The Dassault Rafale is a French multirole combat aircraft, soon to become one of the most advanced and versatile warplanes in history since it was introduced into service starting in 2001.
Now manufactured by Dassault Aviation, it adorns the air fleets of various countries, including Egypt, India, Qatar, and Greece, among others.
The Rafale is powered by two Snecma M88 turbofan engines, and it has speeds that go up to Mach 1.8, with a range longer than 3,700 kilometers.
Its advanced avionics system features a multi-role radar with good on-look and track capability for several targets and a digital fly-by-wire control system for precision maneuverability. It can perform varied missions, including air superiority and ground attack, reconnaissance, and nuclear deterrence.
The Rafale has been well-tested in all theatres from Afghanistan to Libya, Mali, Iraq, and Syria. What is its superiority when it comes to operational flexibility? Its capability to function from a land base as well as on an aircraft carrier pushes its superiority through the roof.
A very diverse list of operational weapon systems comprises Mica IR/EM missiles, Meteor long-range missiles, Scalp/Storm Shadow cruise missiles, and Exocet anti-ship missiles, making it versatile in any kind of conflict.
For its part, Dassault Aviation recently ordered the signing of 42 additional Rafales that will make the French air and space force regain their industrial and military sovereignty.
Chairman and CEO Éric Trappier said, “This military-industrial sovereignty is an exception in Europe. It guarantees the superiority of our combat aviation.”
On the other hand, the export success of Rafale requires a special mention with seven customer countries already.
This aircraft has been one moving state-of-the-art due to successive standards. Connectivity is the subject of the fourth standard currently underway, and the fifth one is in preparation, offering new collaborative combat capabilities.
Apart from its technical superiority, the Rafale has also proved itself to be strategic in its diplomatic and economic sense.
The French-Serbian contract signed recently for twelve Rafale planes at the price of 2.7 billion euros shows the aircraft’s role in international cooperation expansion. The orders placed for the Rafale worldwide now exceed 507 in number.
The M88 engine is entirely designed, developed, and manufactured by Safran Aircraft Engines. It was very efficient and boasted a high thrust output. The modular concept of the design makes it easy to maintain and upgrade, which facilitated the extreme export success of the Rafale.
Safran’s just-completed Memorandum of Understanding with the Egyptian Air Force concerning the EngineLife® services solution again points to the engine’s solidity and the company’s commitment to its customers.
With the promise of new contracts with several countries in the pending discussion, Rafale’s future is now looking up. Advanced technology, versatility, and combat effectiveness together have made it one of the strongest contenders on the global fighter jet market today.