France has given Dassault Aviation the go ahead, to develop the fourth tranche Rafale fighter to the “F3 R” standard.
France has given Dassault Aviation the go ahead, to develop the fourth tranche Rafale fighter to the “F3 R” standard.
French Defense Minister Mr Jean-Yves signed the contract with Mr Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, on Jan 10, during his visit to the Dassault Aviation Mérignac plant.
The F3 R standard is an evolution of the tranche 3 Rafale “F3” standard. It is part of the ongoing process to continuously upgrade the aircraft in line with operational requirements.
F3R standard mainly features:
- Integration of European Meteor long-range air-to-air missile. This high-performance missile will achieve maximum effectiveness thanks to the “active array” radar which equips all production RAFALE aircraft delivered since mid-2013. Meteor integration will only be completed by 2018, making Rafale the last European fighter to integrate the Meteor. It will also be the only fighter with a 1-way Meteor datalink instead of a 2-way link. Rival Eurofighter Typhoon has already began meteor integrated flight trials in 2013.
- The Thales PDL-NG new-generation laser designator pod. Primarily used for air-to-ground strikes, in daylight or darkness, this pod will further enhance Rafale's precision strike capabilities.
- The laser homing version of the Sagem AASM Air-to-Ground Modular Weapon. This family of weapons, features a GPS primary guidance and an additional booster. It was used by the RAFALE during operations in Libya (2011) to destroy targets at ranges of several tens of kilometers with metric precision. The laser homing version is particularly adapted to moving targets.
- An Identification Friend or Foe interrogator/transponder with full Mode-5/Mode-S-compatibility.
F3 R will also include upgrades to Rafale's sensors and software enhancements. Even after the F3R standard, Rafale miss a Helmet Mounted Display that would allow it to take full advantage of its wide-borseight MICA missiles
The Rafale entered service with the French Navy in 2004 and with the French Air Force in 2006, gradually replacing the seven types of previous-generation combat aircraft. Of the 180 aircraft ordered by France to date, 126 have been delivered. The French Air Force Rafale fleet currently has clocked almost 120,000 flight hours, including 16,000 in operations. Since mid-2013, production Rafale aircrafts are equipped with an Thales active array RBE2 AESA radar.
The negotiations for the first export order to sell 126 Rafale fighters to India, is subsequently stalled over offsets, transfer of technology and the role of Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) in production. Dassault is reluctant to transfer critical engine and AESA radar technologies, sitting India's inabilty to absorb these advanced technologies. Rafale recently lost a $4.5 billion Brazilian contract for 36 fighter jets to Saab Gripen fighter.
