Dassault Aviation Rafale

Type (Muster)
Fourth-generation multi-role fighter (Mehrzweck-Kampfflugzeug der vierten Generation)

Country (Land)
France (Frankreich)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Dassault Aviation
9 Rond-Point Champs Elysées-Marcel Dassault
F-75008 Paris
France

Phone: 0033-1/43591470
Fax: 0033-1/42562249

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1 (2 in B-variant for Armée de l'Air)

Weapons (Bewaffnung): On its 14 external load stations (13 in naval version), Rafale can use a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, including

30 mm DEFA 791 cannon (built in), firing at 2500 rounds per minute
8 x Matra Magic or Sidewinder or ASRAAM
12 x Matra Mica
7 x Hughes AMRAAM
5 x AM 39 Exocet (may not be qualified to cut costs) or Penguin 3 or Harpoon
4 x AS 30L (may not be qualified to cut costs)
5 x Apache
5 x ALARM or HARM
4 x Maverick
5 x 1000 kg bombs
22 x 250 kg bombs
10 x 400 kg bombs
16 x Durandal
4 x Rocket pods
1 x 3000 litre tank
3 x 2000 litre tank
5 x 1250 litre tank
FLIR-pods, offensive jammers (3), recce pods, gun-pod and budy-buddy-refuelling pod

Of course, not all this ordnance is compatible with one another, and many weapons are not yet cleared for use.

Power plant (Antrieb): 2 x Snecma M88-2 turbofans
Thrust (Schub): 2 x 49 kN maximum dry thrust, 2 x 75 kN with reheat (mit
Nachbrenner)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 15,27 m
Heigth (Höhe): 5,34 m
Span (Spannweite): 10,80 m
Wing area (Flügelfläche): 45,70 sq m (492 sq ft)

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): ca. 9,4 tons (Rafale C), 9,6 tons (Rafale B), 9,9 tons (Rafale M)
Internal fuel (Kraftstoff): 4500 kg
External fuel (Zusatztanks): 7500 kg
Max. external load (max. Außenlast): 9500 kg
Max. take-off weigth (Max. Startmasse): 24500 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (max. Fluggeschwindigkeit): Mach 1.8+ / 750 kts (1390 km/h)
Approach speed (Anfluggeschwindigkeit): 120 kts (220 km/h)
Max. climb rate (Max. Steigrate): over 1000 ft/sec (350 m/s)
Operational ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 55000 ft (16765 m)
Take-off field length (Startstrecke): around 400 to 600 m, depending on load
Landing distance (Landestrecke): 450 m
Radius of action (Aktionsradius)
- penetration mission (Angriffseinsatz): over 1000 NM (1850 km)
Combat air patrol loiter time (Patrouillenzeit): over 3 h
Roll rate (Rollrate): 270 grad/sec
Max. instant turn rate (Anfängliche Wenderate): over 30 deg/sec
g-limit (g-Limit): +9/-3,2 g

Customers (Kunden)
Current planning figures (which may change at any time) include:

95 Rafale C (single-seater) for the Armée de l'Air
139 Rafale B (two-seater) for the Armée de l'Air (some Bs and Cs from 2002 to form a "half-squadron" acting as demonstrators to push chances of export sales)
60 Rafale M for the Aéronavale (12 for service entry from 2001, 48 due to arrive from 2005 to 2012)

Orders have so far been received for three Rafale B and ten Rafale M.

Costs (Kosten)
In mid-1997, the Cour des Comptes has stated that the Rafale programme will cost a total of 224 billion French Francs. Dassault claimed that this includes a 25 per cent contribution of the industry to development costs (roughly 13 billion FF) and a 20,5 per cent tax so that the "real" cost to the state is just 150 billion FF.
Fly-away cost of a Rafale is currently stated as 282 million FF (Rafale C), 299 million FF (Rafale B) and 315 million FF (Rafale M), after a ten per cent price cut was agreed by industry in January 1997. Previous estimates were as high as 350 million FF, with a sort of systems price of over 600 million FF being mentioned.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Eurofighter EF2000 Typhoon
Lockheed Martin F-22
Saab JAS 39 Gripen
Suchoi Su-35/37

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
Rafale is the most important French military aircraft programme, conceived to replace five types in Armée de l'Air and Aéronavale service (F-8P Crusader, Jaguar, Super Etendard, Mirage F.1CT and CR, Mirage 2000N and C). The aircraft is currently suffering major uncertainties due to severe budget problems. Though technically the programm seems to be a success and tests are running smoothly, many delays have already been implemented for political/financial reasons. Until now, there are no more than 13 firm orders.
The Rafale programme started in the mid-80s, after France pulled out from a joint European venture that eventually led to the Eurofighter EF2000 (Typhoon). A first demonstrator, the Rafale A, started its flight tests from Istres on July 4, 1986. Later, four flying prototypes and one static test airframe (Rafale M configuration) were ordered, as follows:

Rafale C01: First flight 19. May 1991
Rafale M01: First flight 12. December 1991
Rafale B01: First flight 30. April 1993
Rafale M02: First flight 8 November 1993

They have made over 3500 flights so far (also counting the Rafale A), including various test campaigns at Patuxent River (USA) and on the "Foch" to prove the carrier compatibility of the Rafale M.
The first production aircraft (two-seater B301) was officially presented to the defence minister and military officers on December 4, 1998, at the Merignac plant. It had made its first flight on November 24 and will now be used in a test role at Istres. During the ceremonies, Alain Richard said that the long-awaited multi-year contract will now be forthcoming early in 1999. It will cover 28 firm orders and 20 options at a cost of 17 billion French Francs. Production rates will slowly climb from eight a year to about 16 in 2003/2004 and maybe 20 later that decade.
It is expected that the first Rafale M will be delivered in October 1999. The Aéronavale wants to have its first unit of six aircraft ready on the "Charles de Gaulle" by June 2001 and will have all ten M-versions now on order in service a year later. Concerning the Armée de l'Air, deliveries will begin in earnest in 2003, with the first squadron (escadron) of 20 fighters ready by early 2005. Deliveries will stretch at least to 2020.
It has to be noted that the first aircraft going to the Aeronavale are conforming to a very basic F1-standard, fully capable only for air-to-air missions, fitted with Mica radar-missiles. Armée de l'Air Rafales will be to the F2-standard, with the Mica IR-homing air-to-air missile and the OSF passive seeker system just in front of the cockpit. Also, the radar will have air-to-ground modes. This will lead to the F3-standard, which can complete more complex air-to-ground tasks. Development of this version is not to begin until around 2003.
Meanwhile, Dassault is continuing its export sales efforts, promising that an export version will be available from 2002. campaigns in Saudi Arabia, Singapore and South Korea are under way. Also, the United Arab Emirates seem still interested. Most potential international customers are reportedly demanding aircraft to the full multi-role standard known as F4, which as yet needs a lot of development work.

Last updated 29. December 1998

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