The Dassault Rafale Is the Best Modern European Fighter Jet
Despite recent negative publicity, the Rafale is still evolving, thanks to modular upgrades, which enable the aircraft to remain a combat-capable stalwart over the skies of Europe.
The Dassault Rafale may be the European continent’s most advanced indigenously created fighter jet. Highly versatile, the twin-engine Rafale is a French-produced aircraft, named after a French expression meaning “burst of fire” or “gust of wind.” Having entered service in 2004, the Rafale is more advanced than many other fourth-generation fighters, which debuted a generation earlier, yet falls short of the level of cutting-edge fifth-generation fighters.
What Is the Dassault Rafale?
Designed to serve as an “omnirole” fighter, the Rafale has consolidated the roles of several other aircraft, including air superiority, ground support, reconnaissance, anti-ship strike, and nuclear deterrence, all in one single platform.
As far as specifications go, the Rafale features an optimal aerodynamic configuration, with delta wings and active close-coupled canards, making it highly agile and capable of short takeoffs and landings. Paired with a fly-by-wire flight control system, the Rafale is capable of remaining stable at very high angles of attack and performing high-g maneuvers (up to +11g in emergency conditions).
For propulsion, the Rafale relies upon two SNECMA M88-2 afterburning turbofan engines, each producing 17,000 pounds of thrust, allowing for a max speed of Mach 1.8 (1,380 MPH) and a service ceiling beyond 50,000 feet. The Rafale has a combat radius of about 1,150 miles, which can be extended through mid-air refueling.
For weaponry, the Rafale can carry a maximum payload of 20,900 pounds, with 14 external hardpoints capable of handling a variety of air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea munitions. Weapons compatible with the Rafale include the Meteor long-range air-to-air missile, MICA EM/IR, SCALP EG cruise missiles, AASM precision-guided bombs, Exocet anti-ship missiles, and the ASMP-A nuclear missile for strategic deterrence.
Internally, the Rafale is also equipped with a GIAT 30 mm cannon, featuring 125 rounds, which is sufficient for close combat encounters.
The Rafale also features a sophisticated avionics suite, including the Thales RBE2-AA AESA radar, which provides the aircraft with long-range multi-target tracking, high-resolution mapping, and electronic warfare resistance. The Rafale also features the Front Sector Optronics (FSO) system, which enables infrared search and track (IRST), laser range finding, and visual identification capability without emitting detectable signals.
To enhance the Rafale’s survivability, the aircraft features the SPECTRA (Self-Protection Equipment to Counter Threats for Rafale Aircraft) system, an integrated electronic warfare suite that detects threats, jams radar, deploys decoys, and tows active decoys.
The cockpit was designed with the pilot in mind, with a hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) controls, a wide-angle holographic head-up display, three large multi-function displays, and voice input capability. Additionally, newer aircraft are equipped with a helmet-mounted sight system (HMSS). The net effect is a layout that substantially improves world efficiency.
The Dassault Rafale Is Flown in Many Countries
The Rafale has already proven itself to be a top-end fighter in combat, and on the global defense market, where France has found export customers in India, Egypt, the UAE, Indonesia, Greece, and other countries. The Rafale made headlines recently when it was shot down during a skirmish between India and Pakistan.
However, despite recent negative publicity, the Rafale is still evolving, thanks to modular upgrades, which enable the aircraft to remain a combat-capable stalwart over the skies of Europe.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a Senior Defense and National Security Writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Image Credit: Shutterstock/Peter R Foster IDMA.
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