Dassault Rafale

Overview & Role

The Rafale is a twin-engine, delta-wing, canard-equipped, all-weather, “omni-role” fighter designed to perform air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, nuclear deterrence, and maritime strike missions in a single sortie. It operates from both land bases and aircraft carriers (Rafale M naval variant).

Design & Aerodynamics

• Delta wing + close-coupled canards: grants high maneuverability (±9 g, up to 11 g in emergencies), reduced stall speed (~15 kn), and STOL capability to use ski-jet assisted takeoff.

• Fly-by-wire controls compensate the aircraft’s inherent instability.

• Stealth-reducing measures: reshaped fuselage, composite materials (~70%), and serrated surfaces along edge.

Technical Specs

Parameter	Value
Crew	1 (C/M) or 2 (B)
Length	~15.3 m
Wingspan	~10.8 m
Height	~5.3 m
Empty Weight	~9.5–10.6 t
Max Takeoff Weight	24.5 t
Internal Fuel	4.7 t
External Payload	9.5 t via 14 hardpoints
Max Speed	Mach 1.8 (~2,200 km/h)
Combat Range	~1,850 km; Ferry range ~3,700 km
Service Ceiling	15–16 km
Rate of Climb	~305 m/s
Limit Load	−3.2 g to +9 g
Approach Speed	<120 kn; Landing ~450 m roll without chutes

Powerplant & Avionics

• Engines: Two Snecma/Safran M88‑2 turbofans (50 kN dry, 75 kN with afterburner).

• Radar: Thales RBE2 AESA – high detection capability and multi-target tracking.

• EW suite: Thales SPECTRA provides sensors, jamming, decoys, and threat fusion handling.

• IRST: Optronique Secteur Frontal (OSF) enables passive target detection up to 100 km.

• Cockpit: Full glass, HUD, HOTAS, voice command, night-vision compatible, multifunction displays.

Armament

• One 30 mm internal cannon.

• 14 hardpoints: up to 9.5 t payload.

• Air-to-air: MBDA MICA (IR/EM), Meteor BVR.

• Air-to-ground: AASM “Hammer”, SCALP/Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

• Anti-ship: Exocet.

• Other: Laser/GPS-guided bombs, reconnaissance pods, buddy-refuel pod.

• Nuclear: Capable of carrying ASMP-A nuclear missile.

Operational Use

• Entered service: French Navy (2004), Air Force (2006); combat-proven since 2007.

• Exported to Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, UAE, Indonesia, Serbia (~533 units globally).

• Deployment highlights: Secured Paris 2024 Olympics airspace; active roles in Middle East strikes .

Upgrades & Future Plans

• F3R → F4 standard: Introduces AESA enhancements, SPECTRA improvements, helmet-mounted display, new missiles (MICA NG, Meteor integration), AASM 1,000 kg variant; Full IOC expected by 2025.

• F5 enhancements (Paris Air Show 2025): Conformal fuel tanks, GaN‑based radar (RBE-2XG), T‑Rex engine upgrade, enhanced EW systems, integration with future drones.

• Production scaling: Rate increased from 2 to 3 jets per month, aiming 4+; considering assembly line in India (Hyderabad, Nagpur).

• Future Combat Air System (FCAS): Rafale to bridge towards next-gen FCAS jet with Germany/Spain by ~2040.

Geopolitics & Sales Challenges

• Disinformation concerns: Chinese intelligence allegedly targeting Rafale’s global image post-India/Pakistan conflict; Dassault CEO dismissed claims of Indian Rafale losses.

• FCAS friction: France's demand for 80% workshare sparks tension in tri-national program with Germany/Spain.