Dassault Rafale combat aircraft

Dassault Rafale 

The Dassault Rafale is a versatile and highly advanced multirole combat aircraft designed and built by the French company Dassault Aviation. Here's some detailed information about the Rafale:

 Overview:

The Rafale is a 4.5th generation, twin-engine, delta-wing, multirole fighter aircraft designed to perform a wide range of missions, including air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, and nuclear deterrence. It has been in service with the French Air Force and Navy since the early 2000s and has also been exported to several other countries.

Design and Features:

1. Airframe: The Rafale features a highly maneuverable delta wing configuration, optimized for agility and high-speed performance. Its aerodynamic design allows for both supersonic and subsonic flight capabilities.

  

2. Avionics: Equipped with a sophisticated avionics suite, including an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the Rafale has advanced situational awareness and target detection capabilities. It also features a wide range of sensors and systems for navigation, targeting, and electronic warfare.

3. Weapons Systems: The Rafale is equipped with a variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, including beyond-visual-range missiles, precision-guided munitions, and stand-off weapons. It can carry a combination of missiles, bombs, and other ordnance to engage a diverse range of targets.

4. Engine: Powered by two SNECMA M88 turbofan engines, the Rafale has exceptional thrust-to-weight ratio and acceleration capabilities. Its engines are designed for high performance in both air combat and ground attack missions.

Specifications

• Crew:                 1
• Length:              50.1 Feet (15.30 m)
• Wingspan:         35.7 Feet (10.88 m)
• Height:               17.3 Feet (5.30 meters)
• Wing Area:         492 sq ft (29  m2  )
• Airfoil :                NACA  64A204 
• Curb weight:      18,900 lb (8,573 kg)
• Gross weight:    33069 lb (15,000kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight:  24,500 kg (54,000 lbs)
• Fuel capacity:    4,700 kg (10,362 lb) internal for single-seater (C);
•                                  4,400 kg (9,700 lb) for two-seater (B) 
• Payload:             9500 kg (21,000 lbs) 
• Powerplant:       2 x Snecma M88-2 turbofans

performance overview

• Maximum speed:   

     1,912 km/h (1,188 mph, 1,032 kn) / Mach 1.8at high altitude

     1,390 km/h; 860 mph; 750 kn / Mach 1.1 at low altitude

• Combat range: 
•         1,850 km (1,150 mi, 1,000 nmi) on penetration mission with three tanks              (5,700 L  combined), two SCALP-EG and two MICA AAMs

bombs on high-low-high missions

• Ferry range:           2,277 nmi (2,620 mi, 4,217 km) with drop tank  
• Service ceiling:     58,000  feet (18,000 meters)
• g limit:                    +9.0 
• Roll rate:                 324°/s  
• Wing loading:        88.3 lb/sq ft (431 kg/m 2)
• Thrust/Weight  :   1.095 (1.24 with load weight and 50% internal fuel)

weapon system

• Guns:  

                The 125 rounds NEXTER 30M791 30 mm internal cannon, available on both single                      and two-seaters

• Hardpoints:  

                14 External hardpoints for Air and Space Force versions (Rafale B/C), 13 for Navy                         version  (Rafale M) with a capacity of 9,500 kg (20,900 lb)

• Missiles:

• Air-to-air:

1. MBDA MICA EM and IR (most widely used air-to-air missiles on Rafale; MICA-EM and MICA-IR both used for short-range and also for medium-range BVR combat)
2. MBDA Meteor
3. Magic II

• Air-to-surface:

1. MBDA Apache
2. MBDA Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG
3. AASM-Hammer (SBU-38/54/64)
4. GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-16 Paveway II, GBU-22 Paveway III, GBU-24 Paveway III, GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II
5. AS-30L
6. Mark 82
7. MBDA AM 39-Exocet air-launched anti-ship missile (one AM 39-Exocet at the central under-fuselage hardpoint)

• Nuclear Deterrence:

1. ASMP-A nuclear missile

• Other:

1. Thales Damocles targeting pod
2. Thales AREOS (Airborne Recce Observation System) reconnaissance pod
3. Thales TALIOS multi-function targeting pod
4. Up to 5 drop tanks
5. Buddy–buddy refueling pod

Avionics

• Thales RBE2-AA AESA radar
• Thales SPECTRA Electronic Warfare system.
• Thales/SAGEM-OSF Optronique Secteur Frontal infra-red search and track (IRST) system      

  

  Dassault Rafale combat aircraft

 Variants:

1. Rafale C: Single-seat variant used by the French Air Force for air defense and ground attack missions.

  

2. Rafale B: Two-seat variant used for training purposes and operational missions by the French Air Force.

3. Rafale M: Naval variant designed for carrier-based operations, used by the French Navy.

4. Export Variants: The Rafale has been exported to countries including India, Egypt, Qatar, and Greece, with customized configurations to meet the requirements of each customer.

 Performance:

1. Speed and Altitude: The Rafale has a maximum speed of Mach 1.8+ and a service ceiling of over 50,000 feet, allowing it to operate at high speeds and altitudes.

  

2. Range: With external fuel tanks, the Rafale has a combat radius of over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and an endurance of several hours.

3. Maneuverability: Its delta wing design and advanced flight control system give the Rafale exceptional agility and maneuverability, allowing it to outmaneuver adversaries in air combat.

Operational History:

The Rafale has seen combat operations in various theaters, including Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, and Syria, where it has demonstrated its versatility and effectiveness in a wide range of missions, including air support, reconnaissance, and precision strikes.

 Future Upgrades:

Dassault Aviation continues to invest in the development of the Rafale, with ongoing upgrades and enhancements to maintain its combat effectiveness and technological superiority in the face of evolving threats and operational requirements.

The Dassault Rafale stands as a symbol of French aerospace engineering excellence and continues to be a highly capable and sought-after combat aircraft in the international market.