Rafale News

[S@ncho]

Rafale M compatible with STOBAR carriers

Good to know for IN, especially if catapults won't be available for IAC 2 as well, but the interesting point would be, what payload the Rafale could carry operated from a STOBAR carrier?

Another question regarding weapon integration, the GBU 24 as well as Exocet integration seems to be limited to the centerlinestation and a single weapon config only. Is there further integration necessary to carry 2 of them on the wing stations for example, or doesn't French forces have such a requirement? Similarly, IF Brimstone would be integrated, which stations would be likely to carry them?

Equipped with GaN modules?

No, GaN modules are under development only and will be added to SPECTRA first. RBE 2 AESA with GaN might need some more time.

[JohanGrön]

Rafale M F3 down over the Mediterranean during training with F-18 from USS Eisenhower. The pilot ejected safely and was rescued by american US Navy SAR chopper back to the R91 from which he started from. No news on any mechanical malfunction on the Rafale yet. Seems to be one crash per year (5 and counting) with the Rafale.

It was the # M24 that crashed which previously been conducting testing of the ASMP-A nuclear medium range missile. I guess the french Navy would really like to recover the sunken Rafale before anyone else gets it's hands on it.

[Olybrius]

Three accidents in less than a year
Le Mammouth, July 2

Revealing law of series or mere coincidence, as flights safety sometimes finds: the facts are there, bilateral training caused at least three accidents in the French wings in less than a year. A Mirage 2000C from Orange has been damaged in a midair collision with an aircraft over the Baltic August 30, 2011 ; a Mirage 2000D from Djibouti has crashed during an air combat training with a Saudi F-15 Jan. 14, 2012 , and today, it is the turn of a Rafale during a dogfight with an F/A-18. The context is still unknown, as the chain of causality.
This is the only bi-national nature of the flight that connects these different accidents. Yet it would be unwise to reduce these trainings as they are necessary for the experience of the pilots . As noted by the CEMAA, following Harmattan, it was the level of experience generated by international exercises (Red Flag, Maple Flag, TLP, etc.) that allowed his crew to act in response, at the time.
Moreover, considering all of these training periods, accidents are extremely rare. And "multionationalité" in operations, does not generate more accidents so far: none were found during Harmattan, or in operations in Afghanistan.

Google translated from:
http://lemamouth.blogspot.fr/2012/07...moins-dun.html
http://www.marianne2.fr/blogsecretde...-mer_a672.html

[Olybrius]

According to military sources, a "loss of control" would be one of the most credible explanation for the loss of the Rafale M24, today at 14:03. The aircraft was evolving in light configuration, equipped with a single ventral tank and a Mica-IR. The pilot was conducting close air combat maneuvers at low altitude above the sea against an American F/A-18.

For now, no explanation can clearly explain this loss of control. One can imagine that the Rafale will be caught a brief moment in the jet blast of the Hornet, which would have disturbed its aerodynamic behavior. The track of the technical malfunction seems ruled out, since Rafale on board the "Charles de Gaulle" should resume flights tomorrow.

The signal emittted from an acoustic beacon would have helped to identify more precisely the location of the wreck. The decision to dive to go retrieve the flight recorders will be taken later, with the assistance of the Bureau d'Investigation Accidents Defense (BEAD)
[...]

From:
http://www.air-cosmos.com/defense/un...iterranee.html

[Olybrius]

Rafale M24

[Elbs]

Even with all the bumps and antennas it still looks better every time I see it. Marcel would be proud.

[trikora88]

Tuesday, 03 July 2012 20:26

French Navy Rafale Pilot Ejects At Sea during joint training with US Navy

On July 2nd 2012 off the Spanish coast in the Mediterranean,during air combat training with an F18 fighter from aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower, the pilot of a Rafale pilot belonging to "Flotille 12F" operating from French nuclear powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle had to ejected.

He was recovered by a U.S. Navy helicopter and was transferred aboard the French aircraft carrier where he received first care by the medical team.

An investigation was opened to determine the circumstances and causes of this accident.

Full article: http://www.navyrecognition.com/index...sk=view&id=483

[Olybrius]

'Nuclear' Rafale sweetens progress
SP's Aviation , July 5

As final commercial negotiations between India and France proceed on a deal for 126 Dassault Rafale fighters as part of the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) competition, a recent event has sweetened progress. Last month on June 19, the French Air Force demonstrated a nuclear deterrent capability by test-firing the MBDA ASMP-A stand off nuclear capable cruise missile. The mission lasted five hours and involved pilots from the 113 Air Base conducting a mid-air refueling, a high-altitude cruise phase, and a dived low-altitude phase to enter enemy territory.

Dassault Aviation, it may be noted, was the only one of the six MMRCA firms that explicitly detailed for the IAF its nuclear deterrent capability along with the test plans. The IAF, in fact, was briefed and kept in the loop about the ASMP-A test.

From:
http://www.spsaviation.net/exclusive...etens-progress
About ASMP-A test:
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/art...onal-test.html

[Olybrius]

Combat Aircraft Monthly, August 2012:

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/6123/am81.jpg
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3018/am82.jpg

[Olybrius]

According to a Malaysian newspaper in chinese language, Rafale would be leading the MRCA race (reasons : best economic offer, Indian MMRCA's influence, AESA ready...):

http://www.chinapress.com.my/node/331793
http://translate.google.fr/translate...Fnode%2F331793

But i don't know how credible is this newspaper.

[Olybrius]

Brazil delays F-X2 fighter decision until end of 2012
FlightGlobal,

The Brazilian government has deferred selecting the winner of its F-X2 fighter competition until 31 December 2012, despite repeated assurances a decision would be announced by mid-year.

Disclosing that it has requested bidding companies Boeing, Dassault and Saab to maintain their offers until the year-end date, the government attributed its latest postponement to unfavourable global economic conditions and low economic growth in Brazil.

Local reports suggest Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff held talks with French counterpart François Hollande at the UN's recent Rio +20 conference over a new proposal on the Dassault Rafale.

High acquisition and operating costs remain major stumbling blocks to any possible deal for the type, sources say, and the new proposal is expected to be a talking point again when Rousseff and defence minister Celso Amorim visit France later this month.

Brazilian air force leaders have expressed concern over yet another delay in a programme that should originally have seen the selection of a new fighter in 2000. Nominally, next year should see the retirement of 12 ex-French air force Dassault Mirage 2000C/Bs, acquired by Brazil in 2005 as a stopgap measure after delays affected its original F-X contest.

In addition to the Rafale, the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Saab Gripen remain in contention for the F-X2 award.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art...f-2012-373766/

[twinblade]

According to a Malaysian newspaper in chinese language, Rafale would be leading the MRCA race (reasons : best economic offer, Indian MMRCA's influence, AESA ready...):

http://www.chinapress.com.my/node/331793
http://translate.google.fr/translate...Fnode%2F331793

But i don't know how credible is this newspaper.

They buy what India buys. (MiG-29, Hawks, Su-30, Scorpenes)

[Olybrius]

Onboard the CDG, July 2012:


More pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58924841@N05/
http://www.studiocuicui.fr/?index&lang=fr

[xav]

Successful first qualification firing test of Sagem's Hammer air-to-ground guided weapon with laser terminal guidance
NavyRecognition

French defense procurement agency DGA has successfully carried out the first qualification firing test of the laser terminal guidance version of the AASM Hammer modular air-to-ground weapon built by Sagem (Safran group).

The test was carried out by the DGA's missile test department at the Cazaux air base on May 31, with the Hammer weapon being fired from a production Rafale fighter. The target, a bridge pier located more than 50 kilometers from the release point, was illuminated by an airborne illuminator that was activated during the last few seconds of the weapon's flight.

The AASM Hammer's guidance was deliberately initialized by offsetting the target's GPS coordinates by over 50 meters. Thanks to its navigation, laser spot detection and terminal guidance algorithms, the AASM hit its target to within a meter. Prior to the impact, the missile steered itself to a glide slope of 20°, preferred for this type of operational scenario.
...
The French armed forces will start taking delivery of the AASM SBU-64 at the end of 2012, as part of a contract that provides for the production of several hundred units.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index...sk=view&id=486

[xav]

Raytheon demonstrates WiPAK® (Wireless Paveway™ Avionics Kit) on French Navy RAFALE aircraft
NavyRecognition

Raytheon Company successfully demonstrated a wireless method of integrating its combat-proven Enhanced Paveway™ II precision-guided bomb on the French Navy RAFALE aircraft. Called WiPAK®, the avionics kit enables integration of Paveway on a variety of aircraft without any modifications to aircraft wiring or changes to the flight and stores management software.

"With WiPAK, warfighters can easily and quickly provide targeting information, employ Paveway and gain all the benefits of a GPS/INS guided smart weapon for a fraction of what it would cost to integrate weapons through traditional means," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air Warfare Systems. "WiPAK uses wireless connectivity technology similar to what is being used in laptop and tablet computers."

During the test, an Enhanced Paveway II GBU-49 was dropped from the RAFALE aircraft at the Biscarrosse test range in Southwestern France. The weapon system met all requirements during the demonstration and impacted the target well within the requirements.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index...sk=view&id=490