RAFALE

The Rafale, the French aerospace industry’s flagship, is the perfect embodiment of the concept of national sovereignty. It is the result of strategic know-how: the design and complete autonomous control of a state-of-the-art air combat system to guarantee operational independence, an essential condition for security and deterrence in the face of major threats.

Compact, extremely powerful, agile and very discreet, the Rafale not only carries the widest and most advanced range of sensors, it also boosts their effectiveness tenfold thanks to an innovative design and particularly high-performance technologies.

The “Modular Data Processing Unit” (MDPU), cornerstone of the Rafale’s upgradeability, handles the data fusion. . It allows a seamless integration of new weapons and new capabilities to maintain the warfighting relevance of the Rafale over the years as tactical requirements evolve, and as the computer industry keeps rolling out new generations of processors and software.

With its 10-tonne empty weight, the Rafale is fitted with 14 hard points (13 on the Rafale M). Five of them are capable of carrying heavy ordnance or drop tanks. Total external load capacity is more than nine tonnes (20,000 lbs.).

From the outset of its development, the French Ministry of Defence has imposed very stringent requirements on the Rafale in terms of integrated logistics support (ILS). Thanks to the experience acquired with the Mirage 2000, concurrent engineering techniques, bold technological choices and Dassault Systèmes’ CATIA software, the Rafale benefits from excellent operational availability.

Since 2007, the Rafale has proven its worth through its deployment in numerous overseas theaters of operation, either independently or as part of a coalition.Combat Proven in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali (Operation Serval), Iraq and Syria (Operation Chammal), it has demonstrated its unquestionable effectiveness by fulfilling the full spectrum of missions for which it was designed: air-superiority, precision strikes with HAMMERS and laser-guided bombs, deep strike with SCALP cruise missiles, Intelligence, Surveillance, Tactical Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and Strike Coordination And Reconnaissance (SCAR).

The Rafale is slated to become the sole type of combat aircraft operated by the French Air and Space Force and French Navy. Everything that is necessary to maintain its combat relevance will be undertaken.

Discover all the features, performance specifications, and key figures for the Rafale.