French aircraft maker Dassault said its delivery of the ominrole Rafale fighter jet dipped to a single digit number in 2015, producing just...
French aircraft maker Dassault said its delivery of the ominrole Rafale fighter jet dipped to a single digit number in 2015, producing just 8 aircraft.
Of which five where delivered to France and the remaining 3 to the Egyptian Air Force -marking the first export order for the aircraft.
The year represented a decrease of 3 units compared to 2014, during which 11 aircraft were produced.
Backlog for the type stood at 83, including 38 for France and 45 for international customers including Egypt and Qatar, both of them ordered 24 jets each in 2015.
Dassault said major work on the program in 2015, included retrofit of French Rafale fleet to the F3 configuration.
France has ordered four batches of aircraft totaling 132 aircraft for the French Air Force (63 Rafale B two-seaters and 69 Rafale C single-seaters) and 48 Rafale M naval single-seaters for the French Navy.
India is expected to sign deal for 36 Rafale fighter in this month, bringing the total order for the type to 264.
Capabilities are developed incrementally, and released in packages (“standards”). The first release (standard F1) featured only air-to-air capabilities. It became operational in 2004 with the French Navy on Rafales launched from the Charles de Gaulle nuclear aircraft-carrier during operation “Enduring Freedom”.
The second capability release (standard F2) entered service in the French Air Force and in the French Navy in 2006. It provided the Rafale with its true omnirole capability for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
Standard F3 is the current release. It has been qualified by the French MoD in 2008. It adds air reconnaissance with the AREOS recce pod, anti-ship with the AM39 EXOCET (implemented in Rafale B, C, and M), and the nuclear capability with the ASMPA.
The first Rafale F3 was delivered to the French Air Force Operational Evaluation Centre (CEAM) in mid-2008 at Mont-de-Marsan AFB, in full accordance with the contracted delivery schedule.
In January 2014, the F3R standard development contract for the Rafale combat aircraft was announced. The F3R standard is an evolution of the Rafale “F3” standard, featuring the European METEOR long-range air-to-air missile produced by MBDA, Thales TALIOS new-generation laser designator pod and laser homing version of the Sagem AASM Air-to-Ground Modular Weapon HAMMER.
Of which five where delivered to France and the remaining 3 to the Egyptian Air Force -marking the first export order for the aircraft.
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| French Air Force |
Backlog for the type stood at 83, including 38 for France and 45 for international customers including Egypt and Qatar, both of them ordered 24 jets each in 2015.
Dassault said major work on the program in 2015, included retrofit of French Rafale fleet to the F3 configuration.
France has ordered four batches of aircraft totaling 132 aircraft for the French Air Force (63 Rafale B two-seaters and 69 Rafale C single-seaters) and 48 Rafale M naval single-seaters for the French Navy.
India is expected to sign deal for 36 Rafale fighter in this month, bringing the total order for the type to 264.
Capabilities are developed incrementally, and released in packages (“standards”). The first release (standard F1) featured only air-to-air capabilities. It became operational in 2004 with the French Navy on Rafales launched from the Charles de Gaulle nuclear aircraft-carrier during operation “Enduring Freedom”.
The second capability release (standard F2) entered service in the French Air Force and in the French Navy in 2006. It provided the Rafale with its true omnirole capability for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
Standard F3 is the current release. It has been qualified by the French MoD in 2008. It adds air reconnaissance with the AREOS recce pod, anti-ship with the AM39 EXOCET (implemented in Rafale B, C, and M), and the nuclear capability with the ASMPA.
The first Rafale F3 was delivered to the French Air Force Operational Evaluation Centre (CEAM) in mid-2008 at Mont-de-Marsan AFB, in full accordance with the contracted delivery schedule.
In January 2014, the F3R standard development contract for the Rafale combat aircraft was announced. The F3R standard is an evolution of the Rafale “F3” standard, featuring the European METEOR long-range air-to-air missile produced by MBDA, Thales TALIOS new-generation laser designator pod and laser homing version of the Sagem AASM Air-to-Ground Modular Weapon HAMMER.
