Dassault Aviation: RAFALE "F3 R" standard launched
January 10 2014 - 8:38AM
Today, Mr Jean-Yves le Drian, Minister for Defense, handed Mr Eric
Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, the "F3 R"
standard development contract for the RAFALE combat aircraft. This
event took place today on the occasion of Mr Le Drian's visit to
the Dassault Aviation Mérignac plant. The contract was notified by
the French defense procurement agency (DGA) on 30th December last.
The F3 R standard is an evolution of the
RAFALE "F3" standard. It is part of the ongoing process to
continuously improve the aircraft in line with operational
requirements. It will enable Dassault Aviation to integrate the
following equipment and weapons onto the RAFALE:
- The European Meteor long-range air-to-air missile produced by
MBDA. This high-performance missile will achieve maximum
effectiveness thanks to the "active array" radar which equips all
production RAFALE aircraft delivered since mid-2013[1].
- 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 the high degree of precision that the
RAFALE has achieved since its first engagements (in 2007 in the
Afghan theatre).
- The laser homing version of the Sagem AASM Air-to-Ground
Modular Weapon[2]. This family of weapons, with GPS primary
guidance and an additional booster, is unmatched. 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.
F3 R will also include upgrades to RAFALE
sensors and to systems ensuring total interoperability.
The launch of the F3 R standard:
- guarantees that French forces will continue to have a
high-performance aircraft adapted to their requirements.
- reinforces the strong points of the RAFALE in export
competitions.
- contributes to maintaining the competences of the design
bureaux of Dassault Aviation and its industrial partners at a
world-class level.
- confirms the ongoing improvement process and opens the way to
future developments for France and export customers.
Validation of the F3 R standard is
scheduled for 2018. Dassault Aviation and the 500 French firms
associated with the RAFALE program thank the Ministry of Defense,
the DGA, the French Air Force and the French Navy for their
confidence.
About the RAFALE
The only totally "omnirole" aircraft in the
world, able to operate from a land base or an aircraft carrier,
capable of carrying 1.5 times its weight in weapons and fuel, the
RAFALE has been designed to perform the full spectrum of combat
aircraft missions:
- Interception and air-to-air
combat using a 30-mm gun, Mica IR/EM missiles and Meteor
missiles (as of 2018).
- Close air support using a
30-mm gun, GBU-12/24 laser-guided bombs, AASM and GBU-49 GPS-guided
bombs (used in Afghanistan, Libya and Mali).
- Deep strike using Scalp-Storm
Shadow cruise missiles (used in Libya).
- Maritime strike using the
Exocet AM39 Block 2 missile and other air-to-surface
weapons.
- Real-time tactical and strategic
reconnaissance using the Areos pod (used in Afghanistan,
Libya and Mali).
- Buddy-buddy in-flight refueling
- Nuclear deterrence using the
ASMP-A missile.
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
RAFALE fleet currently totals almost 120,000 flight hours,
including 16,000 in operations. Since mid-2013, production RAFALE
aircraft are equipped with an active array RBE2 AESA radar from
Thales.
About Dassault Aviation
With more than 8,000 military and civil aircraft
delivered to 83 countries over the past 60 years, and having logged
nearly 28 million flight hours to date, Dassault Aviation
can offer recognized know-how and experience in the design,
development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, from the
Rafale fighter to the Falcon range of high-end business jets, as
well as military unmanned air systems. In
2012, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of €3.94
billion, with around 11,600 employees.
www.dassault-aviation.com Follow us on Twitter:
@Dassault_OnAir
Press Contacts:
Rafale Communication Nathalie
Bakhos Tel.: +33 (0)1 47 11 65 11
nathalie.bakhos@dassault-aviation.fr
Institutional Communication
Mathieu Durand Tel.: +33 (0)1 47 11 85 88
mathieu.durand@dassault-aviation.com
For high resolution photo, visit:
http://mediapro.dassault-aviation.com
[1] The Rafale is the only operational
European combat aircraft equipped with an "Active Electronically
Scanned Array": the Thales RBE2 AESA (read "Dassault
Aviation-Thales" Press Release dated October 2, 2012).
[2] Partial integration of this weapon was
already performed as an "urgent operational requirement" for the
French intervention in Mali.
Dassault Aviation: RAFALE "F3 R" standard launched
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