Dassault Aviation: THE RAFALE FURTHER IMPROVES ITS VERSATILITY
January 23 2014 - 7:04AM
The RAFALE has successfully completed its first test flights in a
new heavily-armed configuration, comprising six air-to-ground
precision AASM Hammer missiles, four medium and long range
air-to-air missiles from the MICA family, two very long range
METEOR missiles, as well as three 2,000 liter fuel tanks.
This preliminary work, self-funded by Dassault
Aviation are conducted in collaboration with the Direction Générale
de l'Armement (the French Defense Procurement Agency) and will
eventually lead to a complete clearance of the flight envelope.
By increasing the capabilities of its fourteen
hard points, including eight under the wings, the RAFALE is the
only fighter aircraft in the world capable of carrying 1.5 times
its own weight. Its "omnirole" capability responds to the needs of
countries requiring, at a controlled cost, an operational and
versatile tool capable of fulfilling all missions more effectively,
whilst mobilizing fewer resources. Two RAFALE aircraft represent
the same potential as six MIRAGE 2000 class aircraft.
This new configuration, unmatched in the
versatility and firepower it represents, has been made possible
thanks to the open architecture of the aircraft designed from the
outset to perform all of the missions previously assigned to seven
different types of aircraft in France. As a veritable "force
booster", the RAFALE is a tool for rationalizing armies.
This new development, which combines great
autonomy with the versatility of the weapons system, demonstrates
the power and operational superiority of the RAFALE, which already
has a unique range of configurations, including the unique ability
to strike deeply, with two Scalp cruise missiles and three 2,000
liter fuel tanks, as used by the French armed forces during
Operation Harmattan in Libya in 2011.
Thanks to this new technical performance,
Dassault Aviation is again demonstrating, a few days after being
awarded the contract for the F3-R standard by the French Minister
for Defense, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, that the RAFALE is part of a
continuous improvement process to meet users' requirements.
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
Corporate Communication Stéphane Fort Tel: +33
(0)1 47 11 86 90 stephane.fort@dassault-aviation.com
Mathieu Durand Tel.: +33 (0)1 47 11 85 88
mathieu.durand@dassault-aviation.com
Dassault Aviation: THE RAFALE FURTHER IMPROVES ITS VERSATILITY
http://hugin.info/143388/R/1756627/593268.pdf
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