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Dassault Rafale Multi-Role Fighter |
DESCRIPTION:
Instead of proceeding with the Eurofighter project, France decided to develop its own advanced next-generation fighter. First known as the ACX, this new design later became the Rafale. The design incoporates canards and a fly-by-wire control system for exceptional maneuverability as well as radar-absorbant paint and shaping contoured to improve stealth. The Rafale C is a single seat attack fighter for the Air Force while the Rafale M is a navalized version designed to operate from French aircraft carriers. France originally planned to build 94 one-seat and 140 two-seat aircraft for the Air Force and 86 for the Navy. The Rafale is intended to replace the Air Force's Mirage III, Mirage 5, Mirage F.1, Jaguar, and Mirage IVP as well as the Navy's F-8 Crusader and Super Etendard. Another 60 Rafales were ordered in 2008 committing France to purchasing a total of 286. By 2009, 60 had been delivered including 17 Rafale M models for the Navy. The production rate was also cut from 14 to 11 per year in a cost-saving measure. Dassault has aggressively pursued export sales but has so far been unsuccessful completing an order. By 2011, discussions were ongoing with eight potential customers including Brazil, Libya, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Bulgaria.
Data below for Rafale C |
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HISTORY: | |
First Flight |
(Rafale A) 4 July 1986 (Rafale C) 19 May 1991 (Rafale M) 12 December 1991 |
Service Entry
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2002 (?)
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CREW: |
(Rafale C, Rafale M) one: pilot (Rafale B) two: pilot, systems officer |
ESTIMATED COST:
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unknown
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AIRFOIL SECTIONS: | |
Wing Root | unknown |
Wing Tip |
unknown
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DIMENSIONS: | |
Length | 50.21 ft (15.30 m) |
Wingspan | 35.77 ft (10.90 m) |
Height | 17.54 ft (5.34 m) |
Wing Area |
494 ft² (46.00 m²) including canards? |
Canard Area
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unknown
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WEIGHTS: | |
Empty | 19,975 lb (9,060 kg) |
Normal Takeoff | 33,200 lb (15,060 kg) |
Max Takeoff | 47,400 lb (21,500 kg) |
Fuel Capacity |
internal: 1,405 gal (5,325 L) external: 1,745 gal (6,600 L) |
Max Payload
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17,635 lb (8,000 kg)
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PROPULSION: | |
Powerplant | two SNECMA M88-3 afterburning turbofans |
Thrust |
39,116 lb (174.0 kN) with afterburner
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PERFORMANCE: | |
Max Level Speed |
at altitude: 1,320 mph (2,125 km/h) at 36,090 ft (11,000 m), Mach 2.0 at sea level: 864 mph (1,390 km/h), Mach 1.135 |
Initial Climb Rate | unknown |
Service Ceiling | 65,000 ft (19,810 m) |
Range |
typical: 1,000 nm (1,850 km) [interceptor mission] 1,180 nm (2,185 km) [low-level attack mission] ferry: 2,000 nm (3,705 km) |
g-Limits
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+9.0 / -3.6
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ARMAMENT: | |
Gun | one 30-mm DEFA 791B cannon |
Stations | twelve external hardpoints and two wingtip rails |
Air-to-Air Missile | MICA |
Air-to-Surface Missile | ASMP nuclear weapon, AS.39 Exocet, AS.30 |
Bomb | 227/1000 kg LGB bombs |
Other |
rocket pods, ECM pods
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KNOWN VARIANTS: | |
Rafale A | Aerodynamic prototype slightly larger and heavier than the final production models, used GE F404 engines while the M-88 was under development |
Rafale B | Two-seat attack fighter/trainer, originally intended as a trainer only, but now envisioned as the primary production model |
Rafale C | One-seat attack fighter |
Rafale D | Slightly smaller and lighter version of the Rafale C employing greater stealth features |
Rafale M |
Carrier-borne single-seat fighter, slightly heavier than the Rafale C due to addition of an arrestor hook
and strengthened landing gear
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KNOWN COMBAT RECORD: |
Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (France, 2002-present) Libya - Operation Unified Protector / Harmattan (French Air Force, French Navy, 2011) |
KNOWN OPERATORS: |
France, Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) France, Aéronautique Navale (French Naval Air Arm) |
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
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SOURCES:
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