE2 con- In production since 1997, the dimensional ground map cov- cerns transmit and receive RBE2 is the first multi-function ering a wide area forward of technologies only, will pro- electronic scanning radar devel- the aircraft, supporting terrain vide new capabilities and oped for a combat aircraft. With following and manoeuvres in enhance performance, while Enhanced operational effectiveness its advanced electronic scan- the horizontal plane within the at the same time improving ning technologies, the RBE2 area scanned by the radar. reliability and reducing main- In July 2004, the French defence procurement agency (DGA) awarded Thales a contract to develop the second-generation active offers new capabilities, par- In addition, the RBE2 on the tenance costs. The radar electronic scanning antenna (AESA), specially adapted to the RBE2. Development is underway. The first demonstrator met all ticularly in air-to-air, air-to- Rafale F3 standard will offer therefore offers a unique performance objectives and has been flying on the Rafale since April 2003. ground and air-to-surface func- high-resolution ground map- opportunity to capitalise on tions, terrain following and ping modes that are also the know-how gained through terrain avoidance. Most of these unique in Europe. the development of its various The AESA active antenna will increase the modules will have no noticeable effect on new capabilities are beyond To date, the RBE2 is the only functions, which are based, RBE2’s range and the quality of its angular performance. Real-time analysis of antenna the reach of conventional radars. European electronic scanning from the start, on electronic coverage. status can be performed at any time for main- Electronic scanning in both radar equipping a new-gen- scanning technologies. planes makes it possible to eration combat aircraft in oper- Thanks to the RBE2’s scalable In air-to-air mode, longer range makes it tenance scheduling. authorise simultaneous desig- ational service. It has suc- architecture, the upgrade to possible to detect new threats with low radar As a result, the active antenna is much more nation of multiple targets to dif- cessfully completed various the active antenna simply reflectivity (new-generation fighters, stealth reliable from an operational point of view, ferent air-to-air missiles, while assessments and out-of-area involves replacing the tube targets, etc.) at an earlier stage, allowing more thereby guaranteeing higher operational avail- at the same time performing campaigns. transmitter and passive elec- time to process them, and ensures coherence ability of the Rafale. Its simplified maintenance searches in directions com- tronic scanning antenna with with the arrival of future missiles (Meteor, etc.). concept will also contribute to reduced cost pletely independent of the tar- The active around 1,000 active modules. In air-to-ground mode, the higher power budget of ownership. gets tracked. In this respect, the electronic scanning This operation is independent translates into better contrast on synthetic aper- Lastly, the use of active antennas opens up RBE2 marks a radical break antenna (AESA) of other functional develop- ture radar (SAR) images. new possibilities for further development of with all previous-generation ments underway. An active In addition, due to the antenna’s large number radar functions, particularly in areas such as radars. This level of tactical sit- Certain radar functions were module is a transmitter/receiver of active modules and the phenomenon of pro- resistance to countermeasures. uation awareness gives the designed from the outset to be based on solid-state tech- Rafale the ability to counter performed by an electronically nologies (gallium arsenide gressive degradation, failure of some of these enemy tactics with remarkable scanned antenna, and the semiconductors). effectiveness. RBE2 is thus inherently suited Radarology: an antenna is said to be “active” when its radiating surface comprises several tens or hundreds of elementary modules, each performing both transmit and receive functions. These modules are based on solid-state technologies. In other words, they use monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) and not tubes.

12 FOXTHREE FOXTHREE 13 FOCUS ON THE M88 RAFALE FLYING DISPLAY

A state-of-the-art borne and land-based versions way for a higher thrust engine. The Rafale Rafales. «During the tight the Rafale.» During the six- fighter engine of Rafale, the M88-2 has The possibility of developing omnirole fighter display routine, I push the air- minute show, speed will vary already proven its excellent an engine developing 90 kN is regularly dis- craft to its limits to demonstrate from 100 knots for the slow The M88-2 engine powers the performance and dispatch reli- (20,200 lb) of thrust with reheat played at both its outstanding agility pass to 500 knots, roll rate new-generation Rafale multi- ability in service. has been demonstrated. major airshows and the fly-by-wire’s ‘carefree will reach 270 degrees per role fighter. Featuring a redun- around the handling’ feature that won’t second, and g-load will peak dant fully digital control system Snecma has developed a Snecma has delivered 90 world by Eric let the pilot stall the aircraft or at - 2.5 / + 9 g. Airfield per- for exceptional ease of han- new version of the M88-2, the M88-2 engines to date, with the dling, the M88-2 also offers M88-2E4, that offers lower fleet logging over 22,000 Gérard, a pull too much g, he says. The formance is impressive too, a modular design for enhanced fuel consumption and cost of hours in flight. The M88-2E4 Dassault highlight of the display is the with a 500 metre takeoff dis- maintainability, new-genera- ownership, with longer service engines deployed by the French Aviation test Square Dance, a 360 flat turn tance and a 400 metre landing tion materials and other life for the engine’s critical naval air arm and air force pilot credited with over 5,300 with four rolls, a very violent run, even without a brake chute. advanced technologies. The parts. A new demonstrator have posted outstanding flying hours, including 600 in manoeuvre only performed by outstanding performance of engine, dubbed “ECO”, has dispatch reliability. the M88-2 is largely due to its also been developed as part state-of-the-art control system, of an advanced R&D program. A recent flight evaluation with designed to optimize engine It aims to demonstrate the fea- a foreign Air Force spotlighted operation throughout the sibility of reducing the life the excellent performance of flight envelope. The engine is cycle cost (LCC) of the M88-2 the engine, along with the particularly well suited to low- at its current thrust level. A sec- advantages of its innovative altitude penetration and high- ondary aim is to use the tech- maintenance concept. altitude interception missions. nologies developed through Powering both the carrier- the ECO program to pave the At the end of 2004, the French Ministry of Defense placed an order for 59 additional Rafale combat aircraft. For Snecma, this means the production of 118 M88-2 engines as well as the associated spares, for delivery starting in 2007.

14 FOXTHREE FOXTHREE 15 RAFALE INTERNATIONAL FOX THREE DASSAULT AVIATION - SNECMA - THALES N°9

FIRST EXOCET TRIALS

The first stage of the integration in three variants : surface-to-sur- AM 39 Exocet has progres- trials of the combat-proven face (MM38 and MM40), sively been updated, with the AM39 Exocet antiship missile air-to-surface (AM39), or sub- successive improvement has successfully been com- marine-to-surface (SM39). programmes concentrating on pleted by a production Rafale The 1,475 lb (670 kg) air- radar seeker counter-counter- from the Dassault facility in launched missile has a range measure capabilities, thus Istres, the fighter carrying a of between 27 and 38 nautical limiting vulne rability to single AM39 on the centreline miles (50 and 70 km) jamming and decoying while pylon. depending on launch speed increasing lethality. To this date, more than 3300 and altitude, and its 363 lb Flight envelope expansion was Exocet sea-skimming missiles (165 kg) blast fragmentation carried out by Rafale M1, with have been sold to 34 cus- warhead is powerful enough three sorties only being tomers. For increased com- to disable a frigate or a required to validate the normal monality, the Exocet is available destroyer. Over the years, the operating envelope: 600 knots / Mach 0.9 maximum speed, 5.5 g maximum g-load and 4 m/s vertical sink rate for carrier landings. The aircraft and missile combination will be tested at sea onboard the Charles de Gaulle carrier in December 2005. During these trials, the vertical sink rate will be cleared up to 5 m/s. The first separation tests are planned for early 2006. Exocet punch for the Rafale. Rafale : built to last. FOXTHREE 3 FRENCH AIR FORCE RAFALES: FAST FORWARD

Today, Mont-de-Marsan Air Base is a hub of activity as the CEAM (Centre d’Expériences Aériennes Militaires), the French Air Force Evaluation Centre, conducts a rigorous operational evaluation of the Standard F2 Rafale omnirole fighter. The CEAM is currently evaluating the performance of the Rafale and of its weapon system, including the RBE2 electronic scanning radar, the Spectra electronic warfare suite, the Front Sector Optronics, the data fusion system and all the various missiles and precision weapons.

Link 16 and that our experts don’t have vision around the Rafale and Mica IR missiles time to conduct the two phases we can clearly see ‘hostile’ one after the other as it is fighters attacking us from the «In the last few months, the usually the case. However, the sides or from the rear. The Rafale evaluation and the Rafale is a very flexible operational evaluation of the Rafale aircrews conversion aircraft and we have no infrared-guided Mica IR missile training have been carried out difficulties mixing the two has also begun, and the first concurrently, explains General missions.» results are nothing short of Rouzaud, CEAM Commander. All French Air Force Rafales astounding. The Mica IR So far, thirteen crews - each are fitted with the Link 16 missile can be utilised either for composed of one pilot and datalink system and new a dogfight or for a long-range one weapon system operator tactics are already being interception. When used in - have completed their developed to take advantage conjunction with the Link 16, conversion process, nine of of this revolutionary system. we can conduct silent inter- them belonging to EC 1/7 «We regularly work with E-3 ceptions at extreme range, ‘Provence’, the first Rafale AWACSs to test information and we can even shoot Micas fighter squadron. The Rafale exchanges and to validate off-boresight for self-defence is planned to enter operational new tactics, says Colonel with an external target des- service around Summer 2006 Rondel, the CEAM Evaluations ignation, either from another and, for us, the timetable is Manager. With the Link 16, Rafale or from an AWACS.» extremely tight. That means we now have a 360 degree

Maintenance training our exchange programme with The operational evaluation of the French Navy, we have been the omnirole Standard F2 capable of fielding the new Rafales is expected to be As part of the wider conver- type without major problems. thorough enough to allow the sion effort, French Air Force The French Air Force has set up operational release of the type engineers have been busy here the Rafale Formation at Saint-Dizier Air Base next learning how to maintain and Centre which handles all Rafale summer. From 2008 onwards, repair the Rafale. «We have training courses, including the CEAM will switch its attention already trained about 100 those of the Air Force, the to the improved Standard F3 Rafale engineers, which is Navy, the French Flight Test Rafales which will offer quite good considering that Centre, and the industrial part- expanded capabilities in the we have no spare airframe ners. We are also ready to fields of reconnaissance, just for maintainers, stresses accommodate any potential nuclear deterrence and anti-ship General Rouzaud. Thanks to export customers.» strikes

4 FOXTHREE FOXTHREE 5 VIRTUAL REALITY

A new, state-of-the-art Rafale Simulation Centre is being put together by Dassault and Thales to train future Rafale aircrews. Taking advantage of their respective fields of excellence, the two companies have created a new concept of a fully integrated training simulator network. Dassault Aviation and Sogitec are in charge of the global system architecture, the visual system, the network environment, the high-fidelity flight model and the building. Thales Airborne Systems and Thales Services develop the cockpits, the simulator architecture and the weapon system modelisation (RBE2 electronic scanning radar, Front Sector Optronics, Spectra electronic warfare suite). Through its Military Customer Support Division, Dassault Aviation ensures the global management of the programme.

Three Instructor Operating Stations (IOS) manage the four Cockpits

High-fidelity The new full-mission Rafale For increased flexibility, each simulators will be extremely cockpit can be easily recon- The first two Rafale bases, Saint- high-fidelity devices using the figured from one version to Dizier Air Base and Landivisiau real Modular Data Processing another in less than an hour, for Naval Air Station, will each Unit borrowed from the fighter. example from the Air Force to be equipped with a complete As such, they will accurately the Naval variant, or from the Rafale simulation facility, with replicate the performance of single-seat to the two-seat version four cabins at Saint-Dizier and the Standard F2 Rafale omnirole (four cabins can be utilised to two at Landivisiau. If needed, fighter. Pilots will be able to simulate two two-seaters). the two facilities can be coupled practise demanding scenarios, Additionally, the two Rafale in order to simulate complex including interceptions, dog- Simulation Centres will be missions with up to six Rafales fights, precision attacks and equipped with dedicated ‘flown’ simultaneously. The even carrier landings at night. debriefing facilities, allowing two facilities can even be To augment the value of the missions to be replayed to interconnected with off-site training, more than 200 friendly increase experience and simulators in order to conduct or hostile virtual entities enhance training value. real time cooperative training (50 aircraft, 40 missiles, 20 With their new, full-mission, mission with other assets: warships, 20 moving surface reconfigurable, networked aircrews at different locations targets and 100 SAM sites) simulators, the French Armed will then be able to train can be simulated during each Forces will soon get the tool together in the same threat session, allowing extremely they need to train Rafale environment via a high-level complex missions to be aircrews for the future. architecture protocol (HLA) rehearsed. Other innovative The simulator centres will be which ensures that the simu- capabilities such as the voice declared operational at lators can talk to each other control of the virtual friendly Saint-Dizier in April 2007, and share data over the net- aircraft or the use of Night Vision and at Landivisiau in May work. Goggles will be implemented. 2008.

6 FOXTHREE FOXTHREE 7 RAFALE PRODUCTION IS NOW IN FULL SWING With the Rafale fighter, Dassault Aviation has pioneered new design and production methods which are progressively being adopted by the rest of the world, from famous automotive companies to most major aircraft manufacturers. The sweeping changes introduced for the Rafale programme have helped streamline manufacturing techniques in order to reduce both fabrication costs and delays from order to delivery.

Digital revolution for maximum flexibility and graphics.» Today, all major adaptability, they are utilised Dassault Aviation production From the early stages of the to fabricate parts for both plants are already heavily Rafale programme, the the fighters and the Falcon involved in the Rafale widespread use of digital business jets. With the programme. For instance, Seclin, technology for the development se machines, the level of in Northern France, specialises considerably facilitated the production accuracy has been in the fabrication of large elaboration of digital blueprints boosted to unprecedented primary parts. The Rafale’s that were later transferred to levels. This means that parts fuselage is assembled at production plants. For taken from one aircraft will fit Argenteuil, near Paris, from production engineers, the another, without any ad components delivered from advent of the automated justment or modification as Biarritz (in the south-west of conception with the Catia 3D was common practice on France) and from various tool meant that new production previous aircraft. «With the partners’ facilities. The Biarritz methods could be adopted. Rafale, there is no adjustment plant also specialises in Huge investments in new required, such is the quality composite materials. At tooling were made to reduce of the construction, explains Martignas, close to Bordeaux, costs and increase flexibility, Etienne Prévost, Rafale the wings are assembled from the staff undergoing specific Programme Manager. elements coming from Seclin. training to adapt to the new Everybody - from the design Rafale final assembly and accept- techniques. Traditionally, fitters office to the production ance testing is carried out at and riggers were key engineers working in our Bordeaux-Mérignac. It should employees in a Dassault plant. factories - utilises a common, be noted that, from the Now, everything fits perfectly unique digital reference that production people’s point of and complex rigs are not considerably facilitates view, only two Rafale versions required anymore. This is a production. For the time being, exist, the Air Force single-seater real cultural revolution. New, all assembly instructions are being produced by mating up the large, automated production still printed on paper fact sheets forward fuselage of the Naval machines have been introduced but we will eventually switch to single-seater to the rear fuse- in the last few years and, computer instructions with 3D lage of the Air Force two-seater.

10 FOXTHREE FOXTHREE 11 MIDS/LINK 16 ON THE RAFALE

The Rafale new-generation multi-mission combat aircraft now has MIDS/Link 16 capability to ensure full interoperability with the major NATO and allied platforms for joint and/or allied operations.

Link 16 is NATO’s most recent interoperable datalink procedures and protocols are also strictly defined in the NATO On the Rafale, the MIDS-LVT is fully integrated with weapon control centre (ground, surface or air) for the exchange of standard and is defined in STANAG 5516. It is a real-time standard. systems via the aircraft’s databus (1553 and BHV mission-specific information such as flight plans, navigation tactical link for the exchange of digital multi-service data MIDS (Multifunctional Information Distribution System) is high-speed bus). The L16 management function is and refuelling waypoints, guidance to target, engagement across multi-user networks that can comprise several the waveform that supports Link 16 and is itself defined in performed by the aircraft’s mission computer, and the orders, acknowledgements and reports. hundred platforms. STANAG 4175. Located in L band, the MIDS waveform is human-machine interfaces are incorporated with the existing For internal cooperation, MIDS/L16 will be used to exchange L16 is a tri-service datalink (air, land, naval) and supports highly protected (TRANSEC and COMSEC) against jamming cockpit displays. data on the relative positions of aircraft within the patrol, a broad range of operational services, including tactical and intrusion, and enables basic bit rates up to around The Rafale will use Link 16 for air-to-air and air-to-ground/ their statuses, detection data (e.g. one aircraft using its situation awareness, command, control, electronic 100 kilobits per second. surface missions for all mission phases, from alert to landing, radar to provide tracks for other aircraft), coordination warfare, mission execution, anti-surface warfare and Until recently, the relatively big and heavy MIDS terminals and for two main classes of services: external cooperation data and target distribution data. anti-submarine warfare. could only be integrated with large platforms: special-mission (with other participants in the engagement) and internal L16 enables real-time exchange (in the order of seconds) aircraft, surface ships, ground centres, etc. However, the cooperation (within the aircraft’s own patrol). at tactical level. In other words, the information it carries latest generation of the terminal, called MIDS-LVT For external cooperation, the Rafale will automatically is considered valid at the moment it is sent and the moment (low-volume terminal) is smaller and lighter, so MIDS/L16 receive tactical situation information, i.e. the representation it is received via the communication network. The information capabilities can be implemented on smaller aircraft, of its operational environment with the positions of other itself is fully standardised. Messages are structured into including combat aircraft and helicopters. These new players (friendlies, hostiles, neutrals, etc.) in the theatre fields to avoid any possible misinterpretation. Exchange terminals are now in production. of operations. It will also have a direct connection with its …

MIDS = Multifonctional Information Distribution System NCW = Network Centric Warfare

12 FOXTHREE FOXTHREE 13 Link 16 capability gives the Rafale multiple operational advantages:

• First, it enables the aircraft and its crew to receive real-time information automatically: RAFALE : “AN EXTREMELY o broad spectrum of data on the operational environment, mission, etc. STRONG” AIRFRAME o data is extremely reliable and accurate (e.g. on targets — absolute or relative position, route, speed, altitude, etc.) Between 1992 and 1999, a test airframe was used to validate the Rafale’s design o no crew saturation (data is stored, then displayed on request or automatically, structural service life. The fatigue and static tests were based on a demanding flight according to the phase of the mission) spectrum representing expected flight usage, with data drawn from Mirage 2000 o updates (instant or periodic). service experience.

• Second, it gives the aircraft full interoperability: No fewer than 3,000 parameters o with French forces: recorded

- as part of the SCCOA* air command and control system, with its fixed and The Rafale static/fatigue airframe was fully representative of the real Naval version of the deployable components, SDCA** airborne detection and command system aircraft in terms of structural resistance. The test (equivalent of AWACS) and (in the near future) tanker aircraft, Mirage 2000 installation comprised 110 computer-controlled combat aircraft and SAR helicopters operated by the French Air Force actuators and more than 3,000 parameters were recorded simultaneously by 3,000 strain gauges and - the French Navy’s air arm, with the Charles de Gaulle , 50 displacement sensors. The comprehensive test anti-air frigates, carrier-based airborne early warning aircraft (French programme initially concentrated on fatigue trials Hawkeyes) and (in the near future) multi-mission frigates and two aircraft lives - equiv- alent to 2 x 5,000 flying - the Martha system (ground-based air and area defence) and helicopters hours and 2 x 3,500 flights operated by the French Army - were ‘flown’ without sus- taining major damage. The engineers’ attention then switched to the static trials during which the Rafale o with NATO forces, particularly the Air Command & Control System (ACCS) with its was tested up to 185 percent of design limit load fixed and deployable components, airborne early warning (AEW) assets, other before the airframe broke. allied command systems (including combat aircraft) and (in the near future) the Additionally, the static and fatigue strength of some Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system. crucial components was tested separately: windshield, canopy, wing attachments, fuselage main fittings, landing gear, canard foreplanes, engine mounts... The Rafale is one of the first combat aircraft to be equipped with an advanced real-time Additional Finite Elements Computations have and fully interoperable tactical datalink. This new capability will enhance the aircraft’s beeen performed whenever operational effectiveness as part of broader force structures and will enable it to play a needed to demonstrate the critical role in future network-centric warfare operations. strength of components that have not been tested. «Having completed all this * SCCOA: Système de Commandement et de Contrôle des Opérations Aériennes substantiation process, we are fully confident that ** SDCA: Système de Détection et de Commandement Aéroporté the airframe will prove problem-free for well over the planned service life, stresses Philippe Delaage, an aircraft engineer of the Rafale Management Team. Moreover, in-service aircraft are entirely monitored in real-time by a Health and Usage Monitoring System integrated into the mission computer, thus allowing the operator to precisely follow up the actual use of each aircraft through fatigue indexes.» French MoD initial design specifications for the Rafale are 5,000 flying hours/3,000 landings with a severe usage spectrum, but studies have shown that the expected economical life (that is without any major structure component replacement) is 7,000 hours and 5,300 landings.

14 FOXTHREE FOXTHREE 15 Editorial

In the 10th issue of FOX THREE,

the Rafale Team is proud to report on the

French Air Force first operational Rafale

squadron at Saint-Dizier Air Base, on the

final evaluation of the Standard F2 and on

the first flight of a Standard F3 Rafale.

We will conclude with a thrilling look at

Flottille 12F’s international Air Defence

Week, at Landivisiau Naval Air Station.

Enjoy the reading!

The “FOX THREE” Team FIRST FRENCH AIR FORCE RAFALE SQUADRON OPERATIONAL

Escadron de Chasse 1/7 Reaction Alert air-defence mis- base, in southern France, where “Provence”, the first French sion from Mont-de-Marsan air they had deployed. Air Force squadron to operate the Dassault Aviation Rafale omnirole fighter, attained full operational capability at Saint- Dizier Air Base on 27 June Summary 2006, during a ceremony attended by French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, p.3/5 p.9/11 p.12/15 Defence Minister Michèle Alliot- Marie and other senior gov- ernment and Air Force offi- cials. This largely symbolic event took place the day after two of the squadron’s aircraft Saint Dizier Air Base Final evaluation Landivisiau Naval handled their first Quick Air Station SQUADRON OPERATIONAL

Escadron de Chasse 1/7 120 Rafales have been ordered cialise in air-to-air operations “Provence” operated the Jaguar for both services, and 35 have with Flottille 12F, the first French from Saint-Dizier in the ground- been delivered to both the Air Navy Rafale unit which became attack role until June 2005 Force and the Navy. The Air fully operational at Landivisiau when it started its conversion Force order covers a total of Naval Air Station in June 2004. process. By the end of 2006, 82 aircraft (44 single-seaters Standard F2 aircraft are it will be equipped with a total and 38 two-seaters) with an equipped with an improved of 20 Standard F2 Rafales. A additional 38 Rafale Ms – all radar offering air-to-surface second Rafale squadron, this single-seaters - for the Navy. modes, with a Link 16 datalink time tasked with the nuclear Under current plans, production for network-centric operations deterrence / strike role, will is to continue until 2023. with other French and foreign stand up at Saint-Dizier in 2008 assets, with infrared-guided with a further 20 aircraft, In the meantime, the French Mica IR and radar-guided Mica bringing the Air Wing there to Navy has taken delivery of its EM air-to-air missiles, and with full complement. It has now first Standard F2 Rafale, with Scalp long-range cruise mis- been announced that the third a second one to leave the siles as well as AASM fire-and- Rafale squadron will form at Dassault production line before forget modular precision Mont-de-Marsan. In all, the the end of the year. Another weapons. Eventually, the French French Air Force will receive fourteen will enter service in Navy will operate 60 Rafale 234 Rafales, split between 2007 / 2008. They will bolster M single-seaters. Rafale B two-seat and Rafale C the first batch of ten Standard single-seat versions. To date, F1 Rafale M fighters that spe- NEW MILESTONES FOR THE RAFALE TRIALS With the final evaluation of the Standard F2 by the French Flight Test Centre, the first flight of the Standard F3 variant from the Dassault Aviation premises and the recent firing of the first guided AASM missile, the Rafale test programme is moving forward at unprecedented rate. Rigorous evaluation service without any restrictions. a wide range of opponents: Standard F3 of the Exocet anti-ship missile, trials with Exocet missiles will Two aircraft were involved in Mirage 2000-5F fighters, of the ASMP-A nuclear missile, follow soon afterwards. Four From mid-May to early June a series of complex sorties, Crotale surface-to-air missiles In May 2006, two-seater B302, of the Pod Reco NG recon- Rafales, B301, B302, C101 2006, the French Flight Test simulating various mission pro- and the threat generators / the second production Rafale, naissance pod and of various and M02, will take part in the Centre successfully conducted files: deep strikes with Scalp simulators of the multinational was rolled out from the Dassault improvements to the Thales Standard F3 development pro- the final evaluation of the cruise missiles, electronic warfare training Aviation facility, at Istres, after RBE electronic-scanning radar gramme, with 400 test sorties Standard F2 Rafale. Prior to attacks with AASM precision range, in Eastern France. The a short conversion programme and to the Thales Spectra self- to be logged between May the qualification of the Standard weapons, battlefield air inter- French AWACS fleet actively that brought it to full Standard defence suite. 2006 and early 2008. F2 and its official acceptance diction bombings (also with participated in the trial cam- F3 configuration. Under cur- Flight testing of the improved by the Defence Procurement AASMs), and air-to-air engage- paign, and the Rafale aircrews rent plans, Standard F3 Rafales standard started in May 2006, Agency, French Air Force and ments with radar and infrared- routinely utilised their Link 16 will enter service with the French and initially focused on the French Navy test pilots and guided Mica missiles. Severe datalink to exchange data with Air Force and the French Navy radar / digital terrain following engineers flew the variant in electronic warfare environ- both the AWACS and their in 2008. They will offer modes. By October 2006, the a demanding environment to ments were replicated, and wingmen. expanded combat capabili- in-flight testing of the new Pod make sure that it could enter the Rafales were pitted against ties thanks to the introduction Reco NG will have begun, and AASM range of strike missions. Thanks Unit / GPS receiver for day to its modular architecture, it and night attacks with metric The Rafale programme reached offers unmatched destructive precision. a significant milestone on capabilities against soft and For long distance engagements, Wednesday 26 July 2006 when hard targets. Depending on the AASM is equipped with a single-seat Rafale C101 fired the tactical situation, the bolt-on tail unit / range exten- an AASM stand-off weapon required precision to avoid sion kit which comprises a solid off the French Missile Test collateral damage, and the rocket motor and flip-out wings. Centre, in the South-West of importance of the target, the Range exceeds 50 km for a France. The revolutionary Air Force and Naval com- high-altitude release, or 15 km AASM (Armement Air-Sol manders can choose between for a low-level firing. Even more Modulaire, or Modular Air-to- two types of state-of-the-art significant is the capability to Surface Armament) is a low- guidance kits: engage targets at high off-bore- cost, all-weather, fire-and-forget - a combined Inertial Measuring sight angles: with the AASM, weapon optimised for high- Unit / GPS receiver navigation the Rafale does not have to accuracy attacks at long ranges. system for all-weather attacks overfly the target to carry out Designed and produced by with a 10 m class accuracy its attack with deadly accu- Sagem, the AASM can be - a combined Infrared Imager racy, and it can safely remain utilised for an extremely large seeker / Inertial Measuring out of reach.

Test firing 26 July sortie and carried out at low-level over the sea, at the firing. “We wanted to test 1500 feet and 450 knots in The firing was completed off the the AASM in an operational level flight, explained Sylvain French Atlantic Coast and the environment, with represen- Guiraud. The weapon hit the overall trial was under the tative delivery profiles that target with chirurgical preci- responsibility of the Centre will be used by French Air sion. Prior to the attack, the d'Essais en Vol, the French Force and French Navy front- coordinates of the target had Flight Test Centre of the line Rafale squadrons, he said. been transferred to the Rafale Délégation Générale de Our main goal was to test a via the Link 16 datalink. I used L'Armement, the Defence fully functioning instrumented the Rafale’s Front Sector Procurement Agency. The round to make sure that the Optronics system to watch the weapon was of the INU / GPS armament and the aircraft impact in real time. In a combat variant that offers 10 m-class could share targeting data in scenario, the FSO could be precision. Commandant a satisfactory way.” used for battle damage assess- Sylvain Guiraud, a test pilot Rafale C101 took off from ment.” from the French Air Force Cazaux Air Base at 11 h 00 Evaluation Centre, flew the local. “The AASM was fired INTERNATIONAL AIR DEFENCE WEEK

From 03 to 07 July 2006, Flottille 12F, the first French Navy Rafale unit, organised for the Encouraging results and Portuguese F-16s, British Typhoons and Hungarian first time a week-long intensive air defence exercise from its Landivisiau Naval Air Station MiG-29s. We wanted to make sure that every participant would get the best training opportunity: our goal was not home-base, in Brittany, Western France. « From Landivisiau, we routinely train with the For the 2006 edition of the Flottille 12F Air Defence Week, three units and a total of eight aircraft deployed to Landivisiau: to set up a bilateral squadron exchange, but to organise a Super Etendard strike fighters of the French Carrier Air Wing, but in order to be fully - two French Air Force Mirage 2000Cs from Escadron de large-scale multinational exercise with complex scenarios. proficient,air-defence pilots need to regularly train against other air defence assets such Chasse 1/5 ‘Vendée’ This year, only three units responded positively, but this is really encouraging and we will do better next year. » as F/A-18 Hornet, F-16 Fighting Falcon, Mirage 2000 and Typhoon fighters, stresses - four Belgian F-16 MLUs belonging to 349 Fighter Squadron - two Royal Navy Sea King ASaC Mk 7s from 849 Naval With its numerous training areas, Landivisiau Naval Air Station Commander Jérôme Puech, Officer Commanding Flottille 12F. Air Squadron. is perfectly positioned to accommodate such an exercise. But we are rather isolated in Brittany. For instance, for a two-hour sortie, we only have Additionally, Super Etendards from Flottilles 11F and 17F « Our D12, D14 / D15, and D5 / D7 areas are just a few minutes flying time away, continues Commander Puech. 20 to 25 minutes of ‘playtime’ in the TSA 43 area, in Central France, due to the distance took part in the exercise on a daily basis, while Flottille 4F E-2C Hawkeyes and French Air Force E-3F AWACS We can fly at supersonic speeds without any risk of dam- involved. It is not a very effective way to train. There are only two solutions to this problem: were also heavily involved. aging private properties with our ‘bangs’, and we can use either travel to outside bases, or invite other squadrons here and fight in our superb « Flottille 12F Air Defence Week seeks to familiarise air- our flares and chaffs without any restriction. Moreover, our training areas are large enough to simulate long-range training areas. » crews with the employment of advanced air-defence tac- tics, explains Jérôme Puech. We knew we could host a fair engagements, and we can split to accurately replicate tac- number of aircraft at Landivisiau. This is why we invited tics we use with our radar-guided, fire-and-forget Mica quite a large number of French and foreign units: French Mirage missiles. » 2000s, Spanish and Swiss F/A-18s, Belgian, Italian, Dutch Obvious advantage Flottille 12F was declared fully are excellent. In a BVR sce- operational in June 2004, and nario, we always try to engage During their stay, each pilot the Rafale pilots now perfectly at high level and fire our lethal flew several missions every know how to handle their air- Mica missiles at high altitude day and, for all Mirage 2000 craft to quickly win the fight: to give them the longest pos- and F-16 aircrews involved, « we always devise a ‘game sible range. Ideally, we will the exercise was their first plan’ to exploit both the Rafale’s ‘loft’ the radar-guided Micas encounter with the Rafale. fantastic acceleration and its to boost their range before Needless to say, they were all outstanding agility, explains diving down to low level while impressed by the latest Dassault Lieutenant-Commander Pascal simultaneously opening left or fighter. Cassan. Against a F-16, the right. In doing so, we deny the « In a dogfight, using only our Rafale is more powerful in the opponent any opportunity to guns and short range missiles, whole flight envelope, and is fire back. When in the ‘merge’, it is indeed very difficult for a considerably more manoeu- we quickly gain the upper hand Mirage 2000 pilot to win the vrable below 300 knots. against a F-16: with our large day against a Rafale, admits Ideally, after the crossover, I will delta wing and our canard Commandant Jean-Roch Piselli, climb into the sun to force him foreplanes, we have consid- the ‘Boss’ of EC 1/5 to slow down. I will constantly erably more authority in pitch Detachment. Considering the threaten him by pointing the and we can turn more tightly, imposed rules of engagement Rafale’s nose in his direction. the Rafale offering better sus- during the first phase of the That will force him to tighten his tained turn rates than the F-16 exercise, our only real oppor- turn even more, and his speed at low, medium and high levels. tunity was to fire first, just after will wash out very rapidly. On Our Snecma M88-2 turbofans the crossover. Even though the the contrary, the F-16 pilots are so powerful that we often Mirage 2000 is equipped with will do what they can to keep have to reduce power to avoid notoriously effective fly-by- their speed and energy up. » overtaking our prey.» wire controls, it does not offer Numerous ‘beyond visual All participants agreed that the same level of performance range’ (BVR) engagements this first edition of the Flottille in terms of manoeuvrability were simulated during the 12F Air Defence Week was a and engine thrust and week, and the Rafale proved total success. Flottille 12F spe- response. We have to select as deadly in the long-range cialists are already busy full afterburner as soon as the arena as in a dogfight: « I think preparing the 2007 event fight begins while the Rafale that our RBE2 electronic scan- which should attract a larger pilot can throttle back and ning radar is very good, indi- foreign contingent. By July even remain in full dry, mili- cates Lieutenant Le Bars. 2007, the first four Standard tary power: we burn more fuel Against a F-15 or a F-16, two F2 omnirole Rafale fighters and our infrared signature is aircraft types that have enor- will be in service with the unit, significantly higher whereas mous radar cross-sections and they are likely to partici- he can reaccelerate very rap- because of their massive air- pate in the exercise too. idly if needed. » intakes, our detection ranges MICA RF firing data are calculated for missile links which enable very numerous priority targets which long-range multiple firings With its Thales AD4A active can be engaged with MICA with an exceptionally high radar homing head, the MICA BVR / air combat active radar probability kill rate, even RF is fully autonomous after seeker missiles shot in quick against hard manoeuvring launch so that a pilot can either succession. With its electronic enemy fighters. This gives the engage several targets simul- scanning antenna, the Thales Rafale a unique combined taneously or immediately turn RBE2 radar is fully capable of situational awareness and away after a shot, reducing tracking another great number combat capability/efficiency the time spent in a potentially dangerous area or denying the enemy aircraft any firing possibility. Its high impulse Protac motor ensures very long range, and the short propulsion time considerably reduces the likelihood of visual detection. The fighter/missile datalink permits beyond-visual range interceptions with a remarkable probability kill percentage. After launch, the MICA climbs to very high level where its aerodynamic configuration minimises drag and signifi- of targets while updating the while considerably reducing cantly increases range. MICAs via the dedicated, aircrew workload, especially In the Rafale, interception and mid-course, secure, radar-to- in complex tactical situations.

MICA IR that is fully autonomous for interception tactics. cooling. A vertically launched The extremely manoeuvrable In hard manoeuvring combat, naval/land variant of the MICA IR missile has now the MICA IR allows both lock MICA, the VL MICA, is on offer become the Rafale’s standard before launch or lock after for both naval and land short-range IR-guided air-to- launch attacks to be performed. applications. The naval Interception environment, and the trial enhanced tactical flexibility, air missile. Over the years, In the lock after launch mode, configuration comprises a and Combat programme culminated in the and hampers enemy counter- the successive development off-axis shots and even ‘over- varying number of missiles engagement by two MICAs measure selection, both MICA of various generations of the-shoulder’ interceptions can housed in vertically-mounted Produced by MBDA, the fired from one fighter of two seekers also having excellent infrared sensors for the Matra be undertaken if required to containers for ship defence extremely advanced MICA is widely separated targets using counter-countermeasure 530, Magic 1 and Magic 2 defeat an aircraft approaching against saturation attacks. The capable of both beyond visual countermeasures. capabilities. When under a missiles has allowed French from behind. The IR seeker has land version is adapted to a range interceptions and close-up Two variants of the MICA are Rafale's MICA threat, a target specialists to design a highly- many advantages for such truck, and could prove highly dogfights, a crucial advan- now in service with French Air would have difficulties choosing effective passive, dual-band a long range missile. It has efficient to defend high-value tage for air-to-air combat. Force and Navy Rafales: the between two very different imagery IR seeker for the MICA excellent angular resolution static targets such as air bases Thanks to its radar-guided MICA RF (Radio- types of defensive tactics. and countermeasure resist- or refineries. Using either IR vanes and long-cord wings, Frequency) and infrared-guided On the Rafale, the MICA ance - thanks to dual band or active RF seekers, the VL this lightweight (246 lb, 112 MICA IR. The interchangeable missiles are fitted to two imagery - and is totally stealthy: MICA system is claimed to be kg) weapon has excellent range seekers ensure a massive reduc- hardpoints under the sides of when used in conjunction with capable of engaging up to and manoeuvrability, even at tion in direct operating and the rear fuselage, and to wing the Rafale’s revolutionary Front eight different targets spread high angle of attack. This trans- maintenance costs as the pylons and wing-tip points. Sector Optronics system, the over a 360 degree arc in less lates into a very high kill airframes, warheads and The fuselage-mounted MICAs passive homing head enables than 12 seconds. The VL MICA probability against hard turning motors are the same for both can be ejected at up to 4 g ‘silent’ interceptions without and the airborne MICA are targets at very long ranges. variants, the only difference whereas the wing-mounted tell-tale radar emissions to fully interchangeable, helping During the development being the seeker. More missiles can be rail-launched IR. Compared with the other betray the fighter’s position; reduce costs of ownership programme, the MICA has significantly, the availability at up to 9 g. IR-guided missiles, the MICA a clear illustration of the when both variants are been tested in very demanding of two guidance systems offers IR has been fitted with a seeker Rafale's multiple covert purchased by a single country. RAFALE COMBAT PROVEN The Rafale omnirole fighter was engaged in combat for the first time in March 2007 by French Air Force and French Navy aviators.

with a combat load of six A total of six Navy and Air In early October 2006, the French Ministry of Defence was officially launched on 17 November 2006, the Flight testing GBU-12s, three 2000-litre fuel Force Standard F2 Rafales announced an urgent operational requirement for the adop- contract signed with Dassault calling for an entry into tanks, and four Mica air-to-air deployed to Afghanistan, the tion of laser-guided weapons on French Air Force Rafales. service as soon as possible with both the Armée de l’Air and Capitalising on a series of missiles for interception, three Armée de l’Air two-seat The anticipated rise of Taliban activity in Afghanistan in the the Marine Nationale. To cut development time, it had trials already carried out by combat and self-defence. It fighters flying into , spring had led to the decision to fit the Rafale with the 500 been decided not to equip the Rafale with a laser designation Dassault in 2001, the ‘Echo’ took Dassault less than four in Tadzhikistan, on the 12th lbs-class GBU-12 / 22 laser-guided bombs. Standard F2 pod. Instead, the aircrews rely on buddy-lasing, development and test months to deliver the complete of March 2007 while the three Rafales then in service with the Air Force and the Navy the cooperative technique where another fighter holds a laser programme moved forward LGB package to the armed Marine Nationale single-seat were capable of firing Scalp cruise missiles, AASM spot on a target so that it can be struck by weapons dropped very rapidly to comply with forces, including aircraft aircraft had joined the Charles modular stand-off precision weapons and Mica air-to-air from the Rafale. Alternatively, a forward air controller the expected release dates. modifications and armourers de Gaulle’s carrier air group missiles, but it was felt that a GBU-12-class weapon would on the ground - or a suitably trained special forces commando The project was a total suc- training. The Rafale was at Djibouti a few days earlier, prove ideal in Afghanistan where laser designation was - could designate targets for the Rafales. It should be noted, cess, only 15 sorties being declared operational with the bringing the overall number adapted due to stringent rules of engagement. Accordingly, however, that, from early 2009, the Standard F3 Rafales required for the flight laser-guided bombs in early of Rafales in the area to a feasibility study was launched by the Defence Procurement will be fitted with a Damoclès laser designation pod under envelope expansion and the March 2007 after some 15 fifteen, including the nine Agency and Dassault Aviation. In less than a month, Dassault the right forward fuselage . The introduction of weapons-separation test/firing GBU-12s had been dropped by Standard F1 aircraft used for Aviation engineers developed a technical solution to the Damoclès will allow Rafale aircrews to trials which culminated with Navy and Air Force aircrews air-defence and buddy-buddy integrate the GBU-12 and GBU-22 bombs on the Rafale. self-designate targets at extended ranges, both in daytime the qualification live firings, for evaluation and training refuelling missions from the The technical proposal was accepted and the ‘Echo’ project and at night. at Cazaux, in mid-February 2007. Trials were carried out purposes. French Navy flagship. Into combat 2000Ds as a mixed force, problems. On average, about each pair comprising a Rafale 50 sorties are flown each At Dushanbe, Air Force Rafales and a Mirage, explains Colonel month, with each aircraft were usually equipped with François Moussez, French Air logging about 80 flying four GBU-12s and two 2000- Force Rafale Project Officer. hours per month. The initial litre drop tanks only. With no We usually launch two waves maintenance team was perceived air threat, Mica per day, one in the morning, composed of 50 engineers, missiles were not fitted. From and one in the afternoon, with but experience shows that we early May 2007, the 30 mm mission duration varying from will be able to significantly cannon was declared opera- 4 h 30 min to 6 h 30 min. cut down that number soon. tional and, from then on, Overall availability has been All maintenance data is Rafales flew with 125 rounds, excellent since the beginning transmitted back to France via ready to respond to any call for of the deployment, and we a military satellite link for strafing. “The Rafales always have not cancelled any single storage and analysis.” operate with the Mirage mission due to mechanical

A giant leap forward where the number of air-traffic provide fire support to NATO control radars is rather low. ground forces. Since then, the For the French Air Force, the The Rafale’s electronic scanning Rafales have delivered a large introduction of the Rafale over radar is also an essential tool number of weapons in combat Afghanistan represents a major for combat effectiveness, with outstanding precision. capability boost. “Compared allowing tankers and other The Rafale omnirole fighter with the Mirage 2000, the fighters to be detected at very was engaged into combat eight Rafale offers a much longer long ranges.” months only after being range and a much higher The Rafale aircrews did not declared operational by the payload, with up to six GBUs have to wait long to become French Air Force, an achieve- available per aircraft instead combat proven. The first GBU- ment which has attracted a lot of two for the Mirage, stresses 12 firings were carried out by of interest from foreign Colonel Moussez. With its L16 a Navy Rafale on Wednesday observers. Since the beginning datalink, the Rafale easily 28 March 2007 when two of the deployment, the Rafale’s plugs into command and bombs were delivered in availability rate has continu- control networks and tactical support of Dutch troops on the ously been better than 90% data is routinely exchanged ground. The laser illumination and the aircrews did not via datalink with USAF F-15E was provided by a Super experience any difficulty inte- Eagles and US Navy F/A-18 Etendard Modernisé. Two days grating into a complex Hornets. Situational aware- later, an Air Force Rafale command network thanks to ness is significantly improved working in conjunction with a the fighter’s advanced systems by the L16, a crucial advantage Mirage 2000D dropped for and state-of-the-art man- for flight safety in a country the first time a GBU-12 to machine interface. INTO COMBAT WITH THE NAVY

In May 2006, the first Standard F2 Rafale M omnirole fighter was delivered to the French Navy Operational Evaluation Unit, at Mont-de-Marsan, in the South of France. Compared with earlier Standard F1 Rafales in service with Flottille 12F (the first Navy Rafale squadron), the improved Standard F2 offers expanded capabilities thanks to the introduction of the L16 datalink, the Front Sector Optronics, the MICA IR air-to-air missile, the AASM modular air-to-surface armament and the Scalp cruise missile.

Short notice deployment

In December 2006, the Navy Operational Evaluation Unit rement. By early March 2007, the Navy Rafales had been was ordered to get ready for a deployment to the Afghan modified and the fully trained detachment was ready to theatre of operation. At the time, the unit was busy devising deploy to Afghanistan with three aircraft and five pilots. At new tactics and operational procedures to prepare the the time, the Charles de Gaulle nuclear aircraft carrier new version’s entry into front-line service. The OEU’s efforts was already off Djibouti, and the three Standard F2 Rafales immediately switched to the introduction of the GBU-12 had to trap aboard after a seven-hour high-altitude transit laser-guided bomb as part of the urgent operational requi- with the help of French Air Force C-135FR tankers.

Single-seaters

The French Navy Rafale operations over Afghanistan were tically exchanged data with other assets in the area, and a total success, and thirty missions were flown with a 100% our RBE2 electronic scanning radar and our Front Sector dispatch rate, the first GBU-12 firing being recorded on Optronics proved invaluable for flight safety. The FSO was Wednesday 28 March 2007. “On average, mission dura- also very useful to identify at standoff distances which tion was just over five hours, with tanker support provided aircraft in a box was our allocated tanker. The Rafale’s by French Navy Standard F1 Rafales, Royal Air Force excellent bring-back capability was a real bonus, and we Tristars, and US Air Force KC-10s and KC-135s, explains could trap aboard the carrier with four GBU-12s and 1700 the Commanding Officer of the French Navy Operational kg of fuel, which gave us a much improved safety margin Evaluation Unit. We normally flew with four GBU-12s and compared with that of our Super Etendard colleagues.” two 1250-litre drop tanks. With no air threats, no air-to-air The Rafale is now firmly in service with Flottille 12F and the missile was required. Missions were flown in conjunction unit recently passed a significant milestone when the 10000 with Super Etendard strike fighters. Thanks to the Rafale’s flying hour mark was reached. In 2008, the first Standard advanced man-machine interface, we did not experience F3 Rafale M will be delivered to the French Navy and, any difficulty operating in such a complex operational under current plans, the second Naval Rafale squadron environment in a single-seater. With the L16, we automa- will be created in 2009. A BRIGHT FUTURE In late 2006, it was announced that a contract had been signed for the development of an improved variant of the Rafale omnirole fighter.

Damoclès and AESA infrared detector. The intro- ideal for operations with duction of the Damoclès will the Meteor, a long-range As part of the Rafale ‘road allow Rafale pilots to self-desi- interception missile now being map’, French Air Force and gnate targets at substantially tested by MBDA. The AESA French Navy Standard F3 greater ranges and higher radar array will be made up of Rafales will be equipped from altitudes than earlier systems. more than 1,000 trans- early 2009 with the Damoclès Its excellent resolution means mitter/receiver modules so laser designation pod. At the it can also be used for battle that several can fail with no same time, the current inventory damage assessment and stand- significant degradation in acuity. of 250 kg-class GBU-12 and off reconnaissance. It will further contribute to the GBU-22 LGBs will be expanded From 2012, the Rafale’s Rafale’s excellent reliability. with the entry into front line current electronic scanning The RBE2’s open architecture service of the much more RBE2 radar will be fitted with will facilitate upgrading, and powerful, 1000 kg-class GBU- a new generation Active the new AESA array is totally 24. Electronic Scanning Array ‘plug and play’, switching from Produced by Thales, the which will offer increased the passive to the active array Damoclès is a state-of-the-art detection range and better configuration taking less than targeting pod fitted with a 3rd angular coverage in azimuth. two weeks. generation staring array The Thales AESA will prove

FSO-IT and MWS-NG NATO exercises (Tiger Meet and warning capabilities and Tactical Leadership thanks to a lower false alarm Improvements will not be limited Programme) and recent combat rate and to an increased to the radar, however, and operations over Afghanistan, detection range. As a result, the new variants of the Front Sector providing Rafale aircrews with survivability of the Rafale will Optronics and of the Missile unprecedented situational be further boosted. Warning System will be intro- awareness. The new variant With the adoption of cutting duced in 2012. will offer outstanding perfor- edge technology, the Rafale FSO-IT (Front Sector Optronics- mance levels and will contribute will become more lethal, more Improved Technolgies) is a to an even better understanding survivable, more reliable and further step of the current FSO of the tactical situation. more affordable, and French with which pilots are able to The MWS-NG (Missile Air Force and French Navy covertly detect targets at very Warning System-New aviators will be well armed long ranges and to identify Generation) will benefit from and prepared to face future them at stand-off distances. the introduction of new threats. The FSO has already proved technologies which will signi- its worth during numerous ficantly ameliorate its detection Editorial

In the 12th issueofFox Free, OMNIROLE SQUADRON

Now equipped with its full complement of15Standard F2 Rafaleomnirole The Rafale Teamis proud toannounce fighters, Flottille 12F can carry out an extremely large range of combat missions, fromland orfromthe deck of an aircraft-carrier:air-defence, sweep, escort,close-air-support, battlefield ,anti-ship attacks with that, Rafaleomnirole fighters have precisionweapons… Ontop oftheir internal 30M791 30 mm cannon,Standard F2 Rafales canbearmed with radar and infrared-guidedMica EM/IR air-to-air missiles, Scalp cruise missiles, GBU-12 laser-guidedbombsand AASM participatedintwo major exercises in (Air-to-Surface ModularArmament) low-cost,all-weather, fire-and-forget weapons. In 2007, five FrenchNavy Standard F2 Rafales wereengagedin theUSA. FrenchNavy and French Air combat operationsoverAfghanistan with GBU-12s. They successfully supportedtroops in contact and firedtheir bombs with deadly accuracy.

Forces Rafasulesccessfully tookp art TowardsStandard F3 n a i ssan ce p o d ,ofthe waters to powerprojection in Joint TaskForce EXercise and in Red Damocles laser-designation o v e rla nd,and fro m a ir Fromlate 2008, the unit will pod and oftheacclaimed superiority/air-defence to start usingoperationally AM39 Exocetmissile. With nucleardeterrence. Under Flag, attractingalot offavourable improved Standard F3 Rafales Standard F3 Rafales, Flottille current plans, a second naval which will offer expanded 1 2 Fwillbecap a bleof squadron, Flottille 11F, will capabilities thanks to the carryingout the full spectrum start converting fromtheSuper comments fromusers, foreignpartici- introduction ofthe ASMP-A o f aer o -ma ritime fig hte r Etendard to theStandard F3 nuclearmissile, ofthe Pod missi o n s, fro m a nti-s hip Rafale in 2012. Reco NGstand-off recon- attacks in coastal and blue pantsand outsiders.

The “FOX THREE”Team

Summary

p.3/5 p.4/5 p.8-11

Omnirol Squadron Full scale deployment Fully interoperable FULL SCALE DEPLOYMENT

As part ofitscontinuationtraining programme, the FrenchNavy sent six Rafale omnirole fightersand twoE-2C early warningaircraft to the USAto participate in Joint TaskForce EXercise (JTFEX) 2008-4, a majortrainingeffort involving more than 30 warshipsand 15,000 military personnelfromfour countries.

Keepingskillssharp w e r e willing t o t estthe ir Truman, furtherdemonstrating interoperability and validate interoperability. In February With the Charles deGaulle in common operating procedures. 2008, we weregiventhegreen refit for a nuclearreactor “The purpose ofthe deployment light by USauthorities forthe refuellingand complex over- was to demonstrateour ability deployment onboard USS haul, it was decidedbythe to integrate with US Forces, Theodore Roosevelt, and we FrenchNavy to deploythe explained Captain Patrick startedplanning theexercise. Rafales and the Hawkeyes to Z immermann, the Fre n ch The Aéronavalecontingent the USAto maintain skills in Carrier Air Group Commander. was composed of six Rafales, carrier operations. We hadnotbeenidle while two Hawkeyes and officers, Traditionally, the French and the Charles deGaulle was in NCOs and sailors fromFlottilles US Navies havealwaysclosely dry-dock, however,and we 4F and 12F, the Charles de cooperated,and French and have usedthat timeframe to Gaulle’s carrierdeck crew and US decisionmakers were keen regenerateour carrier air group the French CarrierAirGroup to bolsterthiscooperation even and to train new pilots. In missionplanningcell.” further.Cross deck operations mid-2007,and again in May hadbeen carried out beforeon 2008, Rafales and French numerous occasions, but not on Hawkeyes trapped onboard a large scale, and both navies USS Enterprise and USS Harry

Across the Atlantic accommodated atNavalAir Station(NAS) Oceana, in On 26 June 2008, six Flottille Virginia. Numerous training 12F Standard F2 Rafales left missions were flown fromthere their homebase in Landivisiau with,or against, locally-based tocross the Atlantic via Lajes, US jets. Forthe whole dura- in the Azores archipelago. tion oftheexercise, at Oceana The Rafales wereaccompanied and onboard USS Roosevelt, by two Fre n c h Air Fo r ce VFA-3 1‘To m catte r s ’ , C-135FR tankersand all ground a F/A-18E Supe rHo rne t personnel,spares and ground squadron, was the hosting unit support equipment werecar- forFlottille 12F. Forthe French riedbyanArmée de l’Air trans- fighterpilots, training with port aircraft and a hired civilian their UScounterparts was an airliner. excellent opportunity to test During the firsttwo weeksofthe n e wtactics and to v e rify deployment, the Rafales were interoperability. FULLY INTEROPERABLE

During their deployment in the USA, FrenchNavy Rafales seamlessly integrated with USand foreignforces involvedinJoint TaskForce EXercise (JTFEX) 2008-4. They participatedindemandingcombattraining missions, simulatingattacksof ground targets with precisionweapons, and performing mock air-to-air engagementsatlong and close ranges.

Onboard USS Roosevelt

Forthe French contingent, theexercise culminatedwith sionplanning, briefings and debriefings, they shared a the deployment offive Rafales for five daysonboard USS ready-room with VFA-31 aircrews. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). Priortoembarkingonthe During the tacticaltraining phase ofJTFEX 2008-4, French carrier, Flottille 12Fpilots performedfour simulatedfield and US naval aviators tookpart in operationsspanning decklandings each(two in daytimeand twoatnight) atNAS the USeast coast, fromVirginia to Florida. Most sorties Oceanaor atnearby Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress. were flown in the W-12/W-122 trainingareas off the east ExperiencedUS LandingSignal Officers (LSOs)were asses- coast,and overtheBT-11 and Navy DareCounty training sing the performance and safety levelsofthe FrenchNavy ranges, in North Carolina. Other strike missions were aviators beforeallowing themto trap onboard thecarrier. flown as far as Florida, with tanker support fromUS Forces. On 19 July 2008, the firstRafalecarrierlanding was Both low-level and medium/high-levelprofiles were flown recorded onboard USS Roosevelt. The firsttwo daysonboard by Flottille 12F aircrews. “We took advantage of our the US vesselwere dedicatedtoCarrierQualifications deployment to the USAto train section and divisionleads, and every pilothadto log ten ‘traps’,six in daytimeand explained Commander‘Tom’ Valette, Flottille 12F four atnight, in orderto become fully qualified again.On CommandingOfficer. The wholespectrum of combat the very firstday, four pilotsgainedtheir day and night missions was simulated, from self-escort strike toclose air carrierqualifications, with theotherfour the following day, support,and frombasic fightermanoeuvring toair-defence. an achievement made possible by both thesuperb handling For strikeor close air support scenarios, wesimulated qualities ofthe Rafale in thecircuit,and thesize ofthe US attacks with loadsof six AASM stand-off, fire-and-forget carrierwhich allowed simultaneous launch and recovery modular air-to-surface armaments, or six GBU-12 laser- offighters. guidedbombs, plusafull-up air-to-air load ofMica radar Once fully qualified, Frenchpilotsswitchedtocomplex, and infrared-guidedmissiles. Onmostmissions, we hadUS multinational combattrainingscenarios. They operated Navy adversary units in OceanaorUS Air Force fighters as part ofthe Roosevelt’sCarrierAirWing (CVW-8),and trying tooppose our ingress. Thatwas very realistic training flew combinedmissions with US Navy F/A-18C Hornets, in a different environment forus.” F/A-18E/F SuperHornetsand EA-6B Prowlers. Formis- All-round compatibility buddy-buddy refuelling pods. operationtaking less than one The Charles deGaulle is fitted minute tocomplete. All Rafales Interoperability extendedto with catapultsand arresting were usually launchedbythe securecommunications network gears which are very similarto samecatapult in ordernotto as the Rafale isequipped with those ofUScarriers. The design disrupt the launch-cycleofUSN NATO-standard radios. In-flight ofthecatapult shuttle usedto aircraft. ‘Hotrefuellings’with refuellings did notpose any attachthe Frenchfighter’s launch- theSnecma M88-2 turbofans problem either,and French barisslightly different fromthat running werecarried out during Rafales tookfuelfromUS Air in service with USaircraft, the deployment too, further Force KC-135 and KC-10 however, whichmeant thatUS demonstrating the Rafale’s tankers, Omega Boeing 707s shuttles hadtogive wayto French interoperability with USsupport and US Navy Hornetsand Super ones whenever a Rafale was equipment. Hornetfightersequippedwith due to becatapulted, the

Total success Air Force. ForFlottille 12F, month with very good avail- JTFEX 2008-4 was an out- ability and reliability rates. In five days, Flottille 12FRafales standingsuccess and the unit Thisexercise has proved,once logged153 carrierlandings, demonstrated,on a large scale, again, thatthe Rafale isafully including57 atnight. The last thatitcould routinely and safely mature fighterwhichhas no Rafale was catapultedfrom operate from a UScarrier, far difficulty blending intoa the Roosevelt on 23 July,and fromits traditional support US-led coalitiontype force thesquadron continuedthe infrastructure. French and US and, with the Charles deGaulle exercise fromNAS Oceana. pilotsare looking forward to due to be fully operational In early August, thesix Rafales other, intensivecross deck again from early 2009, the flew across the Atlantic back exercises in the near future. Flottille will find itself back to Landivisiau, again with In all, thesix aircraft logged intoaction soon. tanker support fromthe French 480 flying hours in just over a

Link 16 proves invaluable. For each Flottille 12F aircrews rose above JTFEX training mission, the the ‘fog ofwar’ and all hostiles Forthe FrenchNavy,oneof Rafales ‘plugged’ into the US and friendlies wereclearly the main goalsofJTFEX was Navy Link 16 datalink network identified,allowing French to demonstrate thatits Rafales prio rto t a kingoff.On ce pilots toeitherdodge or engage were fully interoperable with US airborne, they sharedtactical the threat, dependingonthe fighters. Aéronavale Rafales data with US fightersand with tactical situation. Thanks to the havealready participatedin French, US, and BritishAWACs, L16 datalink, tactical control comba t o p e r a tio n sov e r Hawkeyes and Sea Kings. was both easier and quicker, Afghanistan and they are more Asaresult, thesituational and the Rafales wereable to thanlikely to deployto the awareness of all Rafale pilots prosecute their time-critical Indian Ocean again in the next was massively ameliorated, targets moreeffectively and fewmonths, so every oppor- and overall combat efficiency more rapidly. tunity to train with US assets was significantly increased: M88: MORE THRUST THAN ENOUGH Snecma (a Group company) is currently working on a more powerful variant of the acclaimed M88-2 turbofan, a state-of-the-art engine which powers the Rafale omnirole fighter. High level of incorporates advanced Engine Control) which allows performance technologies such as integrally- it to accelerate from idle to full bladed compressor disks, afterburner in less than three The Rafale was conceived as a swing-role fighter capable an extremely low fuel consumption in all flight regimes, To provide the required amount called ‘blisks’, low-pollution seconds. Thanks to the FADEC, of carrying out an extremely wide range of missions. As a and a very long life, explains Michel Caunes, Snecma of thrust while keeping fuel combustor, single-crystal the M88-2 engines give the result, the M88 engine had to comply with stringent require- M88 programme Director. As of October 2009, 75 production consumption within given limits, high-pressure turbine blades, Rafale stunning performance: ceramic coatings, revolutionary carefree engine handling allows ments: it had to be compact and was designed to excel at Rafales powered by M88 engines had been delivered and Snecma engineers had to come up with innovative solutions to powder metallurgy disks, and the throttle to be slammed from low and high levels. Moreover, engine response to pilot throttle development and production engines had logged more ensure that performance levels composite materials. combat power to idle and back movements had to be instantaneous. “The M88 is an inno- than 100,000 functioning hours.” complied with the extremely Additionally, the M88 has been to combat power again vative powerplant with a very high thrust to weight ratio, demanding French power and optimised so that its small anywhere in the flight durability requirements. infrared signature does not envelope. The compressor Consequently, the M88-2 compromise the Rafale’s overall utilises a three stage low IR signature, and its non-pol- pressure fan, and a six stage luting, smoke-free emissions high pressure compressor. Peak make the aircraft more difficult engine temperature is 1,850 K to detect visually than older (1,577 °C) with a pressure designs. ratio of 24.5:1, and, at max- The M88-2 powerplant is rated imum dry power, specific fuel at 10,971 lb dry and 16,620 consumption is in the order of lb with afterburner. It is equipped 0.8 kg/daN.h, increasing to with a fully-redundant Snecma 1.7 kg/daN.h with afterburner. FADEC (Full Authority Digital

Modular engine is the only engine of its kind cure any dedicated test bench that can be returned to service for the M88. Since entering Reducing the costs of owner- after changing modules without service, the M88-2 has under- ship and improving perform- requiring a new ground accept- gone a number of improve- ance have always been ance test – all what it needs is ments and M88-2 Stage 4 obvious targets for Snecma a simple leak test. As a direct engines are currently being and the M88 has been consequence, the French Air delivered. designed to achieve the Force has decided not to pro- optimum combination of oper- ational readiness and relia- bility. To facilitate rapid repair and maintenance in harsh con- ditions and minimise spares holdings, the engine is divided into 21 modules, inter- changeable without a need for balancing and re-calibra- tion. Some of these modules can even be changed without taking the engine out of the Rafale airframe, and a M88 can be removed and replaced in under an hour. Even more sig- nificant is the fact that, after maintenance, there is no need to check the turbofan in a test bench before it is installed back on the aircraft. The M88 M88: MORE THRUST THAN ENOUGH

M88 ECO and TCO ponents to diminish operating compressor and the high-pres- technology programs costs. In all, more than 4,000 sure turbine of the M88-2: Total Accumulated Cycles cooling is ameliorated and The M88 was designed as a (TACs) were logged by the test stronger components have totally modular engine with a engine during endurance trials. been introduced, boosting lot of built-in growth potential. The engine was also rated up durability by up to 50%. Life In the last couple of years, to 20,000 pounds of thrust to expectancy between overhaul Snecma has been extremely demonstrate that this level of has been considerably active, testing new hardware power could be achieved with expanded for a number of to increase engine life, reduce a limited amount of modifi- modules, helping further mini- costs and demonstrate that cations. mise the impact of planned higher thrust levels could be Launched in 2008, the M88 maintenance on engine avai- achieved. TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) lability. The First Engine To Test From 2003 to 2007, during programme was initiated to (FETT) ran for the first time in the M88 ECO programme, further improve engine dura- September 2009 and the first Snecma engineers tested new bility and bring support costs TCO pack for M88 engines technologies to demonstrate down. Capitalising on the ECO will be delivered to the French that they could increase even project, Snecma was able to Armed Forces in 2011. further the life of some com- upgrade the high-pressure

Uprated engine Caunes. The successive M88 fully interchangeable, but the ECO and TCO technology introduction of the new type For Air Arms requiring more programs allow us to pro- will impose the adoption of power for enhanced combat gressively reduce risks and slightly enlarged air-intakes agility and improved perfor- limit associated costs. We have to allow for the higher airflow.” mance in very hot weather, managed to retain a very high With the new uprated engine, Snecma is considering the degree of commonality the Rafale omnirole fighter will development of a variant of between the M88-2 TCO and prove even more competitive the M88 which will be rated at the uprated engine. Compared in terms of thrust-to-weight ratio 20,000 lb with afterburner. with the M88-2 TCO, the at combat weight. The fighter The staged approach has had uprated turbofan will require will be able to take off at a very good impact on less than 20% new parts, maximum weight in a very commonality between variants: including a redesigned low- short distance, even in the most “since the M88 programme pressure compressor for a demanding weather condi- was launched, one of our higher airflow. In fact, we will tions, at high altitude, in the objectives was to regularly have to alter only two of the heat of the desert. Climb rate, introduce new technologies 21 modules. This is quite an acceleration, sustained turn that could reduce the engine’s achievement which will enable rate will all be massively operating costs, increase its us to keep costs within improved, bringing the Rafale’s dispatch reliability and increase acceptable limits. The M88-2 combat effectiveness to its thrust, explains Michel and the new engine will remain unprecedented levels. NOWHERE TO HIDE

For the Rafale omnirole fighter, Thales has considerably more than 50% and the radar can look in many -SENSOR provided the most advanced sensors and MULTI directions at the same time, offering significantly enhanced integrated avionics suite ever designed for tracking capabilities. Angular coverage in azimuth is improved and very small targets with lower radar cross section such as a combat aircraft. It comprises the RBE2 cruise missiles could also be detected. Furthermore, AESA electronic scanning radar, the Front Sector radars are inherently more reliable and cheaper to main- Optronics, the Spectra electronic warfare tain.” suite, the Damocles targeting pod and The AESA demonstrator first flew in 2002 and, since then, hundreds of flight hours have been logged to support the the AREOS(1) reconnaissance system, development effort. On top of that, the AESA has been suc- all supplied by Thales. cessfully evaluated by a number of potential customers. A European production line for T/R modules has been set up and, at the time of writing, six development AESAs had been delivered and three pre-series AESAs were in production, with All the Rafale’s sensors are closely integrated and all data first deliveries to Dassault Aviation planned for 2011. is automatically fused to massively reduce pilot workload and significantly increase tactical effectiveness. “Our goal was to avoid saturating the pilot, explains Jean-Noël Stock, Passive interception Thales Rafale Programme Director. This smart data fusion signi- ficantly increases mission success rates through enhanced The Rafale is the only fighter equipped with an integrated before attacking with precision weapons such as the AASM system optimised for target identification and battle damage (Air-to-Surface Modular Armament) or LGBs (Laser Guided crew awareness and improved aircraft survivability. This is FUSION DATA assessment at stand-off distances. The Front Sector Optronics Bombs). A new generation infrared sensor for passive search a crucial advantage over our competitors.” is composed of a powerful TV sensor to identify targets and and track of airborne targets and for night identification to determine the number of hostile aircraft within an incoming could be integrated into the FSO at a later stage. Such an raid, and of an eyesafe laser rangefinder for telemetry. infrared sensor operating in the 8 to 12 μm band has been When used in conjunction with the long range Mica IR mis- fielded in the French Air Force F2 Standard Rafales, and an sile, the FSO allows entirely passive interceptions to be car- updated variant working in the 3 to 5 μm band is being AESA(2) ried out without radar emissions. In the air-to-ground mode, studied for the future growth of the FSO. The FSO has been the FSO is used to accurately determine target coordinates in service since 2005 and is now combat proven. From the outset, the French Armed Forces have adopted an innovative electronic scanning radar for the Rafale fighter. Electronic scanning radars have numerous advantages over legacy mechanically steered types: they scan the sky much more quickly, they allow targets to be tracked outside the selected search volume and their radar modes can be interleaved. The first Rafales were all fitted with a passive antenna and Thales and the French Military are now switching to active electronic scanning array technology. “In the late nineties, we thought there were some risks involved going straight to the AESA and this is why we chose the PESA(3) for the first Rafale standards, stresses Jean-Noël Stock. The active array is made up of solid-state GaAs transmit/receive modules which can steer and reposition the radar beam at very high speed in any direction. The new radar variant also incorporates a new data processing unit and a streng- thened structure to cope with the higher weight of the AESA. In terms of performance, detection range is increased by NOWHERE TO HIDE

SPECTRA Damocles

The Spectra(4) multi-spectral, totally integrated electronic gives outstanding detection and omni-directional jamming In modern warfare, the ability to detect, localise, identify short/medium-range air-defence systems. warfare suite is designed to ensure efficient electroma- performance through active antennas, optimising the and engage ground targets at stand-off distances is a real In mid-2009, the French MoD issued a contract for the gnetic detection, laser warning, missile approach war- response to match the threat, even in a multi-threat environment. necessity. This is why the Rafale is now being fitted with the Mastrid (Multi-context Airborne System for Target Recognition ning using passive IR detection technology, jamming and The location and types of systems detected by Spectra can Thales Damocles targeting pod. The new infrared (3rd and IDentification) demonstrator to ensure that new capa- chaff/flare dispensing. Three-dimension direction-finding be recorded for later analysis, giving Rafale operators a generation staring array detector) and laser technologies bilities will be available for the Damocles XF (eXtended accuracy is excellent, and the time taken for signal iden- substantial built-in ELINT capability. chosen for the Damocles provide extended detection and Features) from 2012. With the Mastrid project, a new high- tification is extremely short. Its very high processing power recognition ranges, permitting laser-guided armament to definition TV sensor optimised for short-range engagement be delivered at substantially greater ranges from higher alti- and a new software to boost the resolution of the IR sensor tudes, considerably reducing the aircraft’s vulnerability to will be developed and test flown. AREOS

For both strategic and tactical reconnaissance missions, the French Armed Forces have adopted the Thales System Reco NG (new generation tactical reconnaissance system) for the Rafale. “This high-tech, day and night equipment can be used in a wide range of scenarios, from stand-off distances at very high altitude down to very high speed and extremely low-level, enthuses Jean-Noël Stock. To shorten the intelligence gathering cycle and accelerate the tempo of operation, the pod is fitted with a datalink which allows high resolution images to be transmitted back to the military deciders in real time.” Since July 2009, the System Reco NG has been undergoing qualification testing / operational evaluation at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base, with entry into service planned for early 2010. This very advanced system is now offered on the export market under the AREOS designation.

(1) AREOS: Airborne REconnaissance and Observation System With such a large suite of advanced sensors and a direct ments to its sensor suite will further increase the combat (2) AESA: Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar access to datalink networks, the Rafale is a key contributor effectiveness of an already revolutionary aircraft (3) PESA: Passive Electronically Scanned Array Radar to the common tactical air picture. The ongoing improve- (4) SPECTRA: Self-Protection Equipment Countering Threats of Rafale Aircraft GLOBAL REACH With its outstanding endurance, its in-flight refuelling capability and its very long-range stand-off weapons, the Rafale omnirole fighter is extremely well equipped to strike distant, well-defended, deeply buried hardened targets.

The Rafale has been designed as a very compact, high-tech fighter capable of carrying a huge external load of fuel tanks and missiles. In fact, it can carry more than 15,000 kg of kerosene and weapons, quite an accomplishmentor an aircraft weighing less than 10 tonnes empty.

Scalp tanks. The Scalp can be compare the actual scene with released at very low level, the memorised scene, identify For long-range attacks of high- with the Rafale flying in the designated target, and value, heavily defended tar- terrain-following mode to avoid accurately select the impact gets, the French Armed Forces detection. With its fuel-effi- point in order to hit with very have selected the Scalp cruise cient Microturbo engine, this high precision. To maximise missile of the MBDA Scalp / ‘intelligent’, stealth weapon its military effect, the Scalp is Apache / / can navigate autonomously fitted with a remarkably Black Shaheen family. The at high subsonic speed towards powerful Broach tandem Rafale’s normal combat load the target which will be clearly warhead which can defeat is composed of two Scalps, identified by its onboard heavily protected bunkers. four Mica air-to-air missiles infrared sensor: automatic and three 2,000-litre drop target recognition algorithms

Buddy-buddy tankers

With their 4,700 kg of internal fuel, single-seat Rafales boast an impressive range which can be massively extended by up to five external drop tanks (three 2,000-litre and two 1,250-litre fuel tanks) under five wet hardpoints, four under the wings and one under the fuse- lage. Range can be further increased thanks to air-to-air refuelling and the Rafale can refuel from a wide range of tankers: A330 MRTT, Boeing 707, Il-78 Midas, KC-135, KC-130, VC-10… It can also be fitted with a buddy-buddy refuelling pod under the centreline pylon, and French Navy Rafales routinely refill the tanks of other Rafales and GLOBAL REACH

of Super Etendard fighters, extending their reach from the Charles de Gaulle carrier. Buddy-buddy tankers could also prove really useful in a high threat environment, their six Mica air-to-air missiles giving them considerable firepower for self-defence (and even to escort a strike package).

Combat-proven AASM clinical precision. Designed very low levels, and its powerful by Sagem, the AASM is com- controls allow it to manoeuvre For simultaneous attacks of posed of a GPS / INS / IR aggressively to engage dis- multiple targets, the Rafale imager guidance kit at the tant, off-boresight targets. Up can ripple fire up to six AASM front, a bomb body (general to six AASMs can be carried (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire, purpose or penetration) in the by a single Rafale, plus four Modular, Air-to-Surface centre, and a rocket motor at Mica air-to-air missiles and Armament) stand-off precision the rear. The extremely three 2,000-litre drop tanks. weapons in one pass to strike advanced AASM can be six different impact points with released from very high or

Méteor

For air-defence / air-superiority missions, the Rafale is already equipped with the outstanding Mica air-to-air missile capable of performing both short-range dogfight combats and long-range interceptions. For engagements at even longer distances, the Rafale will soon be armed with the MBDA will offer a no-escape zone as part of 2010 defence Meteor air-to-air missile. The several times greater than procurement budget. new, ramjet-propelled Meteor that of today’s missiles. This On top of the Scalp, the AASM, extremely fast missile - Mach the Mica IR/RF, the Meteor 4+ - is designed to retain and its internal 30 mm gun, sufficient energy at end game the Rafale is cleared to carry to defeat hard manoeuvring the AM39 Exocet antiship mis- targets. When fitted to the sile and the GBU-12/22/24 Rafale, the new Meteor laser guided bombs, and the missile will create a formidable French Armed Forces are combination of weapon/ seriously considering the adop- sensor/airframe. The French tion of rockets in the near future. Ministry of Defence has recently With such a wide range of reaffirmed its support to the weapons, the Rafale has now programme, and it has been become the most powerful officially announced that a strike fighter ever designed, first batch of 200 Meteors a tool that will deter aggression. will be ordered for the Rafale RAFALE KICKS THE DOOR DOWN

Destroying enemy operating base on the island of far mostly been fired against RAFALE KICKS THE DOOR DOWN Corsica. The Rafale’s low logistical high-value and well-defended air-defences footprint was a decisive advanta- military targets, such as ammuni- The Rafale has proved, in action, that it is the best all-round fighter in service ge for the move from Saint-Dizier tion dumps, air-defence systems anywhere. Operating from air bases in Corsica and Sicily and from the Charles Such was the confidence of the to Solenzara, the large number and hardened shelters. Opera- French aircrews in their new of Transall and Hercules airlifters tion Harmattan is the first time de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft-carrier, the omnirole fighter has managed mount that all missions were being mainly needed to transport the Rafale has used the Damoclès to bring down enemy air-defences and, more importantly, protect civilian conducted without any support the huge amount of ammunition re- laser designation pod ‘in anger’. populations. from dedicated electronic warfare quired for the combat operations. The pod is indifferently fitted to and SEAD (Suppression of Enemy For air-to-ground missions, the aircraft armed with the GBU-12 Air Defences) assets: thanks to its Rafales are equipped with either or the AASM and is used for Spectra state-of-the-art electronic four to six GBU-12 Paveway 2 target identification at long dis- warfare/self-defence suite, the laser-guided bombs or four to six tances, for the guidance of GBU- Rafale was able to operate at AASM precision weapons, plus a 12s or to determine the precise

On 19 March 2011, French contested air-supremacy and used gathering up-to-date intelligence Air Force Rafales carried out their Armements Air-Sol Modu- with the Pod Reco NG (New the very first strike missions laires (AASMs, or Air-to-Surface Generation Reconnaissance Pod, against forces loyal to Libyan Modular Armaments, also known also known on the export market Leader Colonel Gaddafi. With as SBU-38 Hammer under the as AREOS, for Airborne REcon- tanker support, the fighters flew new NATO designation) to bring naissance Observation System). will in a dangerous environment, full load of flares and chaffs and coordinates of a target before extremely long-range sorties down air defences and destroy They undertook reconnaissance against a dense network of dea- of MICA (Missile d’Interception, engaging it with an AASM. The from their base in Saint-Dizier, units that posed a direct and im- missions over points of interest, dly surface-to-air missile systems. de Combat et d’Autodéfense, Damoclès is a valuable addition in the North-East of France. The mediate threat to the besieged city using their pod to photograph Even more significant is the fact Interception, Combat and Self- to the Front Sector Optronics, an daring, seven to eight hour-long of Bengazi and to civilian lives. numerous tactical and strategic that the Rafale was able to accu- Defence Missile) air-to-air missi- internal system mounted above raids against heavily defended Simultaneously, other Armée targets at stand-off distances. rately locate enemy air-defence les. The GBU-12 is mainly used the nose of the Rafale. The FSO targets were entirely successful: de l’Air Rafales flew the first systems and engage them. for ‘dynamic targeting’, a kind is composed of a powerful TV the Rafales quickly achieved un- reconnaissance missions to start As early as 20 March 2011, of close air support, but without sensor, a laser rangefinder and Armée de l’Air Rafales started ope- any forward air controller on an infrared search and track rating from Solenzara, a forward the ground. The AASM has so system.

FOXTHREE 3 4 FOXTHREE RAFALE KICKS THE DOOR DOWN

the air-threat was considered missions, they usually carried four Enter the Navy very low and the surface-to-air GBU-12 laser-guided bombs or threat had been significantly re- four AASM precision weapons, duced by air strikes, the Navy these loads being increased to The Rafale was designed from the Rafales usually flew with a full six weapons when required. start to operate from the pitching load of flares and chaffs and of About half of all missions conduc- deck of an aircraft-carrier and, MICA air-to-air missiles on top of ted by Navy Rafales were flown from 23 March 2011, French their air-to-surface weapons or of at night. Navy Rafales flying out of the their recce pod. For air-to-ground Charles de Gaulle joined the fi- ght. For over four months, French Navy Flottille 12F Rafale aircrews performed the whole spectrum of conventional offensive combat operations from the carrier (ex- cept anti-ship attacks with Exocet artillery positions to long-range territory. Strikes were conducted missiles, even though surface Scalp attack missiles, from parked aircraft to by a combination of French combatants were destroyed by air-defence radars, from harde- Navy Rafales and Armée de l’Air Rafales in Libyan harbours using ned ammunition storage facilities Rafales and Mirage 2000Ds. It is laser-guided bombs). Although all numbers were still to deeply buried command understood that the first target for From the Gulf of Sirte, the Charles classified at the time of writing, posts… the Scalps was a heavily-defended de Gaulle launched waves after it can already be revealed that Among the Rafale’s weapons, high-value target deep inside waves of fighters which dropped Navy and Air Force Rafales have the Scalp stealth cruise missile Libya, where a strike with close hundreds of precision weapons destroyed hundreds of targets, was singled out for long-range range weapons would have (GBU-12s, AASMs and Scalps) ranging from armoured personal strike missions against hardened proved unnecessarily dangerous. against a wide variety of targets. carriers to main battle tanks, from targets very deep inside Libyan Flottille 12F Rafales mainly ope- rated in three types of configura- tions: reconnaissance, attack and buddy-buddy tanker. Although

FOXTHREE 5 6 FOXTHREE RAFALE KICKS THE DOOR DOWN

we know what the flow looks like. imagery on the right lateral dis- Datalink The Rafale’s man-machine inter- play, with a fuel page on the left face has been cleverly designed. display and the tactical situation For example, there are some mo- on the centre screen. If needed, The Rafale is the first French figh- des that declutter the displays, Damoclès imagery can be expan- ter equipped with the L16 datalink allowing the pilot to concentrate ded on the head-level display for which is fully integrated into the on the target. You prioritise things: better quality.» fighter’s weapon system. Through tasks, Desired Mean Points of Im- The Rafale’s participation in the the L16, pilots share surveillance pact, air targets… If the AWACS NATO operation is an uncontes- and targeting data, and give and decides that there is something ted success. It has confirmed, in receive orders. «To boost flight more important happening, the action, that all the choices made safety, we use our L16 for de- system will just show it to you. a few years ago by French Air confliction, without speaking on Pretty neat… Nearly everything Force and Navy decision makers on the Allied tanker force.» The was excellent, with relatively the radio, explains the Armée de can be done without any radio were the right ones. The fully om- Rafale then carried 6,000 litres of short transits to and from Libya. In l’Air Rafale detachment comman- coms. The Rafale has got a very nirole fighter once envisioned has external fuel on top of the 4,700 fact, out of 4 hours airborne, we der. We are assigned block levels silent cockpit and I like silence in now come of age and is fully ope- kg of internal fuel for the single-seat remained 2 h 20 min on station, Extreme range by the NATO Air Tasking Order my cockpit during combat mis- rational, as demonstrated by the Rafale C, and 4,400 kg for the ready to strike any target of and, by just looking at a screen, sions. I tend to have Damoclès current operations in Libya. two-seat Rafale B, giving an outs- opportunity.» Usually, two of the A key advantage of the Rafale tanding range and an extended ten Rafales onboard the carrier compared to the other French and time on station. were configured as buddy-buddy Outstanding reliability foreign fighters is its very long Endurance was a crucial para- tankers, each with an in-flight range. «French Air Force Rafales meter for Rafales operating from refuelling pod under the centreline At the time of writing, French Rafales had logged over 6,000 combat Üying hours in close to 2,000 sorties in support initially flew with two 2,000-litre the Charles de Gaulle too: «we pylon and two to four drop tanks of the Harmattan operation with outstanding reliability. Flying out from forward operating bases, Solenzara, on the external fuel tanks under the wings typically flew missions lasting over under the wings. One of them was island of Corsica, and Sigonella, in Sicily, and from the Charles de Gaulle carrier, the omnirole Ûghter has demons- on top of their MICA air-to-air two hours without tanker support, systematically launched prior to trated, in action, that the maintenance and support concept designed by Dassault Aviation fully fulÛls the stringent missiles and of their air-to-surface stresses the Commanding Officer any recovery cycle, ready to give requirements decided by the French Armed Forces when the programme was launched. The Rafaleʼs inherent relia- ordnance, reveals the Armée of French Navy Flottille 12F. With away fuel to any fighter which bility and its ease of maintenance have signiÛcantly contributed to a very high dispatch rate that has helped bring de l’Air Rafale detachment com- tanker support, either from a Rafale might have encountered difficul- down operational costs while maximising military efÛciency. mander. When the availability of configured for buddy-buddy ties when attempting to trap back tankers became an issue, a third tanking, a C-135FR, a KC-135R onboard the carrier. Another de Gaulle, and Air Force and our way back to base so that all 2,000-litre drop tank was added or from any other coalition tanker, one was ready to be catapulted Recce Navy Rafales then became one of data can be processed more quic- to the Rafale based in Solenzara, we flew 4-hour long sorties with away, should the situation have the main providers of airborne ima- kly to shorten the OODA (Observa- thus helping minimise the pressure two refuellings. Our ‘playtime’ got worse. gery for the whole coalition. «We tion Orientation, Decision, Action) Very early into the mission, the broadcast all the recorded imagery loop. The system is highly flexible, Armée de l’Air started using the on the way back to base, explains with remarkably sharp images. We AREOS pod for pre-strike reconnais- the Armée de l’Air Rafale detach- have mainly used the AREOS in sance, battle damage assessment ment commander at Solenzara Air high level mission profiles, but we and video reconnaissance. The Base. We have also transmitted could also have chosen low-level French Navy soon started doing French Air Force AREOS imagery high-speed runs, with a ‘pop up’ to recce missions too, from the Charles to the Charles de Gaulle while on take imagery.»

Rafales flying their recce or strike are always conducted without Air superiority missions over Libya remain fully any dedicated escort, our RBE2 capable of providing air-to-air radar, our Link 16, our FSO and support with their MICA missiles. our Spectra electronic warfare On the first few days of the Allied On several occasions, they have suite helping us maintain a very air operations, Rafales in air-to-air been re-tasked in flight to inves- good all-round situational aware- configurations flew Offensive tigate and identify air targets ness, explains the Armée de l’Air Counter Air (OCA) missions to detected in the vicinity of their Rafale detachment commander. achieve air-superiority over Libya, working areas. The air-to-air threat Nevertheless, we stand ready to preventing Libyan loyalist fighters is assessed by NATO as very low strike back and engage enemy from taking off from their own ba- or negligible, but Rafale pilots fighters at all times. If intercepted, ses. They also escorted strike fi- could still have found themselves we could have destroyed any ghters and were ready to protect engaged against a last ditch airborne threat with our MICAs them against any airborne attempt to regain . during the very same missions.» threat. «Rafale strike and recce missions

FOXTHREE 7 8 FOXTHREE RAFALE TACTICAL NODE AND ISTAR TOOL

The conflict in Libya has clearly demonstrated that the Rafale, with its state-of-the-art sensor suite, has become a key tool for ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) missions.

On 19 March 2011, French Air air-supremacy and used their connaissance missions to start Force Rafales carried out the very Armements Air-Sol Modulaires gathering up-to-date intelligence first strike missions against forces (AASMs, or Air-to-Surface Mo- with the Pod Reco NG (New loyal to Libyan Leader Colonel dular Armaments, also known Generation Reconnaissance Pod, Gaddafi. With tanker support, as SBU-38 Hammer under the also known on the export market the fighters flew extremely long- new NATO designation) to bring as AREOS, for Airborne REcon- range sorties from their base in down air defences and destroy naissance Observation System). Saint-Dizier, in the North-East of units that posed a direct and They undertook reconnaissance France. The daring raids against immediate threat to the besieged missions over points of interest, heavily defended targets were city of Bengazi and to civilian using their pod to photograph entirely successful: the Rafales lives. Simultaneously, other Armée numerous tactical and strategic quickly achieved uncontested de l’Air Rafales flew the first re- targets at stand-off distances.

FOXTHREE 9 12 FOXTHREE RAFALE TACTICAL NODE AND ISTAR TOOL

Without any forces on the ground to provide them with up-to-date intelligence, NATO commanders have to rely on airborne assets to build up an unambiguous tactical picture. Ongoing operations have shown that, thanks to an unmatched combination of powerful sensors, Link 16 datalink and intuitive Neither the Air Force nor the man-machine interface, the Rafale is a decisive airborne asset in the ISTAR role and key provider of Ease of use Navy would give any precise vital intelligence. details on the tactics being Like all the Rafale systems, the used but we can ascertain AREOS has been optimised that the main advantage of external sensors. As a result, Rafale thus becoming a node Comprehensive to reduce aircrew workload: flying as a two-ship is that the pilots have at their disposal within a much larger C² struc- sensor suite “reconnaissance missions are each aircraft can photograph all the systems required to de- ture. “With the Rafale, we conducted day or night by the same target from different French Air Force and French tect and locate hostile activity. are part of the network cen- two aircraft equipped with angles or directions and/or Navy Rafales fly over Libya For instance, they can use their tric warfare loop and we can one AREOS pod, four MICA from different altitudes. Alter- with a fully operational sensor radar high-resolution mode easily engage time sensitive air-to-air missiles and two a consequence, we can cover natively, the route of the air- suite that includes the RBE2 to look at an area of interest targets, explains the Armée 2,000-litre drop tanks, and huge areas in a very limited craft can be adjusted so that electronic scanning radar, from extreme distances before de l’Air Rafale detachment dozens of targets are photo- amount of time while concen- each fighter within the patrol the Spectra internal electronic cueing their Damoclès pod to commander at Solenzara Air graphed in the course of the trating on the tactical situation will photograph widely sepa- warfare suite, the Front Sector precisely identify a target and Base. The Rafale has become flight, reveals the Flottille 12F and on the surface-to-air and rated targets on each side. Optronics, the Pod Reco NG find its coordinates. Alternati- a gathering platform for Commanding Officer. The pod air-to-air threats. We also have (New Generation Reconnais- vely, the radar high-resolution information and we are conti- is highly automated and our at our disposal a user-friendly sance Pod, also known on mode can be utilised to keep nuously fed with data. We also state-of-the-art mission plan- target of opportunity mode the export market as AREOS, a sharp eye on enemy activity scatter information to our ning tools allow us to preci- that proves ideal in some cir- for Airborne REconnaissance through a thick cloud layer. wingmen and to other assets.” sely program the system prior cumstances. The pod is equip- Observation System), and the With its Link 16 datalink, the It should be noted here that to the flight. During the sortie, ped with large data recording Damoclès laser designation Rafale omnirole fighter rea- the Rover system, fully opera- all is done to minimize the systems and we have never pod. Among all the allied dily plugs into the complex tional on the Rafale, has not pilot’s workload and the pod experienced any capacity is- aircraft engaged over Libya NATO command and control been utilised in Libya due to automatically points its main sues, even when the AREOS is on a daily basis, the Rafale networks. All collected intel- lack of forward air controller sensors at areas of interest. As ‘on’ during the whole sortie.” is the only one to boast such ligence is easily transmitted on the ground. a large array of internal and back to the C² assets, the

dynamic targeting, i.e. the and the Rafale communities: 360-degree coverage. The is a key enabler. The new Dynamic targeting engagement of moving forces laser pointer, laser spot trac- Sharp-eyed Rafale highly directive data beam reconnaissance mode of the without any guidance from a ker and recce mode. The would prove very difficult to Damoclès pod has also proved The Damoclès laser designation Forward Air Controller. “The Damoclès is optimised for Reconnaissance is one of the intercept, and all data can be tremendously useful, helping pod has also proved highly lack of FACs on the ground has the air-to-surface role and the Rafale’s main missions. With encrypted for additional secu- us gather imagery during a successful over Libya. The on- forced us to use new tactics FSO for the air-to-air mission: the advent of the AREOS, rity. “The AREOS is a superb larger number of sorties.” going NATO operation is the and we rely on our onboard we constantly switch from one which entered service in late system for both day and night first time the pod has been sensors to locate and positi- to the other depending on the 2010, the French Navy and operations, and the High used in anger against real vely identify our target, says conditions, day, night, sand Air Force are equipped with Command is extremely happy targets by Rafale aircrews. Commanding Officer of Flot- storm... In very bad weather, one of the best recce systems with all the imagery we pro- The pod provides the Rafale tille 12F. This is why the Damo- when we can’t see the ground in the world. Thanks to the vide, explains French Navy with extremely valuable ISTAR clès proved essential to sort out at all, we can still ‘paint’ AREOS’s powerful dual band Flottille 12F Commanding Of- capabilities, especially for targets and accurately determine radar images of the target infrared/visible sensor moun- ficer. Onboard the Charles de their coordinates. We also have areas thanks to the RBE2 ted in a swiveling turret at Gaulle aircraft-carrier, naval excellent all weather capabilities high-resolution mode.” the front end of the pod, the photo interpreters process all and we use our radar high-reso- Rafale can remain outside the data which is sent back to the lution mode to find and designate range of enemy air defences French and Allied headquar- targets, even in the worst condi- while taking incredibly sharp ters in near real-time. Every- tions, when the wind is blowing pictures from stand-off distan- thing is done to cut down the sand for instance. The Damoclès ces, day and night. Similarly time required to process the arrived at a crucial moment, and impressive is the capability information in order to shorten we can now autonomously ‘spike’ to transmit back in real time the intelligence gathering cycle without resorting to buddy-lasing. all imagery taken during the and accelerate the tempo of The Damoclès now incorpora- mission via a broadband operation, and the AREOS, tes a number of ameliorations datalink system that offers a with its high-speed datalink, which have benefited both the Super Etendard Modernisé

FOXTHREE 13 14 FOXTHREE DESTROYING ENEMY AIR DEFENCES

For the French Armed Forces, the operation in Libya offered a unique opportunity to improve new tactics and to prove in action that the Rafale omnirole fighter could perform an extremely wide range of missions, including the Destruction of Enemy Air Defences, which eventually led to the collapse of the air-defence network.

mode, the Spectra suite and Inherent flexibility the Damoclès and Front Sector Optronics systems - we were, however, fully capable of detec- With its intuitive and easy to use ting, localising and engaging man-machine interface and its wide enemy surface-to-air missile sites array of systems and weapons, and we destroyed SA-3 and SA-6 the Rafale can perform an incredi- SAM systems with our AASMs, bly large number of missions. «The including some mobile, time Rafale’s sensor and armament sensitive systems. This was a signi- suite has proved extremely ef- ficant achievement. I would like fective and remarkably flexible, to insist on the fact that Flottille explains the Commanding Offi- 12F is one of the very few units cer of French Navy Flottille 12F. in the world which can carry out I will take one example: the such a large array of missions Rafale’s weapon system has not from a carrier deck, from recon- been specifically designed for naissance to nuclear deterrence, the DEAD role, the Destruction of from DEAD to anti-ship attacks, from Enemy Air Defences. With all our close air support to air-defence.» sensors - the radar high-resolution

FOXTHREE 15 16 FOXTHREE DESTROYING ENEMY AIR DEFENCES

Jamming the enemy

Such is the quality of the Spectra electronic warfare suite that the Rafale literally disappeared from the radar screens of the Libyan Air Force while performing ‘soft kills’ on the enemy radar systems. Spectra relies on advanced jamming modes and jamming techniques to defeat hostile weapon systems and to to accurately locate a threat and Sector Optronics information to and DEAD missions. «During the clearly minimises the required hide the progression and whe- significantly enhance aircrew produce a single, unambiguous conflict, we flew air-to-surface mis- number of sorties to disable a reabouts of the fighter. With situational awareness. Rafale pilots tactical picture. Finally, the Rafales Hammering the enemy sions with AASMs to bring down given target. Later in the campai- its state-of-the-art antennas and and weapon system operators can always fly with a full-up load of the Libyan air-defence / command gn, we opted to have one aircraft sub-systems using the latest tech- also rely on fine-tuned data-fusion decoys, chaffs and flares, and The AASM has been used by and control network, reveals the of a two-ship fitted with AASMs nology, Spectra is also incredibly to ‘rise above the fog of war’, are thus ready to instantly react the Rafale throughout the cam- Armée de l’Air Rafale detach- while the second one carried up to precise, with an amazing angular all electronic warfare data being should they be engaged by a paign, the weapon proving totally ment commander at Solenzara six laser-guided GBU-12s, giving accuracy. This proves essential fused with radar, L16 and Front Libyan surface-to-air system. successful in a large number of Air Base. The obvious advantage enhanced tactical flexibility. The scenarios, including strikes against of the weapon is that we can hit AASM is user-friendly and targets highly defended targets such as six distant or widely separated coordinates can be fed into the operational advantages over more military effect or, on the contrary, air-bases. In fact, such was the targets with only one trigger press. weapons in three different ways: traditional precision weapons. to minimise the risk of collateral Stand-off accuracy accuracy of the new munition This means that a Rafale two-ship manually, from the Damoclès The AASM’s main advantage is damages. The AASM’s final that the AASM is now conside- can destroy twelve targets in one targeting pod, or from data sent its range, and targets have been advantage is its modularity, with red as the Rafale’s main offensive pass, at stand-off ranges. This is from the AWACS via datalink.» The Armement Air-Sol Modulaire struck in Libya at distances more numerous warheads available. weapon for conventional strikes a really impressive fire power that (AASM, or Modular Air-to-Surface than 50 km away from the release For example, the Armée de l’Air Armament), also known as the point. The second advantage is relies on standard Mk 82 bomb SBU-38 Hammer (standing for the multiple target release mode, bodies whereas the French Navy Highly agile and manoeuvrable when up to six widely separated fielded insensitive BANG-series French Navy effort and was munition extended range), has DMPIs (Desired Mean Points of (Bombe Aéronavale Nouvelle GPS/INS fired in massive numbers. proved to be one of the most effec- Impact) can be hit with deadly Génération, or new generation and IR versions The infrared variant of the AASM tive stand-off precision weapons accuracy in one run. The third naval aviation bomb) warheads (known as the SBU-64) has also in service anywhere. advantage is the weapon’s abi- as prescribed for use on the French The GPS/INS-guided variant been utilised operationally by Thanks to the advanced techno- lity to strike a target at a precise aircraft-carrier. In the future, of the AASM bore the brunt both Navy and Air Force Rafales, logies chosen by Sagem during angle (from the horizontal to the heavier and lighter bomb bodies of the French Air Force and scoring hits with clinical surgery the development programme, the vertical) to achieve the largest could be adopted for the AASM. too. This variant is fitted, in ad- AASM offers a large number of amount of destruction for the largest dition to the INS/GPS guidance kit, with an advanced passive in- frared IR imagery homing head that is activated during the final target approach. Automatic target recognition algorithms compare the actual scene with the memorised scene, identify the designated target, and select the impact point in order to hit with outstanding precision. The AASM IR has pro- ved essential in some demanding conditions. For instance, the wea- variant of the AASM is planned pon was fired at military buildings to enter service in 2013, thus that required hits with extreme bringing another useful capability accuracy to obtain a significant to the Rafale. military effect. A laser-guided

FOXTHREE 17 18 FOXTHREE Editorial

In the 16th issue of Fox Three, ENTER THE AESA AND THE METEOR The Rafale Team is proud to explain how the Rafale is being extensively modernised to defeat all The AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) for the RBE2 electronic scanning radar is in final stages of trials. future surface, naval and airborne threats. With the successive introduction of the Active Electronically Scanned Array for the RBE2 radar, of the Meteor ramjet-propelled missile, of the new generation missile detector, of the acclaimed AM39 Exocet anti-ship missile and of new variants of the battle-proven AASM air-to-surface modular armament, the omnirole fighter will become even more efficient, lethal, survivable, reliable and maintainable. With such a powerful offensive and defensive tool, decisions makers will have at their disposal the required asset to handle all crises: in an ever changing world, the Rafale will stand ready to instantly react to a new geopolitical situation and to prevail on the battlefield. The ‘FOX THREE’ Team

Summary

p.3/7 p.8/11 Extended detection and tracking «The DGA is taking an active role improvements for the Rafale. ranges, enlarged angular co- in the development and qualifica- We work in close loop with the verage, improved resistance to tion of the new front end antenna armed forces and the contractor jamming, considerably ameliora- supplied by Thales, explains to minimise risks and keep costs ted reliability. These are the main General Stéphane Reb, the DGA down and we ensure that all sen- advantages offered to the Rafale Rafale Programme Director. Un- sors reach maturity levels before by the new AESA now being tes- der the latest plans, qualification they enter service. The adoption ENTER THE AESA AND THE METEOR EXPANDING THE AASM FAMILY ted by the Direction Générale de of the new radar is expected by of a very reactive loop is, in my l’Armement (DGA), the French the DGA in early 2013 as part of view, the best way to keep the Defence Procurement Agency. a rolling programme of continuous Rafale updated.»

- Photos : DASSAULT AVIATION - V. Almansa / MBDA - Th.Wurtz / DGA / SIRPA AIR / SAGEM – Ph.Wodka-Gallien / THALES - This document is not contractual and cannot engage the responsability of the industrial partners in any matter. Dassault Aviation and the industrial partners reserve the right to modify any herein indicated characteristics without prior notice. ENTER THE AESA AND THE METEOR

around 140 test runs were per- Air-to-surface radar modes have Performance confirmed formed by DGA engineers and also been checked to make sure flight test specialists. The results that the Rafale will remain a dea- have shown that detection and dly performer when attacking A major milestone was passed tracking ranges in air-to-air mo- surface targets or when hugging in 2011 when an AESA perfor- des exceeded expectations. This the ground at very high speed. mance evaluation test campaign means that Rafale aircrews’ situa- For instance, the terrain-following was conducted by the DGA at tional awareness will be brought modes of the AESA have also Cazaux Air Base using Mirage up to unprecedented levels using been thoroughly tested in various 2000 and Falcon 20 flying test the radar alone. The AESA, when conditions, over a wide range of benches. The new radar was pit- utilised in conjunction with the backgrounds, when overflying ted against a range of lightly ins- Rafale’s Front Sector Optronics, flat terrain, mountains or indus- trumented and fully characterised Spectra electronic warfare/self- trial buildings, and when facing targets (in terms of radar cross defence suite and L16 datalink, vertical cliffs. This mode is crucial section) to make sure that per- will transform the fighter into a for low-level high-speed penetra- formance levels matched predic- lethal opponent in the unforgi- tions against a dense network of tions. In all, 25 flights totalising ving air-to-air arena. surface-to-air missile systems.

qualification programme to be AESA series production conducted by the DGA. The first production Rafale to be delivered with the AESA will be Such is the confidence of Thales an Air Force single-seat Rafale C and Dassault in their new product, which will make its maiden flight that pre-series AESA radars have in 2012. It is anticipated that the missiles, combat and transport landings and catapult shots. In already been demonstrated to first five Armée de l’Air aircraft Meteor helicopters, early warning and early 2011, the French Ministry potential export costumers during with the AESA will be operatio- electronic warfare aircraft, tankers, of Defence announced an order demanding and realistic com- nal by the end of 2013. By early fleet, the French Navy is also sla- unmanned airborne vehicles... for an initial batch of 200 Meteor bat scenarios. Series production 2014, the first Air Force front-line ted to receive Rafales fitted with In the air-defence / air-superiority The Meteor offers enhanced missiles to equip both French Air of AESA systems for the Rafale squadron will start flying Rafales the AESA from 2013 for service role, the AESA will allow Rafale all-round kinematics performance Force and French Navy Rafales, omnirole fighter has begun at the equipped with the new radar. onboard the Charles de Gaulle aircrews to fire their new and a higher kill probability to with the new missile to enter various Thales plants and series In an effort to standardise the nuclear aircraft-carrier. Meteor air-to-air missile at extreme guarantee unequalled combat operational service in 2016. AESA sets will be used for the French Ministry of Defence Rafale ranges, further expanding the efficiency, even against the most With the acclaimed Mica missiles, Rafale’s already impressive letha- modern hostile fighters. the Rafale is already equipped lity against airborne threats. Flight trials and integration work with superior weapons, but the Designed and produced by of the Meteor on the Rafale is in advent of the AESA and of the MBDA, the Meteor is a new gene- progress, and some of the flight Meteor will further improve the ration air-to-air missile conceived to envelope expansion has already fighter’s outstanding combat supplement the MICA (Missile d’In- been carried out, including carrier efficiency. terception, de Combat et d’Auto- défense, or Interception, Combat and Self-Defence Missile) already in service on the Rafale. With its advanced aerodynamic configuration, its powerful active radar seeker, its eye-watering ter- minal manoeuvrability, its innova- tive datalink and its state-of-the-art ramjet propulsion, the Meteor will be capable of defeating in a matter of seconds and at extreme ranges all known airborne threats: agile combat aircraft, stealthy cruise processing unit can handle tilles 11F and 12F have already AM39 Exocet all the missile’s firing modes. begun training with the Exo- A final operational evalua- cet missile. New advanced tion firing will be conducted tactics are being actively The Rafale has been designed from a Rafale launched from devised to take advantage of from the start to excel in all the Charles de Gaulle nuclear the Rafale’s L16 datalink in air-to-air and air-to-surface aircraft-carrier in early 2012 the demanding anti-ship role. missions, including anti-ship before the missile is declared This means that attack profiles strikes. As a result, the om- fully operational on French will be performed without any nirole fighter can carry the Navy Rafales in mid-2012. It radar emission from the acclaimed AM39 Exocet, an is worth noting that, although fighters, targeting data being anti-ship missile that has now the French Navy will take the provided by external means, become the benchmark for all lead in the anti-ship role, Air an Atlantique 2 maritime Navies and Naval Aviations. Force two-seat and single-seat patrol aircraft or an E-2C The integration of the AM39 Rafale variants will be fully Hawkeye early warning Exocet anti-ship missile on the capable of firing the Exocet aircraft for example. Rafale has now been completed too. and the aircraft’s modular data French Navy pilots from Flot-

DDM NG

For enhanced survival on the battlefield, the Rafale is equipped with the fully integrated and highly-automated Spectra self-defence / electronic warfare suite. It ensures efficient electromagnetic detection, laser warning, missile approach warning using passive IR detection technology, jamming and chaff/flare dispensing, even in the most demanding multi-threat environment. As part of the Spectra performance enhancement programme, a Détecteur De Missile Nouvelle Génération (DDM NG, or New Generation Missile Detector) has been adopted. Thanks to the use of the latest infrared imagery technology, the new system will offer greatly improved field of view, detection ranges and a lower false alarm rate compared to the earlier system now flying on the Rafale (DDM) and to other technologies. With the DDM NG, the exhaust plume of an incoming missile can be detected at very long-range without any telltale emission that would betray the presence of the Rafale. The discreet missile approach warner ensures high probability of detection and low false alarm rates, even against recent and totally passive IR-guided weapons. When a missile launch is detected, the DDM NG can trigger a decoying sequence to dodge the threat. Four upward-firing launcher modules for various advanced types of flares are built into the airframe, and the Rafale is equipped with internal chaff dispensers. Flight testing of the DDM NG is currently in progress and, in early 2011, the second environmental data gathering campaign was completed. The system overflew various scenes and backgrounds to make sure it could ʻunderstandʼ its operating environment and detect simulated missile launches in this environment. EXPANDING THE AASM FAMILY Sagem is busy working on new variants of the Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM, or Modular Air-to-Surface Armament), also known as the SBU-38 Hammer (standing for Highly agile and manoeuvrable munition extended range).

The AASM is regarded as the best air-to-surface precision weapon in service anywhere and was first used in anger in Afghanistan by French Rafales. This affordable, modular and highly effective weapon has been massively utilised in Libya by both French Air Force and French Navy Rafale omnirole fighters, helping destroy an extremely large array of targets with deadly accuracy.

a GPS/INS/Infrared Imaging gui- characteristics and ensure the Combat proven dance head, allowing challenging highest level of destruction. targets to be destroyed even when At the time of writing, the French fast moving targets to be des- The second one was an air inter- the GPS signal is not available, armed forces had expressed a need Laser-guided variant troyed at will. Alternatively, it diction scenario: a building was Two variants are already operational or when there is a target location for 3,400 AASMs with a 250 kg- will still be able to strike with attacked from very long range and they have both been fired in error. Both are powered by a class warhead, 800 of which had clinical accuracy targets the (more than 40 km away) with a Libya with a success rate very close rocket motor and can be fired at now been delivered to the French A new variant of the AASM, fitted coordinates of which are known. delayed fuse to simulate a pene- to 100%: the first one is fitted with distances exceeding 50 km. Their Air Force and to the French Navy. with a laser/GPS/INS-guidance This new variant is externally tration warhead. The aim of the a GPS/INS guidance kit whereas impact angle can be selected kit, is now being developed for similar to the IR imaging version. test was to make sure that the the second one is equipped with and adjusted to match the target’s use on the Rafale, with opera- Development flight and firing AASM could still hit the intended tional service entry planned for testing of the Laser AASM is target when the laser energy 2013 . It will outperform both now almost completed. In all, levels finding their mark were low, the GBU-12 Paveway II and three test firings were performed thus mimicking the divergence GBU-22 Paveway III thanks to in difficult conditions to push the of the laser spot from long distan- its long range, its 360-degree munition to its limits. The first one ces. There again, the precision engagement capability and its was a basic trial during which was outstanding. agility, allowing time-sensitive the AASM impacted vertically.

anti-aircraft artillery and man-porta- perfectly track a very fast object. Complex scenario ble air-defence systems. Suddenly, The test was entirely successful and a car fled from the compound and the AASM impacted within one the Rafale was asked to take it out. metre of the laser spot. With such The third test firing was, by far, Without leaving its orbit, the omni- accuracy, it would have totally the most impressive and the most role fighter fired a Laser AASM 90 wrecked a real car or a real armou- challenging as it was completed degrees off-axis, with laser illumina- red vehicle.» against a moving target simulating tion provided by a DHY-307 laser In 2012, the Laser AASM will enter a speeding car. «The scenario was designator on the ground simula- qualification phase and the DGA extremely precise, explains a DGA ting a deployed team of Special engineers and weapons specialists Flight Test Engineer at Cazaux. A Forces. The calibrated target was will perform a further three firing Rafale was circling a compound speeding on a rail at 80 km/h. The trials before the new variant is at medium altitude at a distance target’s albedo was known as we cleared for use by both French Air of 15 kilometres, unheard, out of wanted to assess the behaviour of Force and French Navy Rafales. view and well outside the range of the seeker and check its ability to been demonstrated. The develop- can move at 30 knots and change Future developments ment of a very heavy AASM, with position really rapidly.» With its a 908 kg (2,000 lbs) warhead (for adjustable attack angle, the AASM example a Mk 84 general purpose will prove ideal for the engagement Sagem is looking at a variety of new bomb body or a BLU-109 penetrator) of surface combatants because developments to further expand the could be launched very rapidly. In current naval air-defences, such AASM family and augment the the not too distant future, a version as search and fire control radars, Rafale’s operational capabilities. with an anti-ship capability may short-range surface-to-air missiles Among the various options being appear: «we are seriously conside- and close-in weapons systems are considered, both heavier and lighter ring fitting the AASM with a data- all optimised to primarily counter versions with larger or smaller wa- link which will allow moving targets sea-skimming anti-ship missiles. rheads and a new guidance kit to be engaged, explains General They are not universally capable of for anti-ship attacks are being dis- (Ret) Jean-Pierre Rayssac, Sagem defeating a vertically diving target cussed. A firing trial with a 125-kg Director of AASM Business Deve- which may take advantage of the class bomb body has already been lopment. This datalink would prove ship’s configuration and layout to conducted, and a 80-km range has particularly useful against ships that hit with devastating military effects.

ROVER on Rafale

The ongoing operations in Afghanistan have clearly shown the need for a way to exchange imagery between troops on the ground and pilots flying combat aircraft. The solution was the ROVER (Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver) system universally adopted by NATO air arms operating over Afghanistan and by forward air controllers. The ROVER system is now fully operational on French Air Force and French Navy Rafales. It allows Rafale aircrews and forward air controllers on the ground to easily and swiftly exchange videos or images to confirm that the selected target is the right one before carrying out an attack. The adoption of the ROVER allows Rafale aircrews to rise above ʻthe fog of warʼ. The added advantage of the configuration chosen for the Rafale is that the ROVER terminal is not fitted to the pod, but rather to the airframe itself. This means that any type of imagery, including radar high-resolution maps and Front Sector Optronics images, can be downloaded in real time to the FAC and the local commander, thus clearly augmenting the military value of the omnirole fighter while increasing its tactical flexibility.